From the Ashes: My Story of Being Indigenous, Homeless, and Finding My Way

Raw, honest, and open. Tackles many problems of our ever growing homelessness today, and how the drug trade fuels it. Interesting insights into the indigenous population of native Canadians in Saskatchewan.

Anyone who thinks we’re all given equal opportunities in life needs to read “From The Ashes”. Jesse Thistle writes beautifully and in compelling fashion, using his life as a lens to explore why so many Indigenous people are incarcerated or homeless. An incredible story of abandonment, despair, courage, and self-salvation.

I related a lot to this author. I was adopted from a Metis/indigenous mother out of Canada by non-indigenous parents in the US. Like the author I lost my roots, connection to family and my heritage. I also struggled with drugs. I have been in recovery for decades now. I to his search for identity, his indigenous roots, that he eventually connected with, and the horrific journey of his addiction. I want to give him a hug and say, “damn, you’re a miracle.”

Jesse Thistle’s book tells what is an unbelievable story. You think, while reading it, this man shouldn’t be alive today! And yet, he lives and is doing critical work as a homelessness advocate and as a Metis history scholar. Jesse’s book is absorbing - you won’t want to put it down. It’s a book that will be enjoyed by a wide audience. It will make you think about the homeless person you pass downtown, and create empathy for those struggling with addiction. It should be required reading for government staff, police officers, and should be on high school reading lists everywhere.

A true story of homelessness. Jesse writes about how he got there and all of the perils that he encountered and finally how he was able to pull out of the life on the streets. This book is so well written and will stay with you long after you finish it. I highly recommend.

Jessie and his brothers were abandoned by their parents and he walked in his father's shadow. His grandparents took the boys in and raised them. Grandparents love their grandchildren and I know his grandparents loved him. The Grandparents have raised their children, they are older now and set in their ways. They try but I think they probably resent the parents not caring for their children and the responsibility falling to them. They are afraid that Jessie will follow in his father's footsteps, which he does, and they do not want him to take his brother's with him.At a young age Jessie finds alcohol and drugs. His choices lead him to becoming an addict. His family , his brother's try to help, and friends try to help, but the lure of the drug is too strong and he doesn't have the will to fight it. It makes life easier and after a while it is his way of life. The darkness overtakes him and he is lost for a while.He struggles and at times he tries to do better and to get out of the life, but it sucks him back in and he is once again lost. The horrors of addiction are real, the struggle to become clean and sober again is an insurmountable hope.Thanks to caring people, and tremendous courage, he finally breaks free and rebuilds his life. The scars he carries with him both physical and metal will be with him forever. I think that for a very long time he will fight the demons and the darkness of drug addiction.I am glad that he is back in the arms of his family and has a relationship with his aunt, his mother and his relatives. His story is truly one of pain, hopelessness and finally hope and love. I thanks Jessie for sharing it.Thanks to Jessie Thistle, Atria Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy for an honest review.

A story starting with pain and disparity ending in hope and triumph.What a way to use your life and experiences to make the world a better place.

My hubby is enjoying the book so far.

An excellent autobiography of an indigenous Canadian's struggles with his identity, bad family relationships and drug addiction; a strong reminder of the dangers of the latter in particular. It is a bit disjointed but the author admits as much - he's had to rely on plenty of others to get the story in a coherent shape but he wasn't exactly taking notes at the time.A particularly timely read with the recent discovery of a mass grave at a Canadian residential school and well worth checking out.

This is a powerful and deeply moving read by a very honest writer. I admire his poignant handling of unutterable hurtful feelings, particularly those from his time as a boy and later as an addict. Through each stage, he takes us inside his skin and shows us the world through his eyes. His is a voice we can trust. Each scene is packed with authenticity and courage. Using shadows and wolves to convey the malignant intent of people who were supposed to be taking care of him and his brothers, daring to touch both the ecstasy and the agony of addiction, this book is filled with messy human experiences in all of their truth and complexity. I believe books like this when they are taken inside and absorbed have the power to make our souls grow. And then there is the writing mastery: poetry combined with prose, sensory vividness, the light touch that leaves moral questions in our hands as the reader and so much more. Gratitude to the author for a heartfelt read. Thank you. I will read this book again.

What a rollercoaster this book was!! Definitely not my usual choice of easy and light-hearted reading. Every time I thought that Jesse’s life couldn’t possibly get any worse, it did, and his downward spiral continued. I was in awe during the whole story about just how much the human body can withstand. It was a long and exhaustive read and when I finally got to the happier ending my emotions were spent!If you like this review and want to read more, follow me on Instagram - @books_and_bug

My dad, who is an avid reader-who reads a new book every few days for over 50 years- recommended this book. He said that this is one of the BEST books he has ever read! He said he couldnt put it down and that it was so beautifully written, the words stayed with him long after he finished the book.I could not agree more. Thank you Jesse Thistle for sharing your incredible and inspiring story.

This book was an intense read. It was the same as many other books about Indigenous life that I have already read. Jesse has done well for himself so for that I am pleased. The last bit of the book that discussed repeated prison life episodes seemed to drag on. They were very repetitive. It is a vicious cycle of man against the world. It is a well written memoir with plenty of personal tragedy in the mix. I would recommend this book to others if they have not read a lot of books about Indigenous people. I gave this book a 4 star rating.