The Story of North Wind Man

North Wind Man, a memoir of healing co-authored by Clarence Cachagee and Seth Ratzlaff, was officially released on January 31, 2023. A Sixties Scoop survivor with lived experience of addiction and homelessness, Cachagee is now the Executive Director and founder of Crow Shield Lodge, a non-profit Indigenous organization that focuses on land-based healing and teaching for all nations.
Our lecture will speak to Clarence Cachagee’s challenging and inspiring path to becoming a helper and leader in his community — a multi-generational healing journey that reveals cycles of trauma and oppression, beauty and resilience. After being displaced into foster care as a young child, and raised by a Mennonite family, Cachagee struggled for years with addictions and homelessness, until he embarked on a new path by reconnecting with his Indigenous culture and accepting the support of his community.
We will also share on how we collaborated as co-authors to craft a memoir that honours Clarence’s voice and life, while including the voices of his community. Along with Cachagee’s storytelling, the book includes interviews with family members, social workers, and community leaders, and integrates local history of the Waterloo Region and Chapleau Cree First Nation.