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“Women’s Health: Naturopathic Solutions”with Dr. Jessica Carfagnini, NDThursday, May 10, 7:30 pm at The Northern Woman’s Bookstore.
Naturopathic medicine uses traditional medicine such as herbs, therapeutic foods, and acupuncture to ease the challenges associated with menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. General tips on stress reduction, addressing fatigue and optimizing health will also be discussed. Women of all ages are encouraged to join us!
Overflow
Please join us for an exciting event, "Overflow", an evening of readings about the vulnerable, with three Thunder Bay writers:
Susan Goldberg
Rachel Mishenene
Meghan Eddy
Sunday, April 22 - 7:00pm at the Northern Woman's Bookstore
This evening will also serve as the launch of the anthology Here Come the Brides: Reflections on Lesbian Love and Marriage (Seal Press, 2012), edited by Audrey Bilger and Michele Kort. Copies of the anthology - which includes an essay by Susan Goldberg, excerpted in the current issue of Ms. magazine - will be available for sale and signing.
Coffee, tea and light refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome, so come out and enjoy a wonderful evening!
All Poetry On Sale - 10% Off
In honour of April we are having a sale on all poetry.
All poetry will be on sale 10% off.
Make sure to drop by the store and check out our selection!
JANN MICHAELS IN CONCERT:
JOIN US ON SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 7:00-9:00 p.m. for
"A Tribute to Canadian Women Musical Artists"
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO JOINED US TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!!
What a wonderful party we had to celebrate! Everyone was into the "Retro 70s" theme ... with food, dress, decor and memories. Joan read her marvelous story about the 1970s abortion caravan's visit to Thunder Bay, which stimulated an important discussion. Then we talked about books from the 70s (our display is still up -- come and browse!).
It was suggested that we provide a list of these books, so for starters, here are some titles and authors (in no particular order) that were really important. If you have any other favourites, please let us know.
- SEXUAL POLITICS (Kate Millett)
- AGAINST OUR WILL: MEN, WOMEN AND RAPE (Susan Brownmiller)
- SISTERHOOD IS POWERFUL (Robin Morgan)
- THE FEMALE EUNUCH (Germaine Greer)
- THE LACE GHETTO (Maxine Numes & Deanna White)
- WOMAN IN SEXIST SOCIETY (Vivian Gormick & Barbara Moran)
- RADICAL FEMINISM (Anne Koedt, Ellen Levine, Anita Rapone)
- WOMEN, RESISTANCE AND REVOLUTION (Sheila Rowbotham)
- AMAZON ODYSSEY (Ti-Grace Atkinson)
- THE POLITICS OF RAPE (Diane E. Russell)
- WOMEN AND NATURE (Susan Griffin)
- PORNOGRAPHY AND SILENCE (Susan Griffin)
- LESBIAN NATION (Jill Johnston)
- WOMEN IN CANADA (Marilee Stephenson)
- MOTHER WAS NOT A PERSON (Marguerite Anderson)
- THE TRAUMA OF INCEST (Sandra Butler)
- OF WOMAN BORN (Adrienne Rich)
- PORNOGRAPHY: MEN POSSESSING WOMEN (Andrea Dworkin)
- THE DIALETIC OF SEX (Shulamith Firestone)
Another book published in the 70s that is of tremendous importance is Maria Campbell's HALF BREED. This was the first book by an Aboriginal woman published in Canada in more than 50 years (since Pauline Johnson's poetry in the early 1900s). With the publication of HALF BREED, Maria Campbell gave voice to Aboriginal women and became (and still is) a mentor to young writers who are now publishing important books (theory, memoir and fiction).
We'd like to recommend two recent books that provide a wonderful history of the feminist movement in Canada from the 1960s to the 1990s: TEN THOUSAND ROSES by Judy Rebick, and WRITING THE REVOLUTION by Michele Landsberg.
First Black Woman elected to a Canadian Provincial Legislature (1972)
International Women’s Day
Retro ‘70s
celebration & potluck
Date: Sat. March 10, 2012
Time: 5 – 7 pm
Place: Northern Woman’s Bookstore, 65 S. Court St.
Women have won many struggles, which is good cause for celebration. Yet neo-liberalism, racism, homophobia, ageism and other injustices continue, so we have many more difficulties to overcome. The history of women’s accomplishments, local, regional, national and global, can inspire us to action and hope.
1970: Abortion Caravan crosses Canada, stops in Ottawa, and 30 women chain themselves to the parliamentary gallery in the House of Commons, closing the Canadian parliament for the first time in its history.
