Review in Comox Valley Record
Breaking Trail More Than Just Biographical
Breaking Trail, the life story of Len Marchand, the first aboriginal member of parliament in Canada, is a new release from Caitlin Press. It is co-authored by Len Marchand and Comox Valley writer Matt Hughes.
Breaking Trail is an easy-to-read book that takes the reader from Len Marchand's early upbringing on an Okanagan reserve to his political career in Ottawa where he served as minister of several portfolios including that of Ministry of Environment.
Marchand grew up in a time when aboriginal people were required to live on reserves, were not allowed to vote or buy liquor and could not sell or lease land without the local Indian Agent's permission. His family was close knit and primarily supported themselves by raising hay and cattle.
After a short stint at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, Marchand became the first aboriginal to attend the high school in Vernon. Part way through high school Marchand decided he wanted to go on to university but in grade 12 he realized that the Indian Agent and school had placed him in a vocational agricultural program that did not provide him with the credits he needed to further his education. It had never crossed their minds that an "Indian" might want to do something
Despite this setback Marchand managed to make his way through the University of British Columbia. His goal was to become an agricultural researcher and scientist but he joined the North American Indian Brotherhood and eventually found himself a politician in Ottawa.
Although Marchand lived much of his life in times that were less enlightened towards minorities than they are now, he tells his story in a straight forward manner that is totally lacking in rancor. He gives a factual account of native issues and provides some personal insights into the process of politics and the Trudeau years that he was part of. Marchand's only regret is that after 30 years, he is still the only aboriginal person from British Columbia to be part of parliament.
Collaborating author, Matt Hughes, has lived in the Comox Valley since 1989. He got his start writing the old fashioned way - when he had a good collection of clips from the Simon Fraser University student newspaper, he took them to the Sun and Province newspapers.
He was working at a Port Alberni newspaper when he was invited to go to Ottawa and ghost write a political newspaper column. He began writing speeches and became Marchand's speech writer and communications aide while Marchand was Minister of State for Small Business and Minister of the Environment. The two men kept in contact over the years and Marchand turned to Hughes when he decided to write his memoirs.
In addition to Breaking Trail, Hughes is the author of two novels, Fools Errant (1994) and Downshift (1997). A sequel to Downshift is scheduled to be released in 2001.
Hughes says he "takes credit for writing the words as told to him by Marchand," but adds that "writing about Marchand's life was a lot easier than it must have been to live it."
Breaking Trail is presented in a conversational style that makes the reader feel like they are sharing a few good stories over a cup of coffee with Marchand.
-Paula Wild, Comox Valley Record