Chelsea Vowel facts for kids

Chelsea Vowel is a Métis writer, teacher, and lawyer. She is also known by her Cree name, âpihtawikosisân, which means "half-son" or Métis. Chelsea focuses her work on language, gender identity, and bringing back Indigenous culture. Her writings have appeared in major newspapers like Huffington Post, The National Post, and The Globe and Mail. She is also a co-host of the Métis in Space podcast. Many people see her as an important Métis writer and thinker.

As of 2023, Chelsea Vowel teaches the Cree language at the University of Alberta. She is also a mother, author, and podcaster.

Education and Life

Chelsea Vowel earned her first degree in Education from the University of Alberta in 2000. After graduating, she taught in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. She then went back to school and received a law degree in 2009.

After finishing her law degree, she moved to Montreal. There, she helped young Inuit people. Today, Chelsea has degrees in Education, Law, and a Master's degree.

On her personal website, Chelsea shares that she teaches Cree language at the University of Alberta. She is also a podcaster, vlogger (video blogger), academic, writer, and a mother of six children.

Stories and Books

Chelsea Vowel has written and contributed to many fictional works.

In 2014, she wrote two essays for a book called The Winter We Danced. This book shared different voices about the Idle No More movement.

In 2022, Chelsea released Buffalo is the New Buffalo. This book is a collection of short stories. They explore "Indigenous futurisms," which means imagining Indigenous life in the future. The stories look at how colonization has affected people. They also show how Indigenous traditions can be brought back. This book was nominated for the Indigenous Voices Award in 2023.

Chelsea is also the co-host of the Métis in Space podcast with Molly Swain. It's an "Indigenous, feminist, sci-fi podcast." They drink wine and talk about science fiction. They look at how colonialism affects literature. They also discuss how to make literature more "decolonial."

Opinion Pieces and Non-Fiction

Chelsea Vowel has also written many non-fiction works. These include opinion pieces and historical non-fiction.

In 2016, she published her first book, Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Métis & Inuit Issues in Canada. This book is a collection of essays. It helps non-Indigenous people understand Indigenous issues in Canada. The book was praised for its sharp style and smart ideas. It was even compared to Thomas King's book The Inconvenient Indian. Indigenous Writes was nominated for the Concordia University First Book Prize. It was also featured on many "must-read" lists by the CBC and The Globe and Mail.

In 2018, Chelsea wrote a poem for a book called Refuse: CanLit in Ruins. This book discusses past and present issues in Canadian literature.

In 2019, she contributed to a graphic novel called This Place: 150 Years Retold. This book tells the story of 150 years of colonialism in Canada. It shares these stories from the viewpoints of famous Indigenous authors.

Chelsea has also written many opinion pieces for the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). She has written about political concerns for the Métis nation. She also wrote about missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. Her last article for CBC was in 2018. It was about the importance of giving her children Cree names. This shows how she helps reclaim Indigenous identity.

She has also written opinion pieces for the Ottawa Citizen. One notable piece was about how Indigenous reconciliation can be a distraction for politicians.

In February 2023, Chelsea Vowel gave a presentation for the Climate Justice Organizing Hub. She spoke about settler colonialism.

Activism and Community Work

Chelsea Vowel is well known for her work to protect Indigenous languages in Canada. She points out that these languages are at risk of disappearing. She also calls for changes in education in Canada. She believes Indigenous people should control their own education.

Chelsea's work is often political. She uses her writing to comment on society. She also criticizes how Indigenous people are treated, especially in Canada. Her non-fiction book Indigenous Writes directly talks about the politics of Indigenous groups. Her fictional works also comment on what it means to be both Indigenous and a woman.

In 2014, Chelsea Vowel helped create a role-playing video game called Idle No More: Blockade. The game is about a young Cree woman defending her traditional land. It helps players understand the struggles of Indigenous communities. It also teaches them about the Idle No More movement.

In 2018, OpenCanada included Chelsea Vowel on their annual Twitterati list. This list highlights Indigenous people who comment on policy in Canada and worldwide.

Chelsea is also active on Twitter with the username @/apihtawikosisan. She comments on current events. She also starts conversations about gender, politics, and Indigenous people. She also writes on her blog, apihtawikosisan.com. There, she shares similar comments and reflections on her life as an Indigenous woman.