Chelsea Vowel facts for kids

Chelsea Vowel is a Métis writer and lawyer from near Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta, Canada. She often writes using her Cree name, âpihtawikosisân, which means "half-son" and refers to being Métis. Her work focuses on important topics like language, identity, and bringing back Indigenous cultures.

Chelsea Vowel's writings have appeared in well-known newspapers and online publications such as Huffington Post, The National Post, and The Globe and Mail. She is also the co-host of a podcast called Métis in Space. Many people see her as a respected Métis blogger and a leading voice among new Métis thinkers.

As of 2025, Chelsea Vowel teaches the Cree language at the University of Alberta. She is also a mother, author, and podcaster.

Chelsea Vowel's Background

Education and Early Career

Chelsea Vowel studied at the University of Alberta. She earned a Bachelor of Education degree in 2000. After graduating, she taught in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. She then returned to university and completed a Bachelor of Law degree in 2009.

After finishing her law degree, Chelsea Vowel moved to Montreal. There, she worked with Inuit youth who needed support. She helped young people who were in the care system, including those involved with the law. She holds degrees in Education, Law, and a Master of Arts.

Personal Life and Current Work

Chelsea Vowel is currently a Cree language instructor at the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta. She is also a podcaster, vlogger, and writer. She is a mother of six children.

Creative Works by Chelsea Vowel

Chelsea Vowel has written and contributed to many creative works, including short stories and podcasts.

Short Stories and Collections

In 2014, she contributed two essays to a book called The Winter We Danced: Voices From the Past, the Future, and the Idle No More Movement. This collection shared different perspectives on important Indigenous issues.

In 2022, Vowel released her own collection of short stories titled Buffalo is the New Buffalo. These stories explore "Indigenous futurisms." They look at how colonization has affected Indigenous people and how they can reclaim their traditions. The book features eight short stories about "Métis futurism," showing Indigenous life and strength from a Métis point of view. Buffalo is the New Buffalo was recognized and shortlisted for the Indigenous Voices Award in 2023.

The Métis in Space Podcast

Chelsea Vowel is the co-host of the Métis in Space podcast with Molly Swain. This podcast is described as an "Indigenous, feminist, sci-fi podcast." Its tagline is: "What happens when two Métis women, who happen to be sci-fi nerds, drink wine and deconstruct the science fiction genre from a decolonial lense?" The podcast talks about science fiction stories. It also discusses how colonialism affects literature and how to make literature more inclusive and less focused on colonial ideas.

Non-Fiction and Opinion Pieces

Chelsea Vowel has also written many non-fiction works, including opinion pieces and historical non-fiction books.

Indigenous Writes Book

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 aims to help non-Indigenous people understand Indigenous issues in Canada. The book was praised for Vowel's clear and insightful writing style. It was compared to The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King. Indigenous Writes earned Vowel a nomination for the Concordia University First Book Prize. It was also featured on many "must-read" lists by organizations like the CBC and The Globe and Mail in 2017 and 2018.

Contributions to Anthologies

In 2018, Vowel wrote a poem for the book Refuse: CanLit in Ruins. This book discusses historical and current issues in Canadian literature.

In 2019, she contributed to a graphic novel collection called This Place: 150 Years Retold. This book tells the story of the last 150 years of colonialism in Canada. It shares these stories from the viewpoints of famous Indigenous authors like Richard Van Camp and Katherena Vermette.

Opinion Articles

Vowel has written several opinion pieces for the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). She has written about political concerns for the Métis Nation. She has also written about the missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. Her articles for CBC date back to early 2014. Her last article for them, in 2018, discussed the importance of giving her children Cree names. This act helps reclaim Indigenous identity, a theme often found in her fictional works.

She has also written opinion pieces for the Ottawa Citizen newspaper on Indigenous topics. One notable piece discussed how some political discussions about Indigenous reconciliation can be distracting.

Most recently, in February 2023, Vowel gave a presentation for the Climate Justice Organizing Hub. Her talk focused on "Settler Colonialism," which refers to the historical and ongoing impact of European settlement on Indigenous lands and peoples.

Activism and Community Involvement

Chelsea Vowel is well known for her efforts to protect and preserve Indigenous languages in Canada. She points out that while some people think Indigenous languages are growing, many are still at risk of disappearing. Vowel strongly supports education reform in Canada. She believes Indigenous communities should control their own education systems.

Vowel's work is often political. She uses her writing to comment on society and criticize how Indigenous populations are treated, especially in Canada. Her non-fiction book, Indigenous Writes, directly discusses how Indigenous groups are affected by politics. Her fictional works also explore the political aspects of being both Indigenous and a woman.

In 2014, Vowel helped create the Idle No More: Blockade role-playing video game. This game is played from the perspective of a young Cree woman defending traditional land. The goal is for players to understand the challenges faced by Indigenous communities. It also teaches them about the Idle No More movement, which advocates for Indigenous rights and environmental protection.

In 2018, OpenCanada included Vowel on their annual Twitterati list. This list highlights Indigenous people who are actively discussing policy in Canada and around the world.

Vowel is also active on Twitter using the username @/apihtawikosisan. She shares her thoughts on current national and international events. She also starts conversations about gender, politics, and Indigenous populations. She also writes on her blog, apihtawikosisan.com, where she shares similar comments and personal reflections as an Indigenous woman.