The Outside Circle

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses violence and abuse of Indigenous people.

Patti LaBoucane-Benson is a Canadian academic, author, and politician, hailing from the Métis community from Treaty 6 territory. Treaty 6 is one of the 11 numbered treaties signed in the late 19th century by the Canadian Crown and the First Nations of Canada, granting the latter various provisions in exchange for ceding land and sharing it with newcomers.

LaBoucane-Benson has a PhD in human ecology, focusing on resilience within Indigenous families and communities. This research laid the foundation for her first graphic novel, The Outside Circle. During her doctoral studies, she actively participated in Cree (one of Canada’s largest First Nations) ceremonies and Elder teaching circles, similar to those depicted in the novel. She sought out Indigenous philosophers and embarked on a personal healing journey, mirrored in the journey undertaken by the novel’s protagonist, Pete Carver. Through this experience, LaBoucane-Benson deepened her understanding of Intergenerational Trauma and the Legacy of Colonialism, a theme which she explores in The Outside Circle. The characters of Elder Violet and Elder Roy are inspired by trainers and ceremonialists whom LaBoucane-Benson met through her research.