Gabriel’s book shortlisted for award

The past few months have seen Ellen Katsi’tsakwas Gabriel and co-author Sean Carleton travel to a number of cities, sharing their book, When the Pine Needles Fall, with readers all over Turtle Island.

Now, the book is reaching even more people, having been longlisted for the 2025 Canada Reads list and shortlisted for the Wilson Institute Book Prize.

“I’m surprised by how well it’s been doing, I’m really honoured that people have enjoyed reading it,” said Gabriel.

“I’m quite pleased that people grab the book and take some notice of it.”

Canada Reads is a prestigious annual competition, with one book named annually that “the whole country should read this year.” When the Pine Needles Fall was named as one of 15 books on the longlist last month.

Despite not cinching a spot on the five-book shortlist announced at the end of January, the Canada Reads longlist still helps propel the book to a bigger audience.

“The Canada Reads longlist introduces the book to a mainstream audience that maybe is unfamiliar with Ellen’s story,” said Carleton, a settler-historian whose conversations with Gabriel about the Siege of Kanehsatake and beyond are recorded in the book.

“Our goal isn’t to win awards, our goal is to change the world, but nevertheless the recognition the book is receiving will help people connect with these really important lessons.”

The Wilson Institute Book Prize is given annually to a book that “best places Canadian history in a transnational context.”

Gabriel said that it’s particularly interesting to see the book shortlisted for a Canadian history prize.

“It’s kind of ironic, since there’s still no interest in teaching about the real history of Canada, the genocidal history of Canada, and how it continues to treat Indigenous people,” Gabriel said.

“I think it’s really an accomplishment, I’m happy that it’s making the rounds and I’m hoping that it’ll spark some interest, especially among the youth, to understand the resistance.”

In its announcement of the shortlist, the Wilson Institute said that Gabriel and Carleton’s book is “more than just the memoir of an extraordinary individual,” which “offers an intimate look” into Gabriel’s life experiences.

“When the Pine Needles Fall offers insight into Indigenous language, history, and philosophy, reflections on our relationship with the land, and calls to action against both colonialism and capitalism as we face the climate crisis,” the Institute said. “Gabriel’s hopes for a decolonial future makes clear why protecting Indigenous homelands is vital not only for the survival of Indigenous peoples, but for all who live on this planet.”

Gabriel said that being longlisted and shortlisted means that more people will hear about her own journey with resistance and can use the book as a teaching tool to inform their paths with activism.

“We’re living in really dangerous times where fascism is really bold and not trying to hide or camouflage its intent,” she said. “It’s timely that it’s coming out the way it has, and it’s bringing out another generation that’s going to learn about our story and our history.”

Carleton said it’s particularly gratifying to make the Wilson Institute shortlist, because part of the book’s overall goal is to challenge colonial narratives by putting forward Gabriel’s own experiences.

“Now we have Ellen’s voice on the historical record and the historical community is not only learning from that but embracing that,” he said. “I think it’s a sign that things are going in the right direction, and that Indigenous people can control their own narratives about these big historical events.”

The winner of the Wilson Institute prize will be announced in the late spring.

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