Between the Pipes - by Albert McLeod (Paperback)

About the Book

Chase's identity should be simple. He's the goalie on his hockey team. He's Kookum's grandchild. He's a boy. He should like girls. But it's not that easy. With the help of an Elder and a Two-Spirit mentor, can Chase learn to be proud of who he is? This graphic novel explores toxic masculinity through the experiences of an Indigenous teen.

Book Synopsis

Thirteen-year-old Chase's life and identity should be simple. He's the goalie for his hockey team, the Eagles. He's a friend to Kevin and Jade. He's Kookum's youngest grandchild. He's a boy. He should like girls.

But it's not that simple. Chase doesn't like girls the way that the other boys do. It's scary being so different from his peers. Scarier still is the feeling that his teammates can tell who he is--and that they hate him for it. If he pretends hard enough, maybe he can hide the truth.

Real strength and change can't come from a place of shame. Chase's dreams are troubled by visions of a bear spirit, and the more he tries to hide, the more everything falls apart. With the help of an Elder and a Two-Spirit mentor, can Chase find the strength to be proud of who he is?

Between the Pipes explores toxic masculinity in hockey through the experiences of an Indigenous teen.

Review Quotes

A short and sweet story. The art style is colorful and easy to follow, using tone and hues to reflect Chase's emotions.

The authors deftly confront multiple layers of intolerance exacerbated by toxic masculinity. Ojibwe artist RL uses saturated full color (with well-placed, empowering rainbows) to capture Chase's self-empowering journey. The result is a compelling, hope-giving antidote against potential at-risk suicide among 2-Spirit/Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ youth.

Highlights the importance of community and cultural connection as roots for embracing one's identity.

This hopeful...story offers valuable insight into Chase's experience as a gay, Indigenous teen. Hockey and identity collide in this affirming graphic novel about recognizing and valuing one's authentic self.

About the Author

Sonya Ballantyne is a Swampy Cree writer, filmmaker, and speaker from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her work focuses on contemporary and futuristic portrayals of Indigenous women and girls. If you want a story about a cheeky Native girl or a presentation on the media's portrayal of Indigenous women, she's your go-to. Her published works include children's book Kerri Berry Lynn as well as contributions to anthologies such as Pros and Comic Cons and Women Love Wrestling. She has also written for television, such as APTN's Taken and the children's show Wolf-Joe. She is currently working on her first feature film, a graphic novel memoir, and the forthcoming game The Walking Dead: Last MILE.

Albert McLeod is a Status Indian with ancestry from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and the Metis communities of Cross Lake and Norway House in northern Manitoba. He has over thirty years of experience as a human rights activist and was one of the founders of the 2-Spirited People of Manitoba.

Albert began his 2Spirit advocacy in Winnipeg in 1986 and became an HIV/AIDS activist in 1987. He was the director of the Manitoba Aboriginal AIDS Task Force from 1991 to 2001. In 2018, Albert received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Winnipeg. He was also a member of the sub-working group that produced the MMIWG - 2SLGBTQQIA+ National Action Plan Report in 2020-2021. In 2020, Albert joined Team Thunderhead, the team that recently won the international competition to design the 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument in Ottawa. Albert lives in Winnipeg, where he works as a consultant specializing in Indigenous peoples, 2Spirit history and identity, cultural reclamation, and cross-cultural training.

Elaine Mordoch is an adjunct professor at the College of Nursing, University of Manitoba, where she taught mental health theory to students in the Pas, Thompson, and Winnipeg. Dr. Mordoch also spent 20 years teaching counselling skills to community wellness workers enrolled in what was once known as the university's Aboriginal Focus Program. She has remained passionate about mental health nursing throughout her career, in teaching, in practice, and in research focusing on topics like Indigenous students' perceptions of intergenerational trauma on education, suicide prevention, and most recently, the lived experiences of Two Spirit people with Elder Albert McLeod. She is a longstanding supporter of the Winnipeg Suicide Prevention Network.

Alice RL (they/them) is a professional illustrator and art teacher based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As a non-binary, Ojibwe artist, Alice draws inspiration from their life experiences and cultural teachings. Alice blends these inspirations with a signature palette of bright, playful hues to create stunning juxtapositions of human brutality and emotion with hope and whimsy. Alice's range of projects include video game and comic book art, digital and traditional illustration, and graphic design. Alice is a Graduate of the University of Manitoba Fine Arts Program and Digital Media Design at Red River College.