Brick Books 50th Anniversary: Brilliant and Timeless Books to Take Another Look At—A Really Good Brown Girl

Alive and Thriving for 50 Years

Founded in 1975 by poets Don McKay and Stan Dragland, Brick Books is marking its 50^th anniversary in 2025. Keeping a poetry-only small press not only alive but thriving for fifty years in a capitalist culture is an unlikely feat, and we’re in the mood to celebrate. One of the ways we’ll be celebrating throughout the year is by publishing a series of blogposts by Canadian poets reflecting on titles from our backlist—brilliant and timeless books we’d love readers to take another look at.

The second book we’re highlighting is A Really Good Brown Girl by Marilyn Dumont.

First published in 1996, A Really Good Brown Girl is a fierce, honest and courageous account of what it takes to grow into one’s self and one’s Métis heritage in the face of myriad institutional and cultural obstacles. It is an indispensable contribution to Canadian literature.

A Really Good Brown Girl

by Katherena Vermette

A Really Good Brown Girl is a masterful rendering of a brutal colonial landscape and the beautiful girl who belongs there. The poignant story of a young person who pushed against mainstream expectations, came into her own power, and brought her family and her Nation with her. Dumont doesn’t just reclaim, she never let go. She shows that Michif people have never resurged, we’ve been going strong this whole time, in spite, despite, no matter what. Dumont is one of our foremost leaders. She led the chant when no one else was there to join, and she held the door open for the rest of us to follow. This book called out to all of us and reminded us of all the things we can do, have yet to do.

That’s what this book is – a call to arms. Or to pens, maybe, as it were.

It is an honour to read Marilyn Dumont. These poems are powerful warrior songs sung gently. The wind echoes them, and the land reverberates as our ancestors sing along.

This seminal poetry collection will forever be cited as influential. It has literally changed lives.

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