Indians Do Cry (Swift Water Books, 2027)

Duncan McCue/ Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley

Indians Do Cry is set for release in Fall 2027. The book explores the profound effects of residential school on George, who was taken from his family at age seven to attend Pelican Lake Indian Residential School in northern Ontario. Hockey became his refuge during those challenging years, offering an outlet for his endurance and spirit. His son Mike faced the ripple effects of intergenerational trauma but found strength in his own hockey journey, eventually playing for the Estonian national team and pursuing a doctoral degree at McGill University. Through their father-son relationship, Indians Do Cry weaves a story of survivance and reconciliation, framed as a sports memoir to resonate with Canada’s hockey-loving audience.

Funded in part by a $57,900 Canada Council for the Arts grant, the project has expanded to over 140 pages, allowing Duncan and Mangeshig to deepen their storytelling through extensive research, interviews, and artwork.

Duncan, known for his work as a CBC journalist and storyteller, began researching the project in Winter 2023, collaborating closely with George and Mike to ensure a survivor-centered approach. “This story is about more than hockey—it’s about survival, healing, and the strength of family ties,” Duncan said. “I’m grateful to partner with Mangeshig and Swift Water Books to share this journey with readers.”