In many native cultures, the young are trained and taught new traditions and skills by the appropriate knowledge and skill keepers. To formalize a new position gained or earned, an initiation ceremony is conducted for the new youth to take their place within the circle of knowledge and skill keepers. Honoring this spirit, and selected by native writing knowledge and skill keepers such as Lee Maracle, Thomas King, Tomson Highway and Marilyn Dumont, Initiations is a gathering of young native writers who have been successful in earning a place in this collective work. Their stories focus on historical events that were personal or of national significance and date as far back as a traditional legend or as recent as the Caledonia land dispute.