by Sam Bryant
September 17, 2026
Ninan - Tiohtiá:ke, Montreal by Michel Jean; House of Anansi; 176 pages; $19.00.
Michel Jean’s newest novel Ninan follows Élie Mestenapeo, an Indigenous man recently released from prison for killing his violent alcoholic father, who, upon his release, is exiled from his Innu community forcing his move to Cabot Square in Montreal. Crafting a story built around complex emotions and realistic experiences, Jean dives into Élie’s life, shedding light on his various struggles and most importantly his ability to move forward. In order to accomplish this, Jean relies on a quiet narrative, using vignettes and flashbacks, as well as showcasing a setting that allows the reader to follow Élie’s growth with his struggles of grief, and ultimately forgiveness, as well as building community throughout the story.
Built on a series of vignettes, Ninan relies on quick, impactful moments to show how meaningful simplicity can be. When Élie first arrives at Cabot Square, he meets a set of homeless Indigenous twins, Mary and Tracy, who take him on a walk around the city and ask nothing of his past but rather just enjoy being in the present, giving Élie the space to reflect on why he’s there and what he wants to accomplish for himself. None of the emotional weight comes out in big revelations in moments like this. Instead, it comes from ordinary conversations, sharing meals, taking walks, and the fact that people society often overlook can build a place where they belong.
As Élie continues to process his grief and forgive himself for what happened, the use of vignettes demonstrates that while these moments may feel small and fleeting, their impact on Élie’s growth is substantial. One such moment comes when Élie has a violent outburst with a date’s ex-boyfriend, he is all at once shaken up and reminded of his past. His date had never seen that side of him before and though afraid, she stays by his side, cleaning his cuts and speaking calmly. Meanwhile, Élie has no recollection of the incident; he blacked out, yet still feels all the guilt. This scene demonstrates that growth is not linear, and that there will be set backs. This unique narrative structure succeeds in emphasizing that idea, presenting growth at a smaller, more realistic scale while avoiding unnecessary details.
Because grief is a very private experience, Jean relies on memory to let the reader process it alongside Élie. Élie’s memories move between his parents drunken fighting, his crime, and spending time with his grandfather in the woods. These memories act as a catapult pushing Élie, and a few others, to take a break from the city and reconnect with nature. On the camping trip, Élie is reminded of his traumatic childhood and father’s murder through similar stories told by his peers; however, Élie is also reminded, through hunting and fishing, of the times he spent with his grandfather.
“Since arriving in the camp, Élie has realized how much comes back to him instinctively. When he cleans the fish, for instance, he leaves the entrails in the river to honour the animal’s spirit just as Mushum used to do. He finds it reassuring to realize that something beautiful from his childhood has stayed with him. That way, life hasn’t stripped him of absolutely everything he used to be, even after all the years spent trying to forget. But really, can you ever escape yourself.”
It is in these memories the juxtaposition between violence and calmness is most apparent, highlighting Élie’s internal struggle in coming to terms with what he did. Self-forgiveness is a difficult feat, but Élie uses these memories to reflect on being unable to change the past while also moving forward. Jean uses Élie’s struggle to present a quiet, reflective protagonist, as he always chooses to act with kindness, even while reflecting on the “monster” he was in his youth.
One of Jean’s strengths is how he shows community through setting. In Cabot Square, Jean introduces a series of Indigenous characters who take Élie under their wing on the frozen streets of Montreal. Jean uses this harsh setting, where the homeless die regularly from the cold and a lack of supplies, to emphasize the importance of community.
Montreal is introduced as an “elusive city” that “feels as cold as it is terrifying,” with tall concrete buildings that disappear into a forever dark sky. It’s further described as having an “omnipresent” noise compared to that of a heartbeat humming from the streets, sidewalks, and buildings. Within the first few vignettes, this setting is established to be a difficult place for growth, which foreshadows that Élie will not be struggling on his own, making the story all the more engaging. Through these characters and their small acts of kindness toward one another, Élie is not only given the support to survive the brutal conditions but is also given the support to process his grief and move towards forgiving himself for his father’s death. Élie finds warmth in those around him, and Jean succeeds in connecting these characters by means of an unforgiving setting.
Ultimately, Michel Jean’s Ninan is a story about grief, forgiveness, and community. The use of vignettes, violent and poignant flashbacks, and a harsh setting allow the reader to witness Élie’s grief, as well as the step towards self-forgiveness and forming a community with those also struggling. Jean succeeds in showcasing a main character who inevitably finds that despite his hardships, his life may not have ended with his sentencing, and he is able to build a new life based around a new set of values.
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Coming to Terms With It: Grief, Forgiveness, and Friendship in Michel Jean’s Ninan - Tiohtiá:ke, Montreal
FICTION
Image by Italo Melo from Pexels
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Sam Bryant is a writer based out of New York. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in media arts and creative writing from the University of South Carolina. In his spare time, he can be found baking chai snickerdoodles or reading a good book.
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