Lee Maracle’s Bobbi Lee Indian Rebel tells the narrative of an Indigenous woman raised in North America who finds her strength despite the forces that challenge and oppress her. Grippingly honest, Lee’s autobiographical exploration of post-colonial tensions in Toronto circa 1960-1980 sheds light on the existing racist and sexist sentiments affecting Indigenous women. Reflective of the struggles Indigenous communities face today, this book continues to hold a place within contemporary Indigenous and women’s studies classrooms.

New and updated, this edition features a preface by Lee Maracle.

Lee Maracle is a member of the Sto:Lo nation. She was born in Vancouver and grew up on the North Shore. She is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Ravensong and Daughters Are Forever. Her novel for young adults, Will’s Garden was well-received and is taught in schools. She has also published on book of poetry, Bent Box, and a work of creative non-fiction, I Am Woman. She is the co-editor of a number of anthologies, including the award winning anthology My Home As I Remember and Telling It: Women and Language across Culture. Her work has been published in anthologies and scholarly journals worldwide. The mother of four and grandmother of seven, Maracle is currently an instructor at the University of Toronto, the Traditional Teacher for First Nation’s House, and instructor with the Centre for Indigenous Theatre and the S.A.G.E. (Support for Aboriginal Graduate Education). She is also a writing instructor at the Banff Centre for the Arts.

In 2009, Maracle received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from St. Thomas University. Maracle recently received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work promoting writing among Aboriginal Youth, and is 2014 finalist for the Ontario Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.

Maracle has served as Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, and the University of Western Washington.

Lee Maracle's profile page

“Bobbi Lee Indian Rebel was a groundbreaking book in the 1970s and is still urgently relevant today.… The book is an early depiction of Indigenous women’s resilience in the face of colonialism. The personal story frames the political story—as memoir does. Maracle has gone on to become one of the most important writers in Canada.” — “Linda Warley, Department of English Language and Literature, University of Waterloo

“With courage, honesty, humour, and integrity, Lee Maracle has set down on paper the beginnings of her life-journey. Her story is not pretty nor is it a romantic vision, but a true and clear history of growing up Native and female in North America. This book belongs on all bookshelves alongside Maria Campbell’s Half Breed.”— “Beth Brant (1990 review), author of Mohawk Trail and Writing as Witness

“This is the charged story of a Native woman who has done more than survive, who despite great odds has burst forth singing a warrior song. She dares to question that which is most painful in this continental wounding (call it history, call it genocide) larger than all of us. You will be changed.” — “Joy Harjo, poet, musician, and author of She Had Some Horses and Crazy Brave