Suzanne Methot

Writer, Editor, Educator

Suzanne Methot is the author of the award-winning non-fiction book Legacy: Trauma, Story, and Indigenous Healing (ECW Press, 2019), co-author of the Grade 11 textbook Aboriginal Beliefs, Values, and Aspirations (Goodminds/Pearson Canada, 2011) and a contributor to Scholastic’s Take Action series of classroom resource books.

More About Suzanne

Suzanne works as an editor, content reviewer, and sensitivity reader for book publishers and post-secondary institutions.

LATEST BOOK

Killing the Wittigo: Indigenous Culture-Based Approaches to Waking Up, Taking Action, and Doing the Work of Healing

A powerful book that uses plain language to talk about colonial trauma and transformational change.

History. Identity. Lateral violence. Complex trauma. Who are we and how are we seen? How do we learn what safety is when we’ve never experienced it? How do we turn distressing feelings into emotions that we can understand? Killing the Wittigo talks about the effects of colonization and the healing work being done by young Indigenous people toward individual and systemic change.

Sexual abuse. Relationships. Kindness and kinship. Are your relationships harmful or healthy? What do healthy families look like? Killing the Wittigo shatters the isolation and shame to talk about everything from managing triggers to what young people are asking of their parents and their leadership. more...

“This is an uncomfortable book to read – but it is meant to be. This concise but broad-ranging work examines the lasting emotional and psychological impacts of colonization on Indigenous people in the U.S. and Canada. Throughout, activities help readers learn about themselves and process what they have read. Along with a variety of fonts, line art, and interesting graphics and charts, quotes and social media posts from young Indigenous people discussing their experiences add to the mixed-media appeal. These voices also give readers the feeling that they are not alone. The chapter on lateral violence, intracommunity dysfunction that is usually not openly addressed, is particularly valuable.” Kirkus Reviews

“Educator and agency worker Methot offers young adults suggestions for breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma in order to live their best lives. Writing from a trauma-informed perspective and including trigger warnings, she provides examples of colonial practices that harm Indigenous peoples, explains how this stress is passed down in families, and provides some examples of healing at work. While Indigenous teens are the obvious audience, this is an eye-opening and important resource for anyone concerned with North America’s colonial legacy.” Booklist (starred review)

“Community-focused, easy to read, and filled with concrete examples and stories, the book not only uplifts healing in Indigenous communities, it also turns the lens to talk about what settler society needs to do to create systemic change. A great, graphic-heavy resource for Indigenous young people, educators, and anyone looking to expand their understanding of the ripple effects of trauma, Killing the Wittigo is essential reading.” Open Book

Proud Member of the Writer's Union of Canada

Book Cover: Killing the Wittigo: Indigenous Culture-Based Approaches to Waking Up, Taking Action, and Doing the Work of Healing by Suzanne Methot

Now available for pre-order in bookstores and online.

Suzanne Methot