Around the fire with North Wind Man
In late March, a group of Conrad Grebel University College students and staff sat around a roaring fire in a tent near Victoria Park in Kitchener. The chill in the air was soon replaced with the scent of sage, as Clarence Cachagee, founder of Crow Shield Lodge, shared his story and lessons learned on his way to becoming the community leader he is today. This visit was the culmination of a winter-term Grebel book club focused on the story of Clarence’s life.
“We seek to provide learning opportunities for our students outside the classroom,” explained Gemma Ricker-Rampersad, Student Life and Recruitment Coordinator at Grebel, who initiated the book club. “It’s a meaningful way for students, staff, and faculty to connect informally while learning with and from each other.”
North Wind Man, written by Clarence Cachagee and Seth Ratzlaff (BA 2014, MTS 2018), and published with Jonathan Seiling (BA 1999, MTS 2004) at Gelassenheit Publications, tells the story of a Cree man's journey of healing and becoming a community helper. “I wanted to read North Wind Man because the authors are local and I thought it would be an interesting experience to read the book and then meet them,” noted Gemma. “Grebel is also always looking for ways for our staff and students to learn more about the land we live on and the people who lived here first.”
The book club also met with co-author Seth Ratzlaff, who shared about the writing process.
“Reading North Wind Man in a Grebel book club setting that included faculty, staff, undergrad and grad students, created a space that was both communal and introspective,” described Master of Theological Studies student Charlene Janes. “The story, rooted in the lived experiences of Clarence Cachagee, offered not just a narrative but a testimony, one that invited listening, humility, and emotional engagement.” Charlene was particularly struck by how the book frames healing as a non-linear journey – ongoing, relational, and tied to community and culture. She said it challenged her to think more critically about listening to Indigenous voices in a respectful and responsible way.
Mimi Browne recalled a memorable quote from Clarence: "It's not about shame or blame, it's about the truth." She mentioned that this perspective has been valuable to her, helping her to focus on understanding facts without judging others, and enabling more productive progress in challenging situations.
For Charlene, a particularly meaningful extension of the book club was the visit to Crow Shield Lodge. “Being physically present in a space dedicated to healing added a new dimension to what we had been reading,” she reflected. “The lodge embodied many of the book’s themes of restoration, community, and cultural continuity in a tangible way. It shifted my engagement from intellectual reflection to something more grounded and relational. The visit made clear that the stories in North Wind Man are not confined to the past or to the page; they continue to shape real communities and ongoing practices of healing.”
“Ultimately, this experience was not just about reading a book, but about being invited into a story that carries real weight,” added Charlene. “It calls for empathy, reflection, and a willingness to be changed.”