Join us at the Northern Woman’s Bookstore Sat. March 10th to celebrate the gains of women. Our event is focused on the 1970s so dress up in your retro fashion, bring along a snippet of a ‘70s milestone of women, some women's history, politics, or social and cultural issue, or other woman-centered 70s information. You might want to read a short poem or quotation by your favorite 70s writer: Audre Lorde, Maria Campbell, Marge Piercy , Sonia Sanchez , or ? What were you (or your female relatives) doing in the 70s? There will be a 70s timeline of women’s local and regional firsts, which you can add to, and we'll be playing a soundtrack of 70s music!
If you can, please bring some food for the potluck. Maybe a 70s style casserole?
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Out of Hibernation
Wednesday, February 22
7:30pm at the Northern Woman's Bookstore, 65 South Court Street.
We are very excited to host an evening of local literary works with authors Marion Agnew and Erin Stewart as they present new material. There will also be live presentations and an open mic section for anyone interested in coming out to share their own poetry or short stories.
Coffee, tea and light refreshments will be provided. Everyone is welcome to come out and enjoy an evening of great local literary works!
Return of "Colouring Books Sisterhood Book Club"
We are excited to announce the return of the Colouring Books Sisterhood Book Club with a new book, Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin, and a new meeting date, February 23 at 7:30 pm here at the bookstore. Everyone is welcome to stop by the bookstore and join the discussion about this wonderful book. Check out our Colouring Books page for more information about the Colouring Books Sisterhood Book Club and past books.
Halfbreed (1973). Maria Campbell
In recent years the most positive occurrence in Canadian publishing is the growth of writing by Aboriginal authors. When we opened the Bookstore 25+ years ago we had two books by Aboriginal authors: Maria Campbell’s Halfbreed and Beatrice Culleton Mosionier’s In Search of April Raintree. Now we have hundreds of books, with new ones appearing every month.
As well as the growing number of Aboriginal authors there are four Aboriginal presses to ensure Aboriginal voices are being published. Our 2011 best seller non-fiction and children’s lists reflect the growing interest in Aboriginal writing. We were privileged to launch books by Rachel Mishenene and Kim Anderson in 2011. We look forward to many new thoughtful and inspiring Aboriginal writers in 2012 and encourage readers to read their important books.
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Calendar Sale
30% Off Calendars for 2012
Just in time for the new year, all calendars on sale for 30% off.
Drop by the store and check out our selection.
Holiday Gift Ideas
Here are some books that we recommend as great presents and stocking stuffers. For starters:
Non-Fiction
A wonderful coffee table book WOMEN WHO LIGHT THE DARK, by photo-journalist Paola Gianturco provides magnificent photos and thoughtful stories of women across the world who are working for change in their communities and countries and whose “imaginations light the dark” A beautiful and inspiring book.
HOT TOPIC: Portraits of 20th Century Feminists, a series of paintings by Kirsten McCrea, is an artistic tribute to the feminist heroes of the song HOT TOPIC. Will appeal to artists, musicians and activists.
More activists on your list… we suggest SOMETHING FIERCE: Memoirs of a Revoluntionary Daugher, by Carmen Aguirre which is one of this year’s Canada Reads picks. Carmen Aguirre offers a rare first-hand account of revolutionary life in South America, written with passion and remarkable candor this is a stunning book.
Learn more about social justice and activism in Canada with ACTIVISM THAT WORKS, edited by Elizabeth Whitmore, Maureen G. Wilson and Avery Calhoun. ACTIVISM THAT WORKS details stories from over 86 Canadian activists as they discuss “doing” activism and social justice and what it really means to struggle against injustice.
There must be at least one “boomer” on your list so be sure to give them 60 IS THE NEW 20: A boomer’s guide to aging with grace, dignity, and what’s left of your self-respect, by our own Margie Taylor… refreshing, humourous, thought-provoking.
Several literary works to recommend:
THE JUDY GRAHN READER contains work from every phase of Judy Grahn’s career, including poetry, essays, fiction and drama. Grahn is an exceptional poet as well as mentor/leader in lesbian/feminist communities. REREADING WOMEN: Thirty Years of Exploring Our Literary Traditions is a wonderful collection of essays from esteemed literary critic Sandra M. Gilbert. Renowned Canadian poet Lorna Crozier charts the geography that shaped her character and her understanding of the world in SMALL BENEATH THE SKY.
If there are any foodies or environmental activists on your list, Sarah Elton’s LOCAVORE will surely delight them. Sarah writes about her journey through contemporary Canadian food culture, as she explores the challenges and triumphs of eating a local diet in Canada. Named a David Suzuki Foundation Book Club Pick, this engaging book is an important edition to add to anyone’s collection.
