Writer wins arts and culture award

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Maria Campbell burst onto the Canadian arts scene with her searing 1973

novel Half-Breed, which exposed the brutal realities of life for

Aboriginal women in Canada. It was the first novel about such subject

matter by an identifiably native writer.

Half-Breed also opened the way for other Aboriginal authors--of novels,

short stories, plays and poetry--to see their work through to successful

publication. Campbell was awarded the national Aboriginal Achievement

Award for arts and culture in Winnipeg.

"I would never have been up there if it hadn't been for my three

daughters and my son," she said after the award presentation. "They

helped pave the way for me."

As Campbell has helped pave the way for many others, with years of

struggle, application and passion.

Her first novel, similarly, paved the way for the six books that

followed and several award-winning plays. As well, she has seen her

work appear on the small screen often in the last 15 year.

The Metis woman has conducted writing workshops in community halls,

friendship centres, libraries, tents and cabins.

Her writers'camp near Batoche, Sask., at the old Gabriel Dumont

homestead at Gabriel's Crossing resulted in the 1991 anthology

Achimoona, a collection of short stories which highlighted emerging

Aboriginal authors.

A noted lecturer and workshop facilitator, Campbell continues to work

in the areas of community development, race relations and creative

writing. She teaches Native studies at the University of Saskatchewan

in Saskatoon, and was honored with an honorary Doctorate of Laws by the

University of Regina.

"Don't settle for just the bachelor degree, you know," she said. " Go

for the Ph.D's and go for the non-traditional roles." She suggested

that Native people should set their sights on business and political

success, including perhaps aspiring to become prime minister.

Campbell's own success engendered further success in the Aboriginal

community. Half Breed became a catalyst for change, as people worldwide

were shocked and saddened by what they read of the plight of the Metis.

The Metis Nation saw a resurgence of cultural pride and awareness,

Aboriginal women organized and reclaimed themselves, governments

affirmed Metis political rights and Aboriginal literature in Canada was

born. A huge accomplishment for a first-time novelist.

Campbell was chosen from a long list of deserving nominees-- including

some 30 others--put forward in her category. She won the National

Aboriginal Achievement Award for Arts and Culture for "bringing the

story of her people to the eyes and ears of the world."