Summary of Tending the Fire

Tending the Fire: The Autobiography of Florence Joe Gardner is the captivating story of the extraordinary life of Florence Joe Gardner. She weaves together an account of her remarkable personal journey, beginning with her upbringing in a small logging village in northern British Columbia. She discusses her role in the development of the Nisga’a Nation’s Department of Health, her tireless involvement in the Nisga’a National Lands Claim negotiations, and eventual successful resolution. Gardner also recounts her efforts to bring education and economic opportunity to her people, and shares her unwavering commitment to the resilience of the Nisga’a people and her people’s struggle to maintain their traditional values and beliefs while enthusiastically embracing the modern world. Tending the Fire is a remarkable personal testimony to one woman’s struggle to reconcile her identity and fulfill her dream of building a better future for her people.