Wab Kinew, activist, broadcaster, and musician discusses his new memoir, The Reason You Walk (Viking, 2015), reconciliation, his father’s example, and more, with Joseph Planta.

The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew (Viking, 2015). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Reason You Walk

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

One of the more compelling and moving books you’ll read is the memoir from Wab Kinew: The Reason You Walk. The book chronicles the year or so that Wab takes off from the CBC to spend time with his ailing father. I’ll get Mr. Kinew to tell us about his father, their relationship, and how they got closer in the year or so before his father’s death. The book also revisits his own childhood, but also the childhood his father had, in a residential school. Web describes the conditions in which his father lived, and the abuse he suffered. The book thoughtfully looks at his father’s spiritualism, and the relationship between indigenous culture and Catholicism, especially how they both intersected in his father’s life. Forgiveness, healing and hope are themes throughout the book, whether it’s Wab’s own journey, or his father’s. Wab Kinew is the associate vice president for indigenous relations at the University of Winnipeg. He is also a correspondent with Al Jazeera America. He hosts the CBC’s Canada Reads series, as well as hosted the acclaimed documentary series 8th Fire. He’s won awards for his hip-hop, as well as his journalism. He is an honorary witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. He lives in Winnipeg, but joined me last week in Vancouver while in town for appearances at the Vancouver Writers Fest. The website for more is at www.wabkinew.ca. The book is published by Viking. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Wab Kinew; Mr. Kinew, good morning.

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