Cree poet Louise Bernice Halfe offers parting poem to Shelagh Rogers in her final The Next Chapter episode
In her farewell episode of The Next Chapter, Rogers and Halfe discuss their love of words and music
"She is Shelagh, this woman who rides the written word and takes all of us with her," said Louise Bernice Halfe in a poem she wrote for Shelagh Rogers on her final episode of The Next Chapter.
In 1996, Rogers interviewed the Cree writer who would go on to become Canada's ninth Parliamentarian poet laureate and serve as the first Indigenous poet laureate of Saskatchewan. Halfe, who is also known by her Cree name Sky Dancer, was raised in Saddle Lake First Nation and attended Blue Quills Residential School. Halfe's poetry collections include Bear Bones & Feathers, Blue Marrow, The Crooked Good and Burning in this Midnight Dream. Her latest poetry collection is awâsis – kinky and disheveled.
Rogers, reflecting on her incredible 43 years in broadcasting, reminisced about her first interview with Halfe, noting that both she and her producer, "were both blown away by her guts, her strength, her unflinching gaze and her courageous and beautiful words."
As a host of The Next Chapter, CBC Radio's award-winning weekly magazine show on Canadian authors and literature, Roger's has shared her love of storytelling over the past 15 years. Currently based in B.C., Rogers announced her retirement this spring.
While Rogers is leaving, The Next Chapter will continue. The summer edition of the show will be hosted by CBC Books producer and The Next Chapter contributor Ryan B. Patrick, and the search for a new permanent host will begin soon.
During Rogers' farewell episode of The Next Chapter, Halfe got the chance to turn the tables and interview the host about her legacy.
I've been looking at Shelagh Rogers and her incredible life as she rides the airwaves and I thought, "Gee, I want to know how she did it and I want to know a few things."
It's funny, earlier in this program I quoted Harold Johnson, someone I had to say goodbye to, who was a dear friend of yours as well. My quote from him was, "What a ride, what a beautiful ride." It has been and you've given me a very beautiful poem where I'm riding the airwaves and I will treasure that forever. Thank you, hay hay.
I noticed that you hosted a country music program. Can you sing country, Shelagh?
Yes I can! "Get along, little doggie. Get along!" You wouldn't want me to sing but I can sing. I love country music — old country music, especially. You Ain't Woman Enough to Take My Man, for instance.
You were an honorary witness of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. What struck you the most about that position?
Joe Clark was an honorary witness and I remember him saying we're not honorary witnesses, we're honoured witnesses. Louise, you have presented your testimony in so many ways through your poetry. To be present for the testimony of survivors, to be able to be a carrier of those stories and to stand up when you hear a lie, when you know the truth — that's your duty as a witness. To keep the story and to stand for the truth of it when it's not being spoken.
What struck me most in the moment was the absolute courage and the love that it must have taken to share those experiences. The love for their families, maybe even coming around to self love, changed my life completely. It also changed me as a citizen of Canada to know the truth of our country. One thing that has been so amazing in The Next Chapter has been to see these stories infiltrate fiction, but the emotional truth of these stories being told in fiction and in poetry and of course in nonfiction as well. Being a witness in that moment is the single greatest honour I've ever had.
When you know the truth— that's your duty as a witness. To keep the story and to stand for the truth of it when it's not being spoken.- Shelagh Rogers
I could read through your awards and accolades and I think, "Oh my goodness, now she's planning on another journey!" What are you planning for?
Well, first of all some big space. I want to go and stare out at the ocean or the prairie — an uninterrupted landscape — and see what lands. I think whatever comes next will have something to do with the true story of Canada. I don't know what that means yet, Louise. I'm still trying to figure that out. But it will be something in your ears and it will be something aural, and I promise you'll be among the first to know. I want to thank you for all the conversations over the years and for this beautiful poem.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
