Indigenous literatures in Canada

Last updated

Indigenous peoples of Canada are culturally diverse. [1] Each group has its own literature, language and culture. [2] [1] The term "Indigenous literature" therefore can be misleading. As writer Jeannette Armstrong states in one interview, "I would stay away from the idea of "Native" literature, there is no such thing. There is Mohawk literature, there is Okanagan literature, but there is no generic Native in Canada". [1]

Contents

History

Many Indigenous cultures in Canada and worldwide are deeply rooted in oral tradition. [2] Oral tradition includes myths, folklore, and legends. [3] Passing down oral tradition takes great care on the part of the storyteller, as the moral of the tale and its underlying truth must be retold accurately. [3] Oral tradition may take the form of songs, prayers, spiritual teachings and stories, shaping the everyday life of the community and the individual's sense of identity. [4] The significance of oral tradition is cultural transmission from one generation to the next. [4] The knowledge and wisdom of the Elders serve as link between the young generation and the past generation, keeping the livelihood of a culture intact. [4] When the British and French colonized the land that is now Canada, settlers prioritized written literature over oral literature, under the bias that oral must be uncivilized, and written is civilized. [5] Today, many Indigenous societies rely on oral tradition as a tool for expression and knowledge transmission, despite having adopted written literature. [5] For over a century, the Government of Canada has controlled and regulated Indigenous cultural practices in the form of policy and regulation. [6] The Residential School System separated Indigenous children from their families and communities in order to "kill the Indian in the child". In other words, the purpose of this system was to indoctrinate Indigenous children with Western and Christian thought. [7] Commonly described as cultural genocide, the residential school generated severe cultural, psychological, and social impacts on Indigenous communities. [7] The passing down of culture and knowledge was interrupted as children were removed from their communities. Children experienced physical, psychological and sexual abuse in these schools, and were not allowed to speak their languages. [7]

Mi'kmaq literature

Traditional oral stories of Mi’kmaq define their values and beliefs about the world in which they live. "The Legend of the Hand of the Medicine Man" and "The Invisible One" are examples of Mi’kmaq oral stories. [3] Glooscap is a commonly known cultural hero in Mi’kmaq literature. A trickster figure who outsmarts many self-serving characters, Glooscap appears in the Creation Story and "Muin, the Bear's Child". [3] Glooscap also appears in Rita Joe’s poetry and Lorne Simon’s novel, Stones and Switches. [1] Rita Joe is a well-known Mi’kmaq writer and poet who received the Order of Canada in 1990. [1] She writes about the loss and resilience of her culture, themes which appear poems such as "I lost my talk" and "Wen net ki’l - Who are you?". She writes in both Mi’kmaq and English. Other Mi’kmaq poets include Lindsay Marshall, Shirley Bear and Teresa Marshall. [1]

Mohawk literature

The Mohawk people are geographically dispersed across Canada and the United States. [1] Mohawk Nation is one of the six nations in the Iroquois Confederacy, aside from Oneida, Seneca, Onondaga, Cayuga and Tuscarora Nations. [8] The Confederacy led to the creation of a governance system called the Great Law of Peace. [8] Mohawk traditions, beliefs and worldview are founded upon the Creation Story, the Great Law of Peace, the concept of the Seventh Generation, the Two Row Wampum Treaty and the Confederacy. [8] Beth Brant is an essayist and short-story writer who incorporates Mohawk Creation Story in her writings. [1] Writer Peter Blue Cloud, from Kahnawake, Quebec also utilizes the creation story in his work. [1] Cloud's "Weaver’s Spider’s Web" features the Coyote, a trickster figure, and a powerful woman, an important symbol in Longhouse cultures. [1]

Anishinaabe and Ojibway literature

A century-old oral tradition has been documented in collections by Basil Johnston such as Ojibway Heritage, Tales the Elders Told, and Sacred Legends. [1] Author George Copway (1818–69) wrote an autobiography titled The Life, History, and Travels of Kah-ge-gah-bowh (1847) telling a story of an Indigenous person having been converted to Christianity. [1] It was the first book written by a Canadian Indigenous person in English. Copway's work is contrasted by Richard Wagamese’s Keeper’N Me, an autobiographical novel that prioritizes Ojibway beliefs and values. [1] Drew Hayden Taylor addresses Indigenous identity and other topics in his plays such as Toronto at Dreamers’ Rock, and essays like "Pretty Like a White Boy: The Adventures of a Blue Eyed Ojibway". [1]

Cree literature

Some recurring themes in Cree literature include the vanishing of buffalo signifying the disappearance of a way of life centered around the migration of buffalo, as well the notion of confinement on the reserves. [1] Tomson Highway is a Cree writer, playwright, and musician born in northern Manitoba. [1] Highway’s autobiographical novel, Kiss of the Fur Queen features the trickster figure Weesageechak, an important figure that parallels Christ in the Christian world. [1] The themes of the novel include sexual abuse in residential school and healing. [1]

