Lisa Bird-Wilson is a Métis and nêhiyaw writer from Saskatchewan of indigenious origin.
Lisa Bird-Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Author, poet |
| Genre | Fiction, nonfiction, poetry |
| Notable awards |
|
| Website | |
| lisabirdwilson | |
Biography
editA 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.[citation needed]
As of 2021[update], 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.[7]
Awards
edit- 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[8]
- 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[7]
- 2019
- Silver Medal, Column, National Magazine Awards for "Clowns, Cake, Canoes: This is Canada?"[11]
- 2022
- Shortlisted for the Amazon.ca First Novel Award for Probably Ruby[12]
- Finalist for the 2022 Governor General's Award for English Fiction for "Probably Ruby";[13] 2022
Works
edit- 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)[14]
References
edit- ^ a b c Martin, Ashley (1 March 2019). "A One Book One Province pick, Lisa Bird-Wilson's short story collection is about a search for identity". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ Martin, Ashley (26 October 2018). "Saskatchewan Arts Board honours 2018 awards recipients". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Danuta Gleed Literary Award finalists announced". Quill & Quire. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ Mitchell, Amy. "Lisa Bird-Wilson's Just Pretending". The /TƐmz/ Review. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Gabriel Dumont Institute Announces New CEO". PA NOW. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Curriculum advisory committee created". Yorkton This Week. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ a b Oloo, James (21 December 2018). "Lisa Wilson Receives 2018 Saskatchewan Arts Award". Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d Narine, Shari (27 February 2014). "Strong Aboriginal representation in Saskatchewan Book Awards". Saskatchewan Sage. Vol. 31, no. 12. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Nominees" (PDF). YMCA Saskatchewan. p. 41. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Jack Hodgins Founders' Award for Fiction: 2017". The Malahat Review. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Announcing the Winners of the 42nd Annual National Magazine Awards". National Magazine Awards. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Retired bricklayer among six debut novelists vying for $60,000 prize". The Globe and Mail, May 10, 2022.
- ^ [1].
- ^ "Probably Ruby". CBC Books. CBC. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
Further reading
edit- Morgan, Cara-Lyn. "Poetry to Prose and Back Again: Cara-Lyn Morgan in Conversation with Lisa Bird-Wilson". The Malahat Review.
- Moore, Nathaniel G. (13 April 2017). "I Think All Canadians Have a Role in Reconciliation: An Interview with Lisa Bird-Wilson". Prism International.