Katherena Vermette facts for kids

Katherena vermette (born January 29, 1977) is a famous Canadian writer. She writes poems, novels, and even makes documentary films. She is of Métis heritage, which means she has both Indigenous and European ancestors.

Vermette is from Winnipeg, Manitoba. A lot of her writing is inspired by her life and her community. She often writes about the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada. She also speaks up for the rights of Indigenous people and believes they should be treated fairly.

Early Life and Inspiration

Katherena Vermette grew up in the North End of Winnipeg. This neighborhood has a large Indigenous population. Her father is Métis and her mother is Mennonite.

Growing up, Vermette saw that life wasn't always fair for Indigenous people. A very sad event in her life helped shape her future as a writer and activist. When she was 14, her older brother Donovan went missing. She felt that his disappearance didn't get enough attention from the media or the community because he was Indigenous. This experience made her want to write stories that shared the truth about the lives of Indigenous people.

Career as a Writer

Katherena Vermette is a talented writer known for her poetry and novels. She tells powerful stories that connect with many readers.

North End Love Songs

This was Vermette's first book of poetry, and it won a major award. The book is like a love letter to her home neighborhood, the North End of Winnipeg. She writes about the area's connection to nature and the feelings of a young woman figuring out who she is.

The Seven Teachings Stories

Vermette also writes for children. She created a series of seven picture books called The Seven Teachings Stories. These books, with pictures by Irene Kuziw, explain important lessons from the Anishnaabe people. The stories are about things like love, respect, and honesty. They show Indigenous children living in a modern city.

The Break

The Break was Vermette's first novel, published in 2016. It became very popular and was nominated for several big awards. The book tells a serious and emotional story about a family in Winnipeg's North End. In 2017, it won the Burt Award for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Literature.

Film and Other Projects

Besides writing books, Vermette also tells stories through film.

This River

In 2015, she co-directed a short documentary film called This River. The film is about Indigenous families who have had to search for missing loved ones. It was partly based on her own family's experience. The film won an award for Best Short Documentary at the 5th Canadian Screen Awards.

Activism and Community Work

Vermette uses her writing to make a difference. She wants to bring attention to important issues facing First Nations people. She has described her writing as being driven by a spirit of activism.

She also works with young people, helping them use writing and poetry to share their own stories and express their feelings.

Awards and Recognition

Vermette has won many awards for her work.

• In 2013, she won the Governor General's Literary Award for Poetry for North End Love Songs. She thought about not accepting it to protest how the Canadian government was treating Indigenous people. In the end, she accepted it because the award was given to her by other writers.

• In 2017, her novel The Break won the Amazon.ca First Novel Award.

• In 2021, her novel The Strangers won the Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize.

Works

• North End Love Songs (2012, poetry)
• The Seven Teachings Stories (2015, children's)
• The Break (2016, novel)
• Pemmican Wars (2017, graphic novel)
• river woman (2018, poetry)
• The Girl and the Wolf (2019, children's)
• The Strangers (2021, novel)
• The Circle (2023, novel)
• Real Ones (2024, novel)