Fiction
For those who love short stories: TOUCHY SUBJECTS by Emma Donaghue: a sparkling collection of nineteen contemporary stories “Fizzes with affection, fun, fecundity” (Globe and Mail) BETTER LIVING THROUGH PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES is Zsuzsi Gartner’s eagerly anticipated depth charge of deadly satire and trademark dark humour.
The hottest title in Canadian fiction this year is HALF-BLOOD BLUES by Esi Edugyan, this year’s Giller Prize winner. HALF-BLOOD BLUES is a beautifully written novel about one man’s experiences of jazz, love, and race against the backdrop of Germany and Paris in the 1940s.
For historical fiction fans: Set in lower Manhattan in 1871, THE VIRGIN CURE, by Ami McKay (author of the esteemed THE BIRTH HOUSE) brings us the story of twelve year old Moth, whose family’s betrayals lead her to the murky world of thieves, beggars, prostitutes and strange characters – yet her dreams of independence remain foremost. An engrossing story with wonderful prose.
“Beautifully written, intricately plotted, humourous and earthy”; “illuminating and heartbreaking”: “wickedly funny”; capitivating”; “mishievious and optimistic” are the words of praise for Andrea Levy’s THE LONG SONG, a story set in 19th century Jamaica in the turbulent years before and just after the abolition of slavery. You will love July, the storyteller of this extraordinary novel.
An author whose work I greatly admire and who I feel is seriously underrecognized is Nancy Huston. Her newest work INFRARED is a novel of great depth. Reading it I loved it, hated it and loved it again, but it a story that will remain with me. I’m interested in other people’s opinions. See WHAT’S NEW for more fiction ideas.
Children’s Books
Two wonderful baby books are I SEE ME BY Margaret Manuel which shows baby in a variety of activities. Great for bilingual familes as each depiction provides space to include the new word in a second language. BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is a book of photographs of babies with their “best friend” .. dogs, cats or fish. Lovely.
For pre-schoolers there is KISS ME! (I’m a Prince) by Thunder Bay’s Heather McLeod.. This is a delightfully unconvential fairy tale … with a twist. THE RABBIT’S RACE, by Deborah L. Delaronde is a tale of new friendships and valuable lessons. Beautiful photographs by Jason Stemple augment Jane Yolen WATER MUSIC: Poems for Children.
Older children will enjoy YENY AND THE CHILDREN FOR PEACE, by Michelle Mulder, a book inspired by the Colombian Children;s Movement for Peace. An instructive, historical story FACTORY GIRL , by Barbara Greenwood, tells of the plight of children working in North American cities in the early 1900s. A book to inspire the young writer in your family is RIP THE PAGE: Adventures in Creative Writing, by Karen Benke.
Local Authors
Finally, some recent books by NWO authors (see BUY BOOKS for more titles). CORE SAMPLES: Poems from Northwestern Ontario, by Sharon Irvine, Sue Blott, Sherri Lankinen, Cathy Carroll, Mary Frost ; FIRST VOICES: an Aboriginal Women’s Reader, edited by Patricia A. Monture and Patricia D. McGuire; AND BABY MAKES MORE: Known Donors, Queer Parents, and Our Unexpected Families; edited by Susan Goldberg and Chloe Brushwood Rose, offers insights into how queer families are being reconceived to include new roles, new rules, and kinship ties that transcend biology. .Nominated for several prestigeous awards THE BEGGAR’S GARDEN, by Michael Christie is a fine collection of stories: EYE LAKE, is a great novel by Atikokan’s Tristan Hughes. Take a trip into the past with James R. Stevens exceptional WILD ON THE SUPERIOR FRONTIER:A Romance of Settler’s Lives Lake Superior 1845-1900.
We have a great selection of calendars and engagement books which always make nice gifts. Come browse the Bookstore and if you still can’t decide we always have gift certificates. Happy Reading!
Galvanize Your Mind
Check out the Northern Woman's Bookstore new book club on our "Book Club" page.
The 
We'Moon 2012 datebooks are in!
This year's We'Moon: Gaia Rhythms for Womyn datebook features art and writing by and about women: an exploration of women's experiences and perspectives, a goddess-inspired creation from the growing edge of global women's culture. We'Moon includes full daily lunar and astrological information, a comprehensive introduction to astrology, Sun / Moon / Earth cycles, and seasonal Holy Days. With gorgeous imagery, inspiring writing from women, and multi-formatted calendars (weekly; week-at-a-glance, year-at-a-glance, and lunar-month-at-a-glance), We'Moon (meaning "women") is an inspiring and practical datebook for the year.
