Librairie Hannenorak specializes in First Nations literature

There is a store in Quebec City’s Huron-Wendat Village of Wendake that specializes in First Nations literature. The Librairie Hannenorak is exclusively devoted to literature by and about the First Nations of Quebec and Canada. This makes it unique in the area, if not the province.

With its modern décor, the bookstore is also a cozy café that offers coffee and homemade baking for visitors who wish to discover its remarkable selection of books.

Opened in 2009, it sits in the heart of the Huron-Wendat village and is easily accessible for locals and visitors.
Huron-Wendat Daniel Siouï, 27, decided to create the store in the same house that belonged to his paternal grandfather, Armand.

Today, Daniel is the store’s owner and his father, Jean, and sister, Rosalie, work there. Unfortunately, Daniel was only two when his grandfather died so he did not get to know him well.

Siouï’s store focuses on First Nation authors from Quebec—including works by writers like his poet father Jean Siouï, historian Georges Siouï and novelist Michel NoÎl—as well as well-known Canadian and international authors like Joseph Boyden, Tomson Highway, Louise Erdrich, Thomas King and Sherman Alexie. Researchers from nearby Laval University are noted customers.
Aside from his current wide selection, Siouï can also order in books for customers upon request in English or in French.

“I want to promote my culture,” said Daniel Siouï. “I also want others to learn about us. Even many Huron-Wendats here enjoy coming over to learn more about their own traditions and history.”

Ultimately, Siouï said, he hopes to promote pride in the community for its culture. He also wishes to foster a love of reading.

Siouï’s vision of making Native books accessible to the public, publishing Native writers and celebrating local, national and international Native talent, is proof of a keen spirit that is having an impact on his community.
“I try to teach, but not in a classroom.” He teaches through his store and his actions.

Jean Siouï joined son Daniel to create a publishing firm, also called Hannenorak, one year ago.

The first publication was a coloring book for young people to learn about their culture. Then, this July 7, the store hosted a community book launch for its first two full-length books.

Huron-Wendat authors Louis-Karl Picard-Siouï and Manon Siouï did a book signing for their latest books, both of which explore Native mythology.

Picard-Siouï, a multi-talented artist who helped organize the First Nations Literature Festival with Maurizio Gatti in 2008, called his book La femme venue du ciel or The woman who came down from the skies. It recounts the complete Huron-Wendat creation story accompanied with rich and vivid drawings by Christine Siouï-Wawanoloath.
Manon Siouï’s L’etre Ètrange qui venait de l’ouest, or The Strange Being who came from the West, tells the myth of a foreigner who arrived from the west shortly after creation.

The quality of the print and the books’ illustrations is remarkable.

Future publications through Hannenorak are currently in progress and the Librairie Hannenorak is already anticipating more book launchings this fall.

The Librairie Hannenorak and the Hannenorak publishing firm can be contacted at hannenorak@gmail.com or readers can find them on Facebook.