I’ve come across Joseph Boyden’s works before, his book Three Day Road  was the first  book I’ve ever read with aboriginal protagonists. In fact, Boyden’s books have been the only I’ve come across to specifically incorporate the history and culture of the James Bay Cree into a fictional narrative. From further research Boyden’s works seem to focus on the issues revolving around indigenous communities from past and present as they face an imperialized future. As Three Day Road told the story of two James Bay Cree boys faced with cultural assimilation amongst the chaos of  World War I, similarly, the short story “Painted Tongue” tells the modern story of a homeless indigenous man  surviving on the streets of Toronto . From what I know about the author Boyden comes from my home province of Ontario with  European and  Métis decent. It’s clear to see the history of his province and heritage as factors influencing in his work. For example, both Three Day Road and “Painted Tongue” take place in Ontario,  and both draw upon the experiences of residential school -Painted Tongue refers to residential school a couple times with the phrase, “Repeat one hundred times. Write it out on the blackboard five hundred times, then sit in the corner facing away from the class…”.  In all, I suppose it would be accurate to say everyone’s history whether it be tribal or not makes an impact and shapes our views. Joseph Boyden could then be said to be impacted by his  tribal history by articulating it into fictional novels and short stories that do a great deal in in turn by expanding our own histories.