Notable literary awards and authors

Periodical Marketers of Canada Aboriginal Literature Award

The Periodical Marketers of Canada Aboriginal Literature Award is an Aboriginal Literature award inspired by the First Nation Communities Read Program. This award will give the award winning writers a title selection and a prize money of $5,000. [9]

In 2003, the First Nations public library community launched the First Nations Communities Read in Ontario. The program recommends literature that encourages family literacy as well as storytelling and information sharing that affects several generations. [9] The program recognizes works written and illustrated by First Nation, Métis, and Inuit writers. Communities Read also encourage works that have support or public approval by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit advisors and consultants. [9] [10]

Darrell Dennis, in his book Peace, Pipe Dreams, won the Periodical Marketers of Canada Aboriginal Literature Award for 2015–2016. His book shows knowledge, tact, and humor when addressing issues such as religion, treaties, and residential schools. [11] It gives the reader a better understanding of Canada's complex history. [11] His book also empathizes the stereotypes and historical events for Indigenous in North America. [12]

Burt Award

Richard Wagamese’s book, Indian Horse, won the Burt Award for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Literature in 2013. Wagamese's book showcases the terrors of residential schools and illuminates ice hockey, a popular sport in Canada, in a positive light. [13]

In 2014, Thomas King's book, The Inconvient Indian: a Curious Account of Native People in North America, won the Burt Award. King tells a story about the past relations between settlers and natives. In addition, King explores Indigenous Identity is influenced by popular media. [14] King also dives into the issue of misperception. Although the book has many impactful and powerful content, the book is about hope and the positive changes there can be in future. A future where there can be equality. [15]

Bev Sellar’s popular book They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School, has won many awards. The book is also part of the public archive for Truth and Reconciliation Commission [16] The book is a memoir about Sellar’s time at a residential school. Her books also focuses on how residential schools impacted her family. [17] Her book won third place for the Burt Award in 2014.

Governor General's Award

Katherena Vermette won the Governor General’s Literary Award in 2013 for her poetry book, "North End Love Songs". [16] The poems showcase the beauty of the toughest and notorious neighborhood in Winnipeg, the North End, where her brother also went missing. [18] Her poems in this poetry book are courageous and intense. [18]

David Robertson co-won the 2021 Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — illustration with illustrator Julie Flett for their picture book On the Trapline. The book follows a young boy's trip with his moshom to the family trapline. He first won the Governor General's Literary Awards in 2017 for his book When We Were Alone.

Indigenous Voices Awards

The Indigenous Voices Awards were created in 2017, in response to a controversy that arose a group of Canadian writers were criticized for campaigning on Twitter in favour of a prize supporting cultural appropriation. [19] In response, Toronto lawyer Robin Parker launched a crowdfunding campaign to create a new prize for First Nations, Métis and Inuit writers in Canada. The crowdfunding campaign was set with a goal of $10,000, but ultimately attracted over $140,000 in donations.[ citation needed ]

The first Indigenous Voices Awards were presented in 2018, with winners including poet Billy-Ray Belcourt, novelist J. D. Kurtness and young adult novelist Aviaq Johnston. [20]

Notable authors

Lee Maracle won a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in her work in promoting writing in Aboriginal Youth. [16] Maracle tells a story about a girl named Celia, her family, and village. Celia first appeared in Maracles’ novel Ravensong . This story is about Celia when she is an adult. The book tells a story about the horrifying impacts from residential schools, suicide, and the loss of tradition. [21]

Children's literature

Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non Fiction

In 2000, The Shaman's Nephew: A Life in the Far North, written by Sheldon Oberman and illustrated by Inuit artist Simon Tookoome, won the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non Fiction. [22] The book consists of 28 short stories that depict various aspects of Inuit life.

Larry Loyie and Constance Brisssenden's As Long as the River Flows received the award in 2003. The four chapter picture book recounts Loyie's childhood in Northern Alberta and addresses themes such as Cree culture and residential schools. [23]

Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award

The Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award rewards excellence for Canadian illustrated picture books, aimed at children ages three to eight. A finalist in 2006, Nicola I. Campbell's Shi-Shi-Etko follows a young girl who will attend residential school in four days time. [24] In 2016, Sometimes I feel like a Fox, written and illustrated by Danielle Daniels won the grand prize. The book introduces totem animals and their importance to Anishinaabe culture and self-understanding. [25]

TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award

Valued at $30,000, the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award is Canada's biggest literary prize for children's literature. Nicola I. Campbell's Shi-Shi-Etko was a finalist in 2006, but the book's sequel Shi-Chi's Canoe won the grand prize in 2009. [26] Shi-Shi's Canoe addresses a young boy's residential school experience and their feelings of isolation and hope. [27]

Melanie Florence's debut book Missing Nimâmâ won the award in 2016. The book is the first children's book to explicitly address the controversy of Canada's missing and murdered indigenous women. [28] The story follows a young daughter who was left behind and the bond she shares with her mother through Cree culture and language.

