There are three books in the series so far, “Poppa and His Drum”, “Poppa and the Sacred Kitpu”, and “Poppa and the Medicine Wheel.”
She was 21 years old when she finally understood why French wasn’t allowed in her childhood home, let alone her school in St. George ‘s. However, today Judy Doucette Falle is getting ready to release her fourth book of Mi'kmaw cultural lessons for young and old alike. The series centers around her father, Francois Doucette, who was born in Stephenville and only spoke French, but had to learn English when he moved to St. George’s for work. There are three books, “Poppa and His Drum”, “Poppa and the Sacred Kitpu”, and “Poppa and the Medicine Wheel.”
Doucette Falle says the books are their story, her truth and time for reconciliation. Her father was not allowed to speak French, play his drum or dress in Indigenous regalia and as a 12 year old suffered the colonial way of being strapped by the nuns or tied to a bench for speaking his native language.
As a young adult, she discovered the truth and that he kept French and the Mi’kmaw culture away to protect her from suffering the oppression and humiliation he did as a child.
Doucette Falle’s next book due out this spring, is called “ Papa and the Mystical Masgwi which means “birch tree.”
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