Campbell receives award from Canada Council

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Maria Campbell, renowned Metis author, playwright, film-maker and teacher, has received this year's Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prize in the Arts in recognition of her contributions to Canada's literary and cultural identity.

Campbell's career has spanned three decades, beginning with the publication of her first book in 1973, an autobiography entitled Halfbreed. Since then she has written children's books-People of the Buffalo, Riel's People, Little Badger and the Fire Spirit-as well as Stories of the Road Allowance People in which she captures stories from the oral tradition in print.

Campbell has also written a number of plays. The first, Flight, was the first all-Aboriginal theatre production in Canada.

She also operated her own film and video production company, Gabriel Productions, for 12 years, during which time she wrote and directed a number of documentaries and produced My Partners, My People, the first weekly Aboriginal television series in Canada.

Campbell, who speaks four languages-Cree, Michif, Saulteaux and English-holds three honourary doctorates and is currently completing her master of arts degree in Native Studies at the University of Saskatchewan, where she is also an assistant professor. She teaches and is an Elder in residence at the First Nation University of Canada.

The Molson Prize in the Arts is worth $50,000 and is awarded each year to a Canadian who has distinguished themselves in the arts. The jury was unanimous in their selection of Campbell to receive the award, citing her contributions to Canadian and Aboriginal literature and her impact on the cultural evolution of the country.