2-time Governor General’s Literary Award, TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, Editorial Director of new imprint w/ Tundra. Rep: @wca_litagency
Apr 15, 2022 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
The Durham District School Board has pulled The Great Bear from its libraries, and I’m shocked.
We need to be putting more books by Indigenous authors on the shelves, not taking them out.
This is an insult to teachers, librarians, and children. thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
It’s equally insulting that they don’t have the integrity to admit that they’ve received multiple emails from my publisher asking for an explanation. They have lied about it, when is there is evidence to the contrary. This is a huge step back, and we can’t accept it.
May 31, 2021 • 11 tweets • 15 min read
Stories have played, & will continue to play, a role in educating Canadians, young & old, about the terrible legacy of Residential Schools. There's no excuse not to know the history or its impact. Here is a thread of books, thanks to all who listed them over the last week (1/?)
Indian Horse- Richard Wagamese
Dear Canada, These Are My Words: The Residential School Diary of Violet Pesheens - Ruby Slipperjack
2/?
Sep 30, 2020 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
On a day to honour survivors of the residential school system, children who did not survive, and families who have been effected across generations, I think it’s also a time for reflection on not just the past, but today, and what kind of country we want to live in tomorrow. /1
What we have been reminded of, and what many Indigenous people are intimately aware of, by Joyce Echaquan, is that the systems of the past that were in place to destroy a people, like residential schools, are still operating today in this country we call Canada. /2
Aug 31, 2020 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
Before Macdonald started the residential school system in 1883, he was starving Indigenous people to get them out of the way for his previous railroad (which he took bribes for). He put them on reserves to grow their own food, without the land or the tools to do so adequately. /1
So this policy of starvation not only removed Indigenous people to make room for the railroad, it killed off Indigenous people. The government wanted to “reduce the expense” of having Indigenous people by rationing food to the point of death. /2
Aug 29, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Many Indigenous children would’ve been connected to their cultures, speaking their languages, healthy, thriving, living lives they should’ve been allowed to live. Yet because of the architect of residential schools thousands died & countless more were impacted across generations.
“I have reason to believe that the agents as a whole … are doing all they can, by refusing food until the Indians are on the verge of starvation, to reduce the expense.” - John A. Macdonald
You want to keep honouring this man? I can keep quoting him, too.
Jun 13, 2020 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Indigenous people murdered by police in Canada since early April:
Eishia Hudson.
Jason Collins.
Stewart Kevin Andrews.
Everett Patrick.
Abraham Natanine.
RCMP shooting of man in Iqaluit village of Apex, Nunavut.
Regis Korchinski Paquet.
Chantel Moore.
Rodney Levi.
If you come on here blaming victims and defending law enforcement, and I block you, it doesn’t mean you’re right, it means I’ve no intention, or patience, to deal with your ignorance (or racism).
May 21, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
I just fixed my fence with zip ties. Are zip ties as useful as duct tape? Or am I just bored.
Zip ties for the win.
Mar 7, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
7:50 in the morning and 2,500 words written. What do I do with the rest of my day????
Update: I went to Riding Mountain National Park with the family.
