Harold Johnson, a Master of Law graduate from Harvard, draws from his background in Northern Saskatchewan, where he grew up, and his experiences in the Canadian Navy, mining, and logging. His literary works, often set against the backdrop of Northern Saskatchewan's landscapes, weave in traditional Cree mythology, exploring profound human narratives. Johnson's distinctive style merges legal precision with evocative storytelling, crafting prose that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. His writing offers a compelling look at the intersection of contemporary life and ancient traditions.
Recognized as a standout title, this book has garnered acclaim as a Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year. It offers a compelling narrative that captivates readers with its unique perspective and thought-provoking themes. The author expertly weaves together intricate character development and rich storytelling, making it a must-read for those seeking depth and insight in contemporary literature.
Award-winning Indigenous author Harold R. Johnson discusses the promise and potential of storytelling. Approached by an ecumenical society representing many faiths, from Judeo-Christians to fellow members of First Nations, Harold R. Johnson agreed to host a group who wanted to hear him speak about the power of storytelling. This book is the outcome of that gathering. In The Power of Story, Johnson explains the role of storytelling in every aspect of human life, from personal identity to history and the social contracts that structure our societies, and illustrates how we can direct its potential to re-create and reform not only our own lives, but the life we share. Companionable, clear-eyed, and, above all, optimistic, Johnson's message is both a dire warning and a direct invitation to each of us to imagine and create, together, the world we want to live in.
"Turning a blind eye to the dangers of the wild can have deadly consequences. Growing up on a northern trap line, Harold Johnson was taught to keep his distance from wolves. For more than 100 years, one of Canada's top predators seemed to have absorbed the same lesson about avoiding contact with people, who pose dangers. But this seems to be changing in the twenty-first century. In Cry Wolf, Johnson re-tells the story of the 2005 death of Kenton Carnegie, who was cornered and killed in a wolf attack near his work camp. Johnson draws on his experience as a Crown prosecutor to forensically deconstruct the official reports of the killing. In his telling, the finger of blame points squarely to the lack of respect given to an animal which, as a result, is becoming more dangerous to humans. Johnson believes millennia of Indigenous teaching could have saved a life and rehabilitated the wolf to its honoured place."--
"An urgent, informed, intimate condemnation of the Canadian state and its failure to deliver justice to Indigenous people by national bestselling author and former Crown prosecutor Harold R. Johnson. "The night of the decision in the Gerald Stanley trial for the murder of Colten Boushie, I received a text message from a retired provincial court judge. He was feeling ashamed for his time in a system that was so badly tilted. I too feel this way about my time as both defence counsel and as a Crown prosecutor; that I didn't have the courage to stand up in the court room and shout 'Enough is enough.' This book is my act of taking responsibility for what I did, for my actions and inactions."--Harold R. Johnson. In early 2018, the failures of Canada's justice system were sharply and painfully revealed in the verdicts issued in the deaths of Colten Boushie and Tina Fontaine. The outrage and confusion that followed those verdicts inspired former Crown prosecutor and bestselling author Harold R. Johnson to make the case against Canada for its failure to fulfill its duty under Treaty to effectively deliver justice to Indigenous people, worsening the situation and ensuring long-term damage to Indigenous communities. In this direct, concise, and essential volume, Harold R. Johnson examines the justice system's failures to deliver "peace and good order" to Indigenous people. He explores the part that he understands himself to have played in that mismanagement, drawing on insights he has gained from the experience; insights into the roots and immediate effects of how the justice system has failed Indigenous people, in all the communities in which they live; and insights into the struggle for peace and good order for Indigenous people now."-- Provided by publisher