Indigenous literatures in Canada facts for kids
Indigenous peoples in Canada are very diverse. Each group has its own unique stories, languages, and ways of life. So, saying "Indigenous literature" can be a bit confusing. It's more accurate to talk about specific literatures, like Mohawk literature or Okanagan literature, because each nation has its own special traditions and stories.
A Rich History of Storytelling
Many Indigenous cultures in Canada have a long history of sharing stories by speaking them aloud. This is called oral tradition. It includes myths, folk tales, and legends. Storytellers carefully pass down these stories. They make sure the lessons and truths within each tale are told correctly.
Oral traditions can be songs, prayers, spiritual teachings, and stories. They shape daily life and help people understand who they are. This way of sharing knowledge from older generations to younger ones is very important. It keeps the culture alive and strong.
When British and French settlers came to Canada, they often thought written stories were better than spoken ones. They believed oral traditions were "uncivilized." But today, many Indigenous groups still use oral tradition to share knowledge, even while also using written books.
For over a hundred years, the Canadian government tried to control Indigenous cultures. The Residential School System took Indigenous children away from their families. The goal was to make them think like Westerners and Christians. This was a form of cultural genocide. It caused a lot of harm to Indigenous communities. Children were not allowed to speak their languages or share their culture. This broke the chain of passing down knowledge.
Mi'kmaq Stories
The Mi’kmaq people have their own special oral stories. These stories show their values and how they see the world. "The Legend of the Hand of the Medicine Man" and "The Invisible One" are examples of Mi’kmaq oral stories.
Glooscap is a famous hero in Mi’kmaq tales. He is a clever trickster who often outsmarts selfish characters. Glooscap appears in the Creation Story and "Muin, the Bear's Child." He also shows up in poems by Rita Joe and a novel by Lorne Simon.
Rita Joe was a well-known Mi’kmaq writer and poet. She received the Order of Canada in 1990. Her poems, like "I lost my talk" and "Wen net ki’l - Who are you?", talk about the loss and strength of her culture. She wrote in both Mi’kmaq and English. Other Mi’kmaq poets include Lindsay Marshall, Shirley Bear, and Teresa Marshall.
Mohawk Stories
The Mohawk people live in different places across Canada and the United States. The Mohawk Nation is one of six nations in the Iroquois Confederacy. The Confederacy also includes the Oneida, Seneca, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Tuscarora Nations. This Confederacy created a system of government called the Great Law of Peace.
Mohawk traditions and beliefs are based on their Creation Story, the Great Law of Peace, the idea of the Seventh Generation, and the Two Row Wampum Treaty.
Beth Brant was a writer who included the Mohawk Creation Story in her essays and short stories. Peter Blue Cloud, from Kahnawake, Quebec, also used the creation story in his work. His story "Weaver’s Spider’s Web" features the Coyote, a trickster, and a powerful woman, who is an important symbol in Longhouse cultures.
Anishinaabe and Ojibway Stories
Many old oral traditions of the Anishinaabe and Ojibway people have been written down. Basil Johnston collected some of these in books like Ojibway Heritage and Sacred Legends.
George Copway (1818–69) wrote an autobiography called The Life, History, and Travels of Kah-ge-gah-bowh (1847). It was the first book written in English by an Indigenous person from Canada. It told the story of an Indigenous person who became Christian.
In contrast, Richard Wagamese’s novel Keeper’N Me focuses on Ojibway beliefs and values. Drew Hayden Taylor writes about Indigenous identity and other topics in his plays, like Toronto at Dreamers’ Rock, and essays, like "Pretty Like a White Boy: The Adventures of a Blue Eyed Ojibway."
Cree Stories
Some common themes in Cree literature include the disappearance of buffalo, which meant a way of life was ending. Another theme is being confined to reserves.
Tomson Highway is a Cree writer, playwright, and musician from northern Manitoba. His novel, Kiss of the Fur Queen, features Weesageechak. This trickster figure is very important in Cree culture, similar to how Christ is important in Christianity.
Cool Literary Awards and Authors
Periodical Marketers of Canada Aboriginal Literature Award
This award celebrates Indigenous literature. Winning writers receive a special title and $5,000.
