Nominees announced for Saskatchewan Book Awards

Page 6

A number of books by Aboriginal authors and illustrators are among those nominated for this year's Saskatchewan Book Awards.

Treaty Promises, Indian Reality: Life on a Reserve, written by Harold LeRat and Linda Ungar, is one of the 89 books to make the list. In the book, LeRat recounts his life on Cowessess First Nation, his experiences in residential school and the political history of his home community.

Back Track by trapper, fisherman, storyteller and lawyer Harold Johnson has also been nominated. Johnson's book explores the lives of four Cree brothers and the power of cultural wisdom and traditional beliefs.

Another is Howard Adams: Otapaway!, edited by Murray Hamilton, Hartmut Lutz and Donna Heimbecker, which combines a series of autobiographic fragments written by the late Metis leader and scholar with remembrances about Adams provided by friends, colleagues and fellow scholars.

Also being considered for a Saskatchewan Book Award is The Metis Alphabet Book by Joseph Jean Fauchon. In the book, the author highlights people, places and events from Metis history from A to Z, exploring the alphabet and Metis culture and history at the same time.

Another nominated book is Christmas at Wapos Bay by Dennis Jackson and Jordan Wheeler. The book, based on the successful claymation film of the same name, tells the story of Talon, Raven and T-Bear, three urban Cree children visiting their moshum on his trapline who must rely on the traditional skills they have learned when their moshum becomes ill and they must get him safely back to his cabin.

Morningstar: A Warrior's Spirit by storyteller, actress and social activist Morningstar Mercredi, is also on the list. In the book, Morningstar tells her own story of overcoming abuse, poverty and discrimination and taking control of her life with the help of her community and her son.

Also nominated is He Who Flies by Night: The Story of Grey Owl, written by Lori Punshon and illustrated by First Nation artist Mike Keepness.

Other books with Aboriginal themes that are nominated for Saskatchewan Book Awards include Maskikhiwino, The Medicine Man, in which author Germain O. Lavoie tells the story of his father, the first resident doctor in the community of Ile a la Crosse, Calling Black Lake by MacKenzie Art Gallery curator Wendy Winter, which tells of the education project of the same name that linked youth in Regina with youth in the remote Dene community of Black Lake. Also nominated is We Are Still Here by CJ Beuhler, which tells the story of a Hinoch, an Innu man who must give up his successful life as an artist to become a shaman for his people, leading them on a cultural pilgrimage that will change the world.

The shortlist of nominees for the Saskatchewan Book Awards will be announced on Oct. 19. The award winners will be announced during the 14 annual Saskatchewan Book Awards Gala, to be held at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina on Nov. 25.

For more information about the awards, go to www.bookawards.sk.ca