How exciting it is to have the International Festival of Authors Ontario come to Thunder Bay! Three wonderful writers -- James Bartleman, Johanna Skibsrud and Jane Urquhart -- will read from their latest books:
Tickets are $10 and are available at the Northern Woman's Bookstore or the Waverley Resource Library.
The event will be held:
October 16, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.
Prince Arthur Hotel & Suites - Provincial Room
Contact us, or drop by to purchase your tickets! The three books (above) are available for sale at the Northern Woman's Bookstore, along with other works by these wonderful authors.
October 4th, 2011: Kim Anderson Author Reading
Kim Anderson, author of A Recognition of Being: Reconstructing Native Womanhood, will be hosting an author reading at the Northern Woman's Bookstore. Kim will be reading from her newest publication, Life Stages and Native Woman: Memory, Teachings and Story Medicine.
Kim Anderson is a Cree/Metis educator and co-editor of Strong Women Stories: Native Vision and Community Survival. When Kim was in Thunder Bay in 2005 to celebrate the week of International Women's Day with her book A Recognition of Being, she attracted a full house. We encourage folks to come a bit early on Tuesday to get a good seat!
Doors open at 7pm and the event will start at 7:30 at the Northern Woman's Bookstore.
Here are a few additional words about Kim's new book:
A rare and inspiring guide to the health and well-being of Aboriginal women and their communities.
The process of "digging up medicines" - of rediscovering the stories of the past - serves as a powerful healing force in the decolonization and recovery of Aboriginal communities. In Life Stages and Native Women, Kim Anderson shares the teachings of fourteen elders from the Canadian prairies and Ontario to illustrate how different life stages were experienced by Metis, Cree, and Anishinaabe girls and women during the mid-twentieth century. These elders relate stories about their own lives, the experiences of girls and women of their childhood communities, and customs related to pregnancy, birth, post-natal care, infant and child care, puberty rites, gender and age-specific work roles, the distinct roles of post-menopausal women, and women's roles in managing death. Through these teachings, we learn how evolving responsibilities from infancy to adulthood shaped women's identities and place within Indigenous society, and were integral to the health and well-being of their communities. By understanding how healthy communities were created in the past, Anderson explains how this traditional knowledge can be applied toward rebuilding healthy Indigenous communities today.
Summer is drawing to a close....
The nip in the night air tells us that the dog days of summer will soon be behind us.
We have been blessed with an incredible summer of gorgeous days -- even the butterflies can't believe the intensity of summer's gifts.
Well, the coming days promise more sunshine! So there is still time to enjoy these lazy heat-filled days by curling up with a book. Take some time to sit outside and let the scent of sweet grass, the whir of the hummingbird, and the dance of the bee on the blossom be your reading companions!
Check out our What's New page for some reading suggestions. Drop by to the store Wednesday to Saturday where you'll be sure to find just the book you are looking for.
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Media Release from Ontario Native Women's Association
August 11, 2011
Re: ONWA Invites Thunder Bay to Welcome Walk4Justice Walkers
Ontario – The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) is pleased to announce that the Walk4Justice walkers are currently in Winnipeg, Manitoba and are expected to arrive in Thunder Bay on the afternoon of Saturday, August 13th.Walk4Justice is a not for profit organization that was cofounded by Gladys Radek and Bernie Williams in 2008. Its primary objective is to raise awareness about the hundreds of Missing and Murdered Aboriginal women across Canada. Many of the group’s supporters are family members who have lost their grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunts and daughters – women, men and youth from all walks of life who want justice, closure, equality and accountability for their loved ones. The walk began in Vancouver, BC on June 21st, 2011 and is making its way across Canada in hopes of reaching its final destination in Ottawa, Ontario in late September. Upon its arrival, the group plans to hold a rally on Parliament Hill.
In honour of the group’s arrival to Thunder Bay on August 13th, ONWA together with Sharon Johnson, Ann McGuire and Lakehead University’s Aboriginal Cultural and Support Services will be hosting a public event at Vickers Park commencing at 4 pm. All community members are welcome to attend this event where words of support will be shared and then followed by a group walk to City Hall. Everyone in attendance is invited to join in the walk. The walk is expected to arrive at City Hall in time to greet the Walk4Justice walkers.
For more information about Walk4Justice, visit their website.
For more information please contact: Lorene Rego, Media & Communications Officer · Phone: 807-623-3442
Toll Free: 1-800-667-0816 · E-mail: communications@onwa-tbay.ca
Here is the latest report from Winnipeg on the Walk4Justice:
Hello everyone, So sorry we have had very limited internet while we are traveling.
