Richard Van Camp facts for kids

Richard Van Camp (born September 8, 1971) is a talented writer from the Dogrib Tłı̨chǫ First Nation. He is part of the Dene people and grew up in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada.

He is well-known for his novel The Lesser Blessed, which was published in 1996. This book was later made into a movie in 2012 by director Anita Doron.

About Richard Van Camp

Richard Van Camp studied writing at the En'owkin International School of Writing. He also earned a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing from the University of Victoria. Later, he completed a Master's Degree in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia.

He shares his knowledge by teaching creative writing. He focuses on Indigenous storytelling at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He also teaches writing and storytelling at the Emily Carr Institute. Richard Van Camp works with young people from the Musqueam First Nations through the Musqueam Youth Project.

His Start in Writing

Van Camp began his career working on the TV show North of 60. This show was produced by the CBC. He also worked as a script and cultural advisor for the CBC for four seasons.

He has written many short story collections. Most of his stories are set in a made-up town called Fort Simmer. This town is inspired by his own hometown. He has also written books for children, poetry, and educational graphic novels. He worked with the Healthy Aboriginal Network to create and edit graphic novels.

The Power of Storytelling

Richard Van Camp's writing is greatly influenced by traditional oral storytelling. This is how stories are passed down by speaking them aloud. He has said that listening to storytellers helps him learn. He pays attention to how they pause, use slang, and change their voice. He then uses these techniques in his own written stories.

Notable Works and Adaptations

Richard Van Camp was the first Dogrib writer to publish a novel. He was only 24 when he released The Lesser Blessed. This book was later turned into a film that came out in 2012.

One of his short stories, "Dogrib Midnight Runners," was also made into a film. The movie was directed by Zoe Leigh Hopkins and was called Mohawk Midnight Runners. It was released in 2013. This story can be found in his short story collection The Moon Letting Go, published in 2013.

In 2018, his short novel When We Play Our Drums, They Sing was published. It was part of a book called The Journey Forward, which also included a story by Monique Gray Smith. This book was a finalist for the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature. His collection of short stories, Moccasin Square Gardens, was published in 2019.

Recognition and Awards

In June 2014, Richard Van Camp was chosen to be a judge for the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature. He nominated artist Julie Flett for her work on the book Little You. In 2017, Van Camp was the writer in residence for the Edmonton Metro Libraries.

He received the R. Ross Arnett Award for Children's Literature for his children's book Little You. He also won the Georges Bugnet Award for Fiction in 2013 for Godless but Loyal to Heaven. He won this award again in 2020 for Moccasin Square Gardens. He was also a finalist for the ReLit Award for Short Fiction multiple times.

Personal Life

Richard Van Camp's mother is Dogrib, and his father is white. As of 2023, he lives in Edmonton, Canada, with his wife and child.

Awards and Honours

Literary Awards

• 2013 Georges Bugnet Award for Fiction, Godless but Loyal to Heaven
• 2015 R. Ross Arnett Award for Children's Literature, Little You
• 2020 Georges Bugnet Award for Fiction, Moccasin Square Gardens

Honours

• 2022 Member of the Order of the Northwest Territories

Works

Novels

• The Lesser Blessed (Douglas & McIntyre, 1996)
• Whistle (Pearson Canada, 2015)
• Beast (Douglas & McIntyre, 2024)

Novella

• When We Play Our Drums, They Sing! (2018)

Short Story Collections

• Angel Wing Splash Pattern (Kegedonce Press, 2002)
• Godless but Loyal to Heaven (Enfield & Wizenty, 2013)
• The Moon of Letting Go (Enfield & Wizenty, 2010)
• Night Moves (Enfield & Wizenty, 2015)
• Moccasin Square Gardens (2019)

Short Stories

• "Scariest. Story. Ever." in Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology (2023)

Children's Literature

• A Man Called Raven (Lee & Low Books, 1997)
• What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses? (Children's Book Press, 2003)
• Welcome Song for Baby (Orca Books, 2007)
• Blessing Wendy (Orca Books, 2008)
• Nighty Night (McKellar & Martin, 2012)
• Little You (Orca Books, 2013)
• We Sang You Home (Orca Books, 2016)
• Kiss by Kiss (Orca Books, 2018)
• May We Have Enough to Share (Orca Books, 2019)

Graphic Novels

• Path of the Warrior (Healthy Aboriginal Network, 2010)
• Kiss Me Deadly (Healthy Aboriginal Network, 2011)
• Three Feathers (Portage & Main Press, 2015)
• A Blanket of Butterflies (Portage & Main Press, 2015)
• The Blue Raven (Pearson Canada, 2015)
• Spirit (South Slave Divisional Education Council, 2015)
• Roth (Renegade Arts Entertainment, 2024)