Eddie’s Secret Box

A Story of Resilience and Finding Dignity: Eddie’s Secret Box

What happens when your whole world disappears in a puff of smoke? For Eddie, a devastating house fire means losing more than just his home; it means losing everything that made him him. His beloved comic books, his favorite soccer cleats, even the soft teddy bear hidden under his pillow—all gone. Now, wearing borrowed clothes and carrying an empty backpack, Eddie feels like a stranger, desperate to hide the gaping hole in his heart from his friends.

As the echoes of loss follow him to school, Eddie faces the ultimate challenge: how do you find strength and pride when everything that defined you is gone? He longs to be normal, but his empty locker feels like a stark symbol of all he’s lost, making him shrink from the world. This moving short story is a powerful example of Indigenous storytelling and themes of community healing, penned by Inuk artist Tony Eetak.

But his friends, Leo and Sam, notice. They see past the strange shirt and the quiet demeanor, determined to help Eddie rediscover his worth. Can they find a secret way to remind him that true dignity comes from within, and that some things—like friendship and resilience—can never be taken away? Join Eddie on a powerful, moving journey of healing, connection, and reclaiming his sense of self.

Availability and Canadian Publishing Details: Eddie’s Secret Box

ISBN: 9798232042738

Supporting Arts, Publishing, and Indigenous Storytelling in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario

The Art Borups Corners Storytelling Club library serves as a vital platform celebrating the incredible creativity and talent of our regional Northern Ontario community, directly contributing to Indigenous writers and local arts capacity. This special interdisciplinary arts and capacity building program was successfully executed in the summer of 2025, supported by key organizational partners dedicated to regional arts and ethical storytelling:

• Funding was provided through the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council Multi and Inter-Arts Projects funding.
• The project was administered by The Arts Incubator Winnipeg Hub for Canadian Publishing, ensuring strong local ties to Manitoba arts.
• Collaborative support was provided by the Ottawa-based Global Dignity Canada.
• We received academic and entrepreneurial guidance from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Creative Entrepreneurship Program.

We extend our most heartfelt gratitude to the Local Services Board of Melgund, Northwestern Ontario, and the many dedicated community members, Indigenous artists, and emerging creators who made this essential arts and publishing program possible, bolstering the literary scene across both Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.