Activism

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, or TRC, is an organization whose focus is to recognize the impact of Canadian residential schools on Indigenous peoples and revitalize the relationship between Canadians and Indigenous peoples. In its work, the TRC has listened and recorded the testimonies of residential school survivors. Currently, their It Matters to Me campaign is aimed at the importance of reconciliation. [29] The TRC has released a suggested reading list of significant works dealing with residential schools and their effects. [30]

Indigenous Book Club Month

In tandem with Canada's Aboriginal History Month, the Government of Canada has marked June as Indigenous Book Club Month. The goal of this movement is to restore the relationship between Canadian and Indigenous peoples. By the promotion of this literature, the government hopes to foster a better understanding of Indigenous history, culture, and affairs. On social media, the official hashtag for the movement is #IndigenousReads. [31]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indigenous peoples in Canada</span> North American Indigenous peoples within the boundaries of present-day Canada

Indigenous peoples in Canada are the Indigenous peoples within the boundaries of Canada. They comprise the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, representing roughly 5.0% of the total Canadian population. There are over 600 recognized First Nations governments or bands with distinctive cultures, languages, art, and music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas King (novelist)</span> Canadian writer and broadcast presenter (born 1943)

Thomas King is an American-born Canadian writer and broadcast presenter who most often writes about First Nations.

First Nations is a term used to identify Indigenous peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. Traditionally, First Nations in Canada were peoples who lived south of the tree line, and mainly south of the Arctic Circle. There are 634 recognized First Nations governments or bands across Canada. Roughly half are located in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Indian residential school system</span> Schools to assimilate Indigenous children

The Canadian Indian residential school system was a network of boarding schools for Indigenous peoples. The network was funded by the Canadian government's Department of Indian Affairs and administered by various Christian churches. The school system was created to isolate Indigenous children from the influence of their own culture and religion in order to assimilate them into the dominant Canadian culture. Over the course of the system's more than hundred-year existence, around 150,000 children were placed in residential schools nationally. By the 1930s, about 30 percent of Indigenous children were attending residential schools. The number of school-related deaths remains unknown due to incomplete records. Estimates range from 3,200 to over 30,000, mostly from disease.

Rita Joe, was a Mi'kmaq poet and songwriter, often referred to as the Poet Laureate of the Mi'kmaq people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada</span> Investigated harm to indigenous students

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was a truth and reconciliation commission active in Canada from 2008 to 2015, organized by the parties of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

The following is an alphabetical list of topics related to Indigenous peoples in Canada, comprising the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

The Sixties Scoop, also known as The Scoop, was a period in which a series of policies were enacted in Canada that enabled child welfare authorities to take, or "scoop up," Indigenous children from their families and communities for placement in foster homes, from which they would be adopted by white families. Despite its name referencing the 1960s, the Sixties Scoop began in the mid-to-late 1950s and persisted into the 1980s.

Richard Van Camp is a Dogrib Tłı̨chǫ writer of the Dene nation from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada. He is best known for his 1996 novel The Lesser Blessed, which was adapted into a film by director Anita Doron in 2012.

katherena vermette is a Canadian writer, who won the Governor General's Award for English-language poetry in 2013 for her collection North End Love Songs. Vermette is of Métis descent and originates from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was an MFA student in creative writing at the University of British Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burt Award for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Literature</span> Canadian literary award

The Burt Award for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Literature is a Canadian literary award, presented annually to works judged to be the best works of young adult literature published by indigenous writers in Canada. The award is sponsored by the Canadian Organization for Development through Education (CODE), a Canadian charitable organization devoted to literacy and education, and philanthropist William Burt, and administered by the Canada Council. Several other organizations, including the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the National Association of Friendship Centres and the Association of Canadian Publishers, are also involved in the award's administration.

Bev Sellars is a Xat'sull writer of the award-winning book, They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School, describing her experiences within the Canadian Indian residential school system. She is also a longtime-serving Chief of the Xat'sull First Nations.

Julie Flett is a Cree-Métis author and illustrator, known for her work in children's literature centered around the life and cultures of Indigenous Canadians. Flett is best known for her illustrations in books such as Little You, and When We were Alone, as well as for her written work in books such as Birdsong. Many of Flett's books are bilingual, and written in a combination of English, Michif, and Cree, and serve as an introduction to Michif and Cree for English-speaking readers. Flett's works are critically successful and have been awarded the Governor General's Literary Award and the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award.

