Indigenous Resilience in Illustration

“Nimkii” and the Story of Survival

Abstract

This Place: 150 Years Retold (edited by Ryan Howe and Jen Storm) marks a watershed moment in the portrayal of Indigenous histories in Canada. As a graphic novel anthology crafted by Indigenous creators, it turns the page on settler-centred narratives and restores narrative sovereignty. The stories offer an emotional journey through the past century and a half, exploring the resilience and resistance of communities that have endured a post-apocalyptic existence since the era of Contact. Readers bear witness to Indigenous imagination, psychic confrontations with the lingering impacts of genocide, and profound reflections on the nature of time and existence. This paper argues that, within the anthology, the story "Nimkii" stands out, offering a poignant representation of the resilience of Indigenous communities amidst the devastating historical event of the Sixties Scoop. Crafted by the writing of Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm and the artwork of Ryan Howe and Jen Storm, “Nimkii”’s narrative is a testament to the indomitable spirit of Indigenous Peoples, their deeply rooted connections to one another, and their fight to heal the enduring scars of colonial oppression. This paper offers an analysis of “Nimki”’s testimony, and closes by reflecting on the story’s potential impacts on an Indigenous reader.