The walkers have arrived in Winnipeg and greeted by many of our grassroots supporters and family members. Bernadette Smith sponsored the walkers with a room at the Best Western for three nights and the Canadian Human Rights Museum sponsored 2 more rooms for the walkers, as well.
Thank you so much! Thunderbird House is hosting a Sweat and feast, for us and like minded people today at 3:00 p.m., feast at 5PM.
We have the honor of Thunderbird House doing everything they can to make all our walkers feel welcome and comfortable in this Treaty 1 Territory. Thank you all for your invaluable support.
Met with Ann McGuire who is helping us coordinate with our sister Sharon Johnson and ONWA to prepare for our arrival in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Henri Chevillard has been helping immensely by coordinating with all the groups involved with our stay in Winnipeg and escorting us through the city. Tomorrow is a big day with an all day event called No Stone Unturned which is organized by Berndatte Smith.
We are truely gratefull for all our friends, family and supporters who have acknowledged the walkers efforts in raising awareness about our loved and valued Murdered and Missing Women.
We have to run out the door right now and I will try to get on line again later to fill in the days events. ....
Thank you all for your support, donations and kind offers for accomodations as we have progressed. If it were not for all of you, our walk would not have succeeded this far.
Our humblest thank you for helping us continue our fight for justice!
What do we want? JUSTICE! When do we want it? NOW!
Love you all! In solidarity,
Gladys, Bernie and all the walkers
Story supplied by Sharon Johnson and Thunder Bay’s Full Moon Memory Walk for Missing and Murdered Anishinabe and Metis Women. For more information visit their Facebook Page .
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Book Sale July 29 - Aug. 6, 2011
Fiction Books Sale 20% off
At the heart of this African novel is Angel Tungaraza, a Tanzanian woman who has recently moved to Rwanda with her husband Pius and their five orphaned grandchildren. Menopausal and putting on weight, she is an enthusiastic baker of delicious, brightly-iced cakes, which she sells to friends and neighbours. But Baking Cakes in Kigali is not simply a warm story of family life and friendship. For it is set six years after Rwanda's genocide of 1994 – "those hundred days while violence was tearing this country to pieces like a chicken on a plate".
reviewed by Susan Williams, The Independent
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July 2011: Book Signing by Rachel Mishenene
Rachel Mishenene (Thunder Bay) recently launched the book STRENGTH AND STRUGGLE: Perspectives from First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Peoples in Canada at the Northern Woman’s Bookstore in June, to a standing room only crowd. Congratulations Rachel!
On Wednesday, July 6th, from 4:45 – 5.30 p.m. Rachel will be signing her book at the Bookstore for anyone who missed her at the launch.
The book is a rich array of short stories, poetry, music lyrics, graphic art, articles, essays and other pieces that will have you laughing, talking and thinking. Although designed as an educational resource for high-school use, the essays and stories deserve a much broader readership that will benefit everyone. Many of the over thirty contributors are from Northwestern Ontario.
June 2011: SALE ON LGBTQ Books
The Northern Woman’s Bookstore congratulates Thunder Pride for an incredible week of successful events from June 5-12!
In celebration of diversity in Northwestern Ontario, the bookstore is offering a 20% discount on all books authored by LGBTQ authors, up until June 30, 2011.
Stop by to check out our selection!
May 2011: Welcome to our new website!
Welcome to The Northern Woman’s Bookstore’s new website!
We are a feminist bookstore in Thunder Bay, Ontario dedicated to helping spread the written words of women in all our diversities. We stock books by First Nations, Metis, lesbian, Queer, women of colour, local, Canadian and international writers, among others.
Both in our physical place on 65 South Court St. and in our online space right here, we work to keep women’s voices and feminisms a strong presence in Northwestern Ontario.
We carry both fiction and non-fiction, from novels, poetry, and magazines to books on history, biography, health, theory, violence, global issues, self-help, writing, and spirituality. We also carry books for girls and children, many by First Nation and Metis writers.
We are currently constructing our website. We hope to have a complete listing of the books we carry posted on our website soon. You will find upcoming events at The Northern Woman’s Bookstore and in the community posted on our website.
You will also find book reviews and staff picks, along with pages on our history, our bookclub, The Colouring Books Sisterhood, and our writing group, RedShoes on Court.
We are also beginning to archive our past events, photos of our gatherings, such as book launches and readings, and the writings of women who have contributed to making feminism a force in Northwestern Ontario. This will include archiving past issues of The Northern Woman Journal.
Come back and visit us soon!
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