The First Nations public library community in Ontario started the First Nations Communities Read program in 2003. This program suggests books that help families read together. It also encourages storytelling and sharing information across generations. The program recognizes works by First Nation, Métis, and Inuit writers and illustrators.
Darrell Dennis won this award in 2015-2016 for his book Peace, Pipe Dreams. His book uses knowledge, skill, and humor to talk about topics like religion, treaties, and residential schools. It helps readers understand Canada’s complex history and the stereotypes Indigenous people have faced.
Burt Award
Richard Wagamese’s book, Indian Horse, won the Burt Award in 2013. Wagamese's book shows the difficulties of residential schools. It also highlights ice hockey, a popular sport in Canada, in a positive way.
In 2014, Thomas King's book, The Inconvenient Indian: a Curious Account of Native People in North America, won the Burt Award. King tells stories about the past relationships between settlers and Indigenous peoples. He also explores how popular media influences Indigenous identity and talks about misunderstandings. Even though the book has powerful content, it is about hope and positive changes for a future with equality.
Bev Sellar’s popular book They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School has won many awards. This book is also part of the public records for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It is a memoir about Sellar’s time at a residential school and how it affected her family. 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." Her poems show the beauty of the tough North End neighborhood in Winnipeg, where her brother also went missing. Her poems are brave and strong.
David Robertson co-won the 2021 Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — illustration. He won with illustrator Julie Flett for their picture book On the Trapline. The book follows a young boy's trip with his moshom (grandfather) to the family trapline. Robertson first won the Governor General's Literary Awards in 2017 for his book When We Were Alone.
Indigenous Voices Awards
The Indigenous Voices Awards started in 2017. This happened after a controversy where some Canadian writers were criticized for supporting a prize that allowed cultural appropriation. In response, lawyer Robin Parker started a crowdfunding campaign. The goal was to create a new award specifically for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit writers in Canada. The campaign aimed for $10,000 but raised over $140,000!
The first Indigenous Voices Awards were given out in 2018. Winners included poet Billy-Ray Belcourt, novelist J. D. Kurtness, and young adult novelist Aviaq Johnston.
Children's Literature Awards
Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non Fiction
In 2000, The Shaman's Nephew: A Life in the Far North won the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non Fiction. This book was written by Sheldon Oberman and illustrated by Inuit artist Simon Tookoome. It has 28 short stories about different parts of Inuit life.
Larry Loyie and Constance Brisssenden’s As Long as the River Flows received the award in 2003. This four-chapter picture book tells about Loyie’s childhood in Northern Alberta. It talks about Cree culture and residential schools.
Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award
The Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award celebrates excellent Canadian picture books for children aged three to eight. In 2006, Nicola I. Campbell’s Shi-Shi-Etko was a finalist. It follows a young girl who will attend residential school in four days. In 2016, Sometimes I feel like a Fox, written and illustrated by Danielle Daniels, won the main prize. This book introduces totem animals and their importance to Anishinaabe culture and understanding oneself.
TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award
The TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award is Canada’s largest literary prize for children’s books, worth $30,000. Nicola I. Campbell’s Shi-Shi-Etko was a finalist in 2006. Its sequel, Shi-Chi's Canoe, won the grand prize in 2009. Shi-Chi's Canoe talks about a young boy’s residential school experience and his feelings of loneliness and hope.
Working for Change
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, or TRC, works to recognize the impact of Canadian residential schools on Indigenous peoples. It also aims to improve the relationship between Canadians and Indigenous peoples. The TRC has listened to and recorded stories from residential school survivors. Their "It Matters to Me" campaign focuses on the importance of reconciliation. The TRC has also shared a list of important books about residential schools and their effects.
Indigenous Book Club Month
The Government of Canada has named June as Indigenous Book Club Month. This happens at the same time as Canada's Aboriginal History Month. The goal is to improve the relationship between Canadians and Indigenous peoples. By promoting this literature, the government hopes to help people better understand Indigenous history, culture, and issues. On social media, the official hashtag for this movement is #IndigenousReads.
