Bad Cree

Bad Cree (2023) is an Indigenous horror novel by Canadian author Jessica Johns. Johns is a member of the Sucker Creek (Cree) First Nation, and her written work focuses on her Indigenous heritage as well as life in contemporary First Nations communities in Canada. Bad Cree is Johns’s debut novel, but she has published her short fiction, poetry, and nonfiction widely. She is a frequent speaker at various literary and arts festivals in both Canada and the United States. Bad Cree has garnered attention from critics and readers alike who cite it as an important exemplar of Indigenous horror fiction. Indigenous horror uses supernatural elements, aspects of magical realism, and key horror tropes to explore a range of themes that speak to both historical and contemporary Indigenous life in the Americas. Bad Cree combines Indigenous legend with the supernatural in its interrogation of the themes of Processing Grief and Loss to Overcome Isolation, The Affirming Power of Family and Community, and The Impact of Extractive Industry on First Nations Communities.

This guide refers to the 2023 paperback edition by Anchor Press.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide include depictions of anti-Indigenous racism and substance misuse