A Girl Called Echo Omnibus

All four volumes of A Girl Called Echo are all brought together in the new A Girl Called Echo Omnibus. These stories, written by katherena vermette, illustrated by Scott B. Henderson and coloured by Donovan Yaciuk, provide readers with an unbiased understanding of the creation and continuation of the Métis Nation.

In the omnibus, readers travel through time with teenager Echo Desjardins as she learns more and more about her ancestors when a history class at her new school inspires a little time travel. In each volume she is transported back in time to the key moments in Métis history: The Pemmican Wars, The Red River Resistance, The Northwest Resistance and finally, the Road Allowance Era. Through her travels, readers gain a more complete understanding of the colonial agenda and the affect it continues to have on the Métis Nation. Readers also gain a greater understanding of the strength and perseverance of Métis People.

Not only do readers travel through time and learn the unapologetic history of Métis people, but we see a teenager navigating through teenaghood and facing challenges that are very real. Echo is trying to reconnect with her mother and in navigating a new school environment and figuringing out her place in the world, trying to learn more about being Métis. There is also lots of incredible representation for LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit individuals through the different people who navigate into Echo’s orbit. 

I love the non fiction elements of this omnibus. With new timelines, historical maps, a list of the Métis rights, how to make pemmican, etc. There is continual learning throughout this historical fiction series of comics/graphic novels.

The art and colouring is stunning! The detail that Scott B. Henderson and Dominik Yakiuk put into each panel immerses readers into the story carrying us from past to present with ease. I love all the little Easter eggs throughout the panels, readers young and old will appreciate all of the little details. The richness of the colours fit perfectly with the tone of the stories, helping to keep us in the past when we need to be a bringing us back to the present..