Lisa Bird-Wilson Explained
Lisa Bird-Wilson is a Métis and nêhiyaw writer from Saskatchewan.
Biography
A survivor of the Sixties Scoop, as a child Bird-Wilson was adopted, disconnecting her from her Cree and Métis heritage.[1] This experience informs much of her writing.[1]
Bird-Wilson's debut collection of short stories, Just Pretending (2013), was chosen as the Saskatchewan Library Association's 2019 One Book One Province.[1] The book won four Saskatchewan Book Awards (including 2014 book of the year), and was a finalist for the 2014 Danuta Gleed Literary Award.[2] [3] Reviewing the stories for The /tƐmz/ Review, Amy Mitchell says "the stories and characters are so alive, and the writing is so beautiful in its stripped-down simplicity."[4]
She has also published poetry and non-fiction books.
, Bird-Wilson is CEO of the Gabriel Dumont Institute, the education arm of the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan.[5] [6] She is also a founding board member and chair of the Ânskohk Aboriginal Writers' Circle and founding president of the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network.
Works
- An Institute of Our Own: A History of the Gabriel Dumont Institute, non-fiction (Gabriel Dumont Press, 2011)
- Just Pretending, short stories (Coteau Books, 2013)
- The Red Files, poetry (Nightwood Editions, 2016)
- Probably Ruby, novel (Doubleday Canada, 2021)[7]
Awards
- 2014
- Shortlisted for the Danuta Gleed Literary Award for Just Pretending[3]
- University of Regina Book of the Year for Just Pretending[8]
- SaskPower Fiction Award for Just Pretending
- Rasmussen, Rasmussen & Charowsky Aboriginal Peoples' Writing Award for Just Pretending[8]
- First Nations University of Canada Aboriginal Peoples' Publishing Award for Just Pretending[8]
- YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Arts, Culture or Heritage[9]
- 2017
- John Hodgin's Founder Award for short story "Counselling"[10]
- 2018
- Saskatchewan Arts Board, RBC Emerging Artist Award[11]
- 2019
- 2022
Further reading
External links
Notes and References
- News: A One Book One Province pick, Lisa Bird-Wilson's short story collection is about a search for identity . Regina Leader-Post . Ashley . Martin . 1 March 2019 . 12 April 2020.
- News: Saskatchewan Arts Board honours 2018 awards recipients . Ashley . Martin . Regina Leader-Post . 26 October 2018 . 12 April 2020.
- Danuta Gleed Literary Award finalists announced . Quill & Quire . 14 May 2014 . 12 April 2020.
- Lisa Bird-Wilson's Just Pretending . Amy . Mitchell . The /TƐmz/ Review . 12 April 2020.
- News: Gabriel Dumont Institute Announces New CEO . 12 March 2021 . PA NOW . 20 February 2024.
- News: Curriculum advisory committee created . 13 January 2020 . Yorkton This Week . 12 April 2020.
- Web site: Probably Ruby . CBC Books . CBC . 5 February 2020 . 12 April 2020.
- News: Strong Aboriginal representation in Saskatchewan Book Awards . Shari . Narine . 27 February 2014 . 31 . 12 . Saskatchewan Sage . 12 April 2020.
- Web site: YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Nominees . 41 . YMCA Saskatchewan . 12 April 2020.
- Jack Hodgins Founders' Award for Fiction: 2017 . The Malahat Review . 12 April 2020.
- Web site: Lisa Wilson Receives 2018 Saskatchewan Arts Award . Oloo . James . 21 December 2018 . Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research . 12 April 2020.
- Web site: Announcing the Winners of the 42nd Annual National Magazine Awards . 1 June 2019 . National Magazine Awards . 12 April 2020.
- https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books/article-retired-bricklayer-among-six-debut-novelists-vying-for-60000-prize/ "Retired bricklayer among six debut novelists vying for $60,000 prize"
- https://ggbooks.ca/2022-winners-and-finalists
