Métis writer Katherena Vermette’s novel didn’t make the shortlist for this year’s Scotiabank Giller prize. The other book by an Indigenous author reviewed, Clayton Thomas-Mùller’s memoir, was mentioned by Ann Archer as one of several recent memoirs by Indigenous MEN, with Jesse Wente and Tomson Highway also having written their life stories. No offence to any of these Indigenous writers, but none of them are exactly household names as Jody Wilson-Raybould is. Her memoir, “’Indian in the Cabinet” is a wonderful read (see my OPL book review). So why did neither Ann Archer nor Sean Wilson, lovers of everything Indigenous, simply ignore it? The only thing that wouldn’t appeal to the book panel about this would seem to be its target: Justin Trudeau. Any book that dares to question the honesty and sagacity of the Liberal leader will never be high up on their totem pole (if you will pardon the metaphor). In fact, it won’t make the totem pole at all. Ann Archer’s seemingly sexist limitation to Indigenous men in listing recent memoirs is more likely just her way of avoiding any mention of Wilson-Raybould or her book.