Julie Flett facts for kids

Julie Flett is a talented Cree-Métis author and illustrator. She is famous for her amazing books for children. Her stories and pictures often show the lives and cultures of Indigenous Canadians.

Julie Flett is well-known for her beautiful illustrations in books like Little You and When We Were Alone. She also writes her own books, such as Birdsong. Many of her books are bilingual, meaning they are written in two languages. She often uses English, Michif, and Cree. This helps English-speaking readers learn a bit of Michif and Cree.

Her books are very popular and have won important awards. These include the Governor General's Literary Award and the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. Julie Flett also helps young Indigenous people and other community members in Vancouver. She works to keep Indigenous languages alive and shared.

Julie Flett's Early Life and Education

Julie Flett was born in Toronto, Ontario. Her father was Swampy-Cree Métis, and her mother was Scottish-Irish. She started her studies at Alberta College of Art and Design. There, she learned about textiles for a year.

Later, she moved to Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver, British Columbia. She took classes in film and studio arts. She then earned a degree in Fine Arts from Concordia University in Montreal. After finishing her studies, she moved back to Vancouver.

How Julie Flett Helps Her Community

When Julie Flett returned to Vancouver, she started helping people. She worked with the Positive Women's Network. She was an outreach worker and taught art.

She also led printmaking classes. In these classes, she worked with young Indigenous people and other community members. This work showed her dedication to her community.

What Inspires Julie Flett's Art

Julie Flett's interest in art began when she saw Inuit printmaking and paintings. These early experiences really inspired her. Her work is also influenced by Cree and Inuit cultures.

She looks up to artists like Meelia Kelly, Pitseolak Ashoona, Annie Pootoogook, and Christi Belcourt. Her mother, who was a textile artist, also greatly influenced her. Julie Flett has also said that the book The Woman in the Dunes by Kōbō Abe had a big impact on her.

Exploring Julie Flett's Books and Art

Julie Flett's books and illustrations mostly focus on Indigenous people. She often features Cree and Métis children and their families. Her picture books, like Wild Berries/Pakwa Che Menisu and We All Count, use two languages.

These books share themes of Indigenous culture. They aim to highlight the voices of Indigenous characters. Her work also strongly focuses on language. It shows how important it is to have Indigenous languages and stories in modern books.

Books like Wild Berries are praised for being culturally important and easy to understand. They are also great tools for learning Cree and Michif languages.

Julie Flett's Unique Art Style

Julie Fletts early work in children's books included digital collages. She created these for The Moccasins, a book written by Earl Einarson. This digital collage style became the base for her future art.

Over time, she started using watercolor paintings. She also added handmade textile patterns. These patterns were inspired by her mother's work. She also uses visual ideas from Cree mythology and culture. Julie Flett decides on her art style based on the mood of the story. She uses the background, like a landscape, to set the themes and color scheme for her illustrations.