A noteworthy memoir set in several Cree communities and in Amish households. Gretchen discovers how the Northern Ontario communities deal with health issues and finds ways to help them. An incredible lady who give her working life to benefit the health of others, often having to adapt to the ways of the people and with few modern medical aids. The story brings to life the hardships of living in the north, but also the support and willingness of people with their different beliefs to bring about successful results. I highly recommend reading this autobiography.

Gretchen Roedde started out as an anthropologist with a burning desire to help indigenous people. A career change leads to her qualifying as a doctor, moving to Northern Ontario and working as a GP. The first few years of her new life include marriage, living in a house without an indoor toilet, little to no power, no running water, a very limited income and the birth of her daughter. She is gradually accepted by the local community and over the years facilitates many things to improve the health care of the locals and those in even more remote areas.
I loved this book and it serves as a reminder of all the things I take for granted. Some of the memories still with me after finishing are: imagining a lake that pure you can still drink out of it, her first patient was a cat needing stitches out, making moose stew, how life and death is accepted in remote areas, the power of natural medicines and living in a house that cold her baby nearly ends up with frostbite.
The Indigenous people of Australia suffer the same problems as the ones in Northern Ontario ie gender based violence, incest, teen pregnancy, STD's and substance abuse. Perhaps education is the key and more successful than government controls?
This enlightening, entertaining, humorous and inspirational true story earns full stars from me.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
A big thank you to the author for the education and reminder.

A beautifully written insightful read. Doctor Gretchen Roedde has spent her life helping the Cree community and also the Amish community. Her compassion and her care shines from every page. Her thirst for knowledge and her work has helped so many people. This is definitely an inspirational and interesting read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.