Indigenous writing and the residential school experience

"Robert Arthur Alexie was born and raised in Fort McPherson in Canada’s Northwest Territories. He became the chief of the Tetlit Gwich’in of Fort McPherson, served two terms as vice president of the Gwich’in Tribal Council and helped obtain a land claim agreement for the Gwich’in of the Northwest Territories." - Strong Nations

Joseph Boyden CM (born October 31, 1966) is a Canadian novelist and short story writer. Boyden is best known for writing about First Nations culture.

There is controversy surrounding Boyden's Indigenous ancestry, which is an ongoing issue at this time.

"Constance Brissenden is a freelance writer and editor, the author of a dozen books of history and travel, as well as co-author of books by Larry Loyie. In 1993, Constance and Larry began researching Canadian residential school history, interviewing more than 200 school survivors and collecting their personal images. They have given more than 1,600 talks together, and continue to encourage students to learn about their own cultures and to share them proudly with others." - Strong Nations

Jenny Kay Dupuis is a multi-award-winning Indigenous author, educator, and artist whose expertise supports the advancement of Indigenous education and the importance of relationship building today. Jenny Kay’s interest in her family’s past and her commitment to teaching about truth and Indigenous realities through literature drew her to co-write ‘I Am Not a Number’, her first children’s book about her granny’s experience at a residential school in Northern Ontario. Having grown up in Northern Ontario and as a proud member of Nipissing First Nation, she explores through her research various leadership, diversity, and care theory concepts to better understand how to support raising awareness when it comes to Indigenous realties in the fields of education, literature, and the arts.

Michelle Good is of Cree ancestry, a descendent of the Battle River Cree and a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation. She has worked with indigenous organizations since she was a teenager and at forty decided to approach that work in a different way obtaining her law degree from UBC at 43. She has practiced law in the public and private sector since then, primarily advocating for Residential School Survivors.

"Louise Bernice Halfe, also known as SKYDANCER was born in Two Hill, Alberta. She was raised on the Saddle Lake Indian Reserve and attended Blue Quills Residential School. Louise earned her bachelor of Social Work from the University of Regina, and a certificate in Drugs and Alcohol Counselling from Nechi Institute. During a six year stay in northern Saskatchewan while attending satellite classes and commuting to the University of Saskatchewan (a 3 hour drive), she kept a journal; as a result her first book of poetry, Bear Bones & Feathers evolved and was published by Coteau Books and shortlisted for the Spirit of Saskatchewan Award and the Gerald Lambert Award." - The Writers' Union of Canada

A member of the Nlaka'pamux Nation from the Lytton First Nation in British Columbia. Kevin is an award winning Playwright, Theatre Director, Documentarian, Producer and a professional Actor of the stage and screen.

"Stephen McGregor is Algonquin from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Reserve at Maniwaki, Quebec. Stephen has been writing for 15 years. Stephen is currently the Chief of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Reserve." - Strong Nations

"Richard Wagamese, Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) novelist, journalist, mentor (born 4 October 1955 in northwestern ON; died 10 March 2017 in Kamloops, BC). A well-known Indigenous writer in Canada, Wagamese won several awards including the Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prize (2013) and the Writers’ Trust of Canada’s Matt Cohen Award (2015). His works speak about the historical and contemporary socio-economic issues affecting Indigenous communities in Canada. They also bring attention to issues regarding Indigenous identity, culture and truth and reconciliation. A beloved writer, Wagamese’s works have inspired many Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and writers alike." - The Canadian Encyclopedia