Rachel Attituq Qitsualik-Tinsley is a Canadian writer. She was a winner of the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature in 2015 for Skraelings, which she cowrote with her husband Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley. The book was also a shortlisted finalist for the Governor General's Award for English-language children's literature at the 2014 Governor General's Awards.

Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley is a Canadian writer. He was a winner of the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature in 2015 for Skraelings, which he cowrote with his wife Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley. The book was also a shortlisted finalist for the Governor General's Award for English-language children's literature at the 2014 Governor General's Awards.

Jordan Bennett is Canadian multi-disciplinary artist and member of the Qalipu First Nation from Stephenville Crossing, Newfoundland, also known as Ktaqamkuk. He is married to Métis visual artist Amy Malbeuf.

Monique Gray Smith is a Canadian writer of children's and young adult literature. She is also an international speaker and consultant. Of Cree, Lakota and Scottish descent, Smith is based in Victoria, British Columbia.

Melanie Florence is a Canadian author of Cree and Scottish heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Indigenous law</span> Legal customs, and practices of Indigenous peoples in Canada

Indigenous law in Canada refers to the legal traditions, customs, and practices of Indigenous peoples and groups. Canadian aboriginal law is different from Indigenous Law. Canadian Aboriginal law provides certain constitutionally recognized rights to land and traditional practices.

The Periodical Marketers of Canada Indigenous Literature Awards, also known as the First Nation Communities Read Awards, is an annual Canadian literary award presented to Indigenous Canadian writers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Eigenbrod, Renate; et al. (2003). "Aboriginal Literatures in Canada: A Teacher's Resource Guide A Teacher's Resource Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-09-10. Retrieved 2017-03-14.
  2. 1 2 "Culture". indigenousfoundations.adm.arts.ubc.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-03-24. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Mi'kmaw Culture - Legends and Stories". www.muiniskw.org. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  4. 1 2 3 "Aboriginal Perspectives: The Oral Tradition" (PDF).
  5. 1 2 "Oral Traditions". indigenousfoundations.adm.arts.ubc.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-06-09. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  6. ↑ "Government Policy". indigenousfoundations.adm.arts.ubc.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  7. 1 2 3 "The Residential School System". indigenousfoundations.adm.arts.ubc.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-03-22. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  8. 1 2 3 Kahnawá:ke, Mohawk Council of. "Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke". www.kahnawake.com. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  9. 1 2 3 "First Nation Communities Read". www.sols.org. Archived from the original on 2018-02-21. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  10. ↑ "Bringing readers and Aboriginal Stories Together". Canadian Children's Book News. 38: 16. 2015. ProQuest   1705058545.
  11. 1 2 "WINNER OF THE PMC ABORIGINAL LITERATURE AWARD ANNOUNCED - MUSKRAT Magazine". muskratmagazine.com. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  12. ↑ "Darrell Dennis on the truth about lies about Indians". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  13. ↑ "Indian Horse | Quill and Quire". Quill and Quire. 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2017-03-14.
  14. ↑ "The Inconvenient Indian". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-18.
  15. ↑ "The Inconvenient Indian: The true story of native North Americans -- 'Whites want land'". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2017-03-18.
  16. 1 2 3 "19 Aboriginal Authors To Add To Your Reading List". The Huffington Post. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  17. ↑ "They Called Me Number One". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-20.
  18. 1 2 "North End Love Songs". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  19. ↑ "Crowdfunded Indigenous Voices Awards formally launches, with focus on emerging talent". Quill & Quire , October 30, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Billy-Ray Belcourt, Aviaq Johnston among winners of 2018 Indigenous Voices Awards". CBC Books, May 31, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Celia's Song | Quill and Quire". Quill and Quire. 2014-11-24. Retrieved 2017-03-18.
  22. ↑ "Nunavut author takes children's prize". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  23. ↑ "CM Magazine: As Long as the Rivers Flow". umanitoba.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  24. ↑ "Shi-shi-etko | Groundwood". groundwoodbooks.com. Archived from the original on 2017-03-24. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  25. ↑ ""Sometimes I Feel Like A Fox" wins Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award – Sudbury Writers' Guild". sudburywritersguild.com. Archived from the original on 2017-03-24. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  26. ↑ "TD Canadian Children's Literature Award - Canadian Children's Book Centre". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  27. ↑ "CM Magazine: Shin-chi's Canoe". umanitoba.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  28. ↑ Goedhart, Bernie. "New picture book deals with missing, murdered". www.vancouversun.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  29. ↑ "TRC". www.trc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  30. ↑ "Residential Schools: A Reading List" (PDF). University of Manitoba.
  31. ↑ Canada, Government of Canada; Indigenous and Northern Affairs. "About #IndigenousReads". www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.