Jesse Thistle's From the Ashes is a memoir chronicling his journey from homelessness and addiction to becoming a scholar and advocate. Through unflinching honesty about trauma, foster care, and life on the streets, Thistle explores how reconnecting with his Métis heritage became essential to healing. The memoir becomes both personal testimony and indictment of systems that fail Indigenous people, proving that recovery is possible and that cultural reconnection can be lifesaving.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Thistle tells a story that's both specific and representative of how colonialism creates homelessness and addiction in Indigenous communities. This memoir reminds us that individual stories reveal systemic failures, that healing requires cultural connection, and that some people survive against impossible odds.

DETAILS: • Author: Jesse Thistle • Publisher: Simon & Schuster • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: August 6, 2019 • ISBN: 9781982101213 • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days