Without Reserve

Book excerpt: Dorinda Vollmer has lived a life full of music, art, and poetry, which have sustained her in the happiest and the darkest of times. Her abiding passion has always been to live a life of purpose. With determination and courage, Dorinda often chose the more difficult path in life in favour of being true to herself. She answered the call to ministry in the United Church and chose to raise her son alone. The most difficult part of Dorinda’s journey was through her work as a minister, witnessing the struggle to survive faced by the people of the Roseau River Indian Reserve in Manitoba. Without Reserve offers a special perspective on the legacy of destructive historical and on-going government policies regarding First Nations people in Canada. It also unveils a lesson Dorinda learned along her journey: When the sky darkens, people search for light. In Without Reserve, the first part of Dorinda’s memoirs, those who find themselves at a crossroads will see that anything is possible. Her stories reflect a faith in the goodness of humanity and the ability of individuals to rise above personal suffering. Each person Dorinda has met throughout her life has deeply touched her heart and remains imbedded in her soul. In sharing her memoirs, Dorinda hopes the stories will touch people and empower them to empathize with those who struggle.