Lenore Keeshig-Tobias facts for kids

Lenore Keeshig-Tobias is an Anishinabe storyteller, poet, and writer. She is also a strong supporter of Indigenous writers in Canada. She belongs to the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. In the 1990s, she was very important in discussions about cultural appropriation in Canadian literature. Along with Daniel David Moses and Tomson Highway, she helped start a group for Indigenous writers called the Committee to Reestablish the Trickster.

About Lenore Keeshig-Tobias's Family

Lenore Keeshig-Tobias was born Lenore Keeshig in Wiarton, Ontario in 1950. She was the oldest of ten children. Her parents were Keitha (Johnston) and Donald Keeshig. Lenore says her parents taught her to be a storyteller and to love poetry. Her mother loved poetry, and that's why Lenore's name comes from Edgar Allan Poe's poem, "The Raven."

Lenore Keeshig-Tobias has four daughters and one son. Her husband is David McLaren.

Lenore's Education Journey

For primary school, Lenore Keeshig-Tobias went to St. Mary's Indian Day School. This school was on the Cape Croker Reserve. She started high school at Loretto Academy in Niagara Falls, Ontario. She finished high school at Wiarton District High School.

Later, she went to York University in Toronto. In 1983, she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in creative writing. While in college, she started writing poetry actively.

Lenore's Career Path

Lenore lived in Toronto for many years. In the early 1990s, she moved back to the Bruce Peninsula.

From 2001 until now, she has worked at Parks Canada. There, she is a naturalist, which means she studies nature. She also helps people understand culture and researches oral history. In the off-season, when Parks Canada is less busy, she teaches at George Brown College in Toronto.

Standing Up for Indigenous Voices

Lenore Keeshig-Tobias has worked hard to support Indigenous writers.

In 1983, she attended a meeting at Pennsylvania State University. This meeting was to see if an Indigenous newspapers association could be started. This meeting led to the creation of the Native American Journalists Association.

In 1990, she wrote an important essay for The Globe and Mail newspaper. It was called "Stop Stealing Native Stories." In this essay, she said that non-Native writers were using Native stories and experiences without permission. She called this a "theft of voice." She gave examples of books and films by non-Native writers that became very popular. She argued that this happened even when great books by Native writers, like Basil Johnston's Indian School Days, didn't get as much attention.

In 1991, Lenore Keeshig-Tobias helped start the Racial Minority Writers' Committee. This was at the Writers' Union of Canada. She had pointed out that Indigenous and racialized writers didn't get enough support.

She also served on the board of Oyate. This group helps educate people about Native American and Indigenous experiences.

In 1992, the Racial Minority Writers' Committee held a meeting. It was called The Appropriate Voice. About 70 Indigenous and racialized writers met in Orillia, Ontario. They talked about the problems they faced in publishing their work in Canada. From this meeting, they created a motion against cultural appropriation. This motion was passed by the Writers' Union of Canada in June 1992.

These efforts led to the Writing Thru Race conference in 1994. This was a big meeting of Indigenous and racialized writers in Vancouver. Lenore Keeshig-Tobias spoke on the first night. This conference is now seen as a very important moment for discussions about race and literature in Canada.

Lenore's Published Works

Creative Writing for Young Readers

• Bird Talk/Bineshiinh Dibaajmowin (1991) - This book is in English and Ojibway. Her daughter, Polly Keeshig-Tobias, drew the pictures.
• The Short-Cut (1995)
• Emma and the Trees/Emma minwaah mtigooh (1996) - This book is also in English and Ojibway. Her daughter, Polly Keeshig-Tobias, illustrated it.
• The Truth about Nibbles (2005) - This book is in English. She wrote it with her husband, David McLaren. Her daughter, Polly Keeshig-Tobias, drew the pictures.

Selected Poetry and Stories

• Running on the March Wind (2015) - This was her first full book of poetry.
• She also wrote the poem "Those Anthropologists" (1986).
• Her story "The Porcupine" was included in a collection called Tales for an Unknown City (1992).

As an Editor

Lenore Keeshig-Tobias has helped put together several books and magazines:

• Into the Moon: Heart, Mind, Body, Soul (1996) - This book is a collection of writings by Native women.
• All My Relations: Sharing Native Values Through the Arts (1988) - She co-edited this book.
• Walking a Tightrope: Aboriginal People and Their Representations (2005) - She was also a co-editor for this book.
• She was an editor for The Ontario Indian magazine (1981-1982).
• She helped start and edit Sweetgrass Magazine: The Magazine of Canada's Native Peoples (1982-1985).
• She also edited The Magazine to Re-establish the Trickster (1988-1997).

Scholarly and Activist Writings

Lenore Keeshig-Tobias has written many articles and essays. These writings often discuss important topics like language, education, and how Indigenous people are shown in books and media. She has written for academic journals and books that explore these ideas in depth.

Awards and Grants

Lenore Keeshig-Tobias has received several grants to support her work:

• Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (1979, 1980)
• Ontario Arts Council (1986-1989)

She has also won awards for her writing:

• Living the Dream Book Award (1993): This award was for her book Bird Talk. Students chose this book because it showed the values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Her daughter, Polly Keeshig-Tobias, was recognized as the illustrator.
• Author's Award (1987): She won this award with David McLaren for their article "For As Long As the Rivers Flow."