Wanda John-Kehewin

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Wanda John-Kehewin is a Cree-Métis (Kehewin Cree Nation) author and poet.

Early life and education

John-Kehewin grew up on the Kehewin reserve in Alberta, but did not grow up speaking the Cree language.[1] She lived with her mother, a Métis woman who struggled with alcoholism, for parts of her childhood.[2][3] John-Kehewin began writing poetry at age six, as a way to express he feelings.[4] She became aware of the lack of literature centering First Nations voices at a young age, after seeing the lack of representation in the books in her reserve's library.[3] At age 19, John-Kehewin became pregnant. She left her reserve and traveled to Vancouver.[2] She attended Douglas College, where she studied criminology, and she also studied Sociology and Aboriginal Studies at Langara College.[5] She earned her Master of Fine Arts at University of British Columbia.[1] In 2011 she completed The Writer's Studio, a creative writing program at Simon Fraser University.[6]

Career

John-Kehewin has worked for the Canadian Ministry of Children and Families.[2] John-Kehewin released her first graphic novel, Visions of the Crow, in 2023, with illustrations by Nicole Marie Burton.[2][3] The story features a Cree-Métis teenager who tries to figure out his relationship to a crow and a new girl at his school, while also dealing with his mother's alcoholism and life away from his Alberta reserve. It is the first in a planned trilogy. Her first young adult novel, Hopeless in Hope, was published by Highwater Press in September 2023[3][7] and was included among the 41 titles selected for the 2024 USBBY Outstanding International Books List.[8]

Personal life

John-Kehewin currently lives in Vancouver.[1] She has five children.[9]

Books

Poetry

  • In the Dog House (2013), Talonbooks[10][11]
  • Seven Sacred Truths (2018), Talonbooks[10][12]
  • Spells, Wishes, and the Talking Dead ᒪᒪᐦᑖᐃᐧᓯᐃᐧᐣ ᐸᑯᓭᔨᒧᐤ ᓂᑭᐦᒋ ᐋᓂᐢᑯᑖᐹᐣ mamahtâwisiwin, pakosêyimow, nikihci-âniskotâpân (2023)[1][13]

Graphic novels

Novels

Awards

  • World Poetry Empowered Poet Award 2018, for In the Dog House[12]
  • Finalist for the Indigenous Voices Awards 2019, Published Poetry in English, for Seven Sacred Truths[21]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Taylor, Rob (2023-04-26). "Learning a Second Language When It Should Be My First: An Interview with Wanda John-Kehewin". Read Local BC. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Narine, Shari (March 22, 2023). "Graphic novel tells story of the spiritual journey of Cree-Métis teen". Windspeaker.com. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Derdeyn, Stuart (March 23, 2023). "Visions of the Crow is Coquitlam author's graphic novel aimed at Indigenous teens connecting with cultural roots". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  4. ↑ "Q&A with Wanda John-Kehewin". Victoria Festival of Authors. 2023-09-18. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  5. ↑ "February 2019 - Onjana Yawnghwe and Wanda John-Kehewin". www.sfu.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  6. ↑ Townsend, Natasha. "Wanda John-Kehewin - Continuing Studies". www.sfu.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  7. ↑ Hopeless in Hope.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "2024 USBBY Outstanding International Books" (PDF). www.usbby.org. 2024.
  9. ↑ Harowitz, Sara (2023-11-08). "Well Read: Wanda John-Kehewin, author of "Hopeless in Hope"". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Seeking Peace: An Omnibus Review of Poetry by Wanda John-Kehewin, Arielle Twist and Kim Trainor". PRISM international. 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  11. ↑ Wayman, Tom; Gingell, Susan (2014). "Realism & Conceptualism". Science & Canadian Literature (221): 162–63. Retrieved 2024-09-12 – via canlit.ca.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Seven Sacred Truths". CBC. August 1, 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  13. ↑ "Spells, Wishes and the Talking Dead by Wanda John-Kehewin". CBC. February 27, 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  14. ↑ "Britta Badour, Brandi Bird, Laila Malik each shortlisted twice for League of Canadian Poets prizes". CBC. 2024-04-17. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  15. ↑ VISIONS OF THE CROW | Kirkus Reviews.
  16. ↑ "25 Picture Books, Graphic Novels, and More with Indigenous Protagonists for Young Readers Of All Ages". School Library Journal. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  17. ↑ Gee, Dana (2024-04-11). "B.C. and Yukon Book Prize finalists list include Naomi Klein and John Vaillant". Vancouver Sun.
  18. ↑ "Darrel J. McLeod, Naomi Klein and David A. Robertson among 2024 BC and Yukon Book Prizes finalists". CBC. 2024-04-11.
  19. ↑ "Shortlists for the 2024 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards announced". Ontario Arts Council. 2024-05-16.
  20. ↑ "2025 Northern Lights Nominees". MYRCA. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  21. ↑ "2019 IVAs". Indigenous Voices Awards. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
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