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Aboriginal Publishers in Canada Updated List

Posted by admin9 on September 15, 2010  |   No Comments »

Aboriginal Publishers in Canada (updated Sept 2010)
Compiled by: Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden,
To add to this list, email livingtradition@telus.net or add a comment.

Theytus (Penticton, BC) — Canada’s oldest Aboriginal publisher, established in 1980. Adult and children’s works on Aboriginal themes by Aboriginal authors, http://www.theytus.com/
NOTE (right): a poster created for The Gathering Tree, Larry Loyie’s bestselling book on HIV awareness (Theytus)

Kegedonce Press (Cape Croker First Nation, Wiarton, ON) — Award-winning Aboriginal-owned and operated. Develops, promotes and publishes the work of Indigenous peoples. Specialist in quality poetry books, http://www.kegedonce.com/

Gabriel Dumont Institute Publishing (Saskatoon, SK) — High-calibre Metis-specific adult and children’s books and cultural resources, http://www.gdins.org/

Ningwakwe Learning Press (Saugeen First Nation, Southampton, ON) — Publishes culturally appropriate resources for the Aboriginal literacy field and for all readers. Established in 1999, http://www.ningwakwe.on.ca/

Pemmican Publications Inc. (Winnipeg, MB) — Since 1980, publishes books that promote Canadian Metis writers and illustrators through stories that are informed by Metis experience, http://www.pemmican.mb.ca/

Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (Saskatoon, SK) — Materials written in Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakota, Lakota, or English that pertain to the First Nations of Saskatchewan, http://www.sicc.sk.ca/

New to list:
Nunavut Arctic College Language and Culture Department (Arviat, NU) — Since 1988, materials published primarily to support Interpreter Translater and Inuit Studies programs at the college, and also to provide information on Inuit perspectives, http://nac.nu.ca/publications_for_sale

Updated Resources:

http://www.goodminds.com/ — GoodMinds.com began distributing Native educational reources in April 2000. Native-owned and operated by Jeff and Linda Burnham in Brantford, ON. Sheila Staats is the cultural book reviewer. 4000 Aboriginal titles including books, cds, dvds, classroom kits, plus non-Aboriginal educational titles. Excellent resource for purchasing Aboriginal books, including reviews of titles.

http://www.oyate.org/ — “Oyate is a Native organization working to see that our lives and histories are protrayed honestly, and that all people will know our stories belong to us.” Informative, thought-provoking website, indispensible in learning how to “read” books about Aboriginal peoples, fiction or non-fiction.

http://tiny.cc/EQ7ua — First Peoples Libraries Wiki provides a list of publishers and distributors.

http://www.firstnationswriter.com/ — Award-winning Cree author Larry Loyie’s website includes study materials on all of his titles.

Aboriginal author Larry Loyie celebrates 1000 school visits

Posted by admin9 on June 15, 2010  |   No Comments »

Aboriginal Author Larry Loyie Celebrates 1000 School Visits

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 marked award-winning Cree author Larry Loyie’s 1000th school visit. Larry celebrated the occasion with St Peter Catholic School’s Grade 4-5 class in Cambridge, ON.

The eager students wrote individual letters to author Loyie after reading As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood), winner of the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction. Published in 2002, the book is the bestselling story of the author’s last traditional summer with his family before residential school. The book is now a classic Aboriginal title, taught in schools and curriculum across Canada.

“I was impressed by the students and their questions about my traditional Aboriginal lifestyle. They wanted to know more about my grandmother’s adventure with the biggest grizzly bear in North America, as well as what happened to Ooh-hoo, the owl we cared for as children,” said Loyie. “Above all, the wanted to know more about my residential school experience. Their questions were thoughtful and sincere.”

Larry Loyie pointed out that his sequel, Goodbye Buffalo Bay (Theytus), takes up where As Long as the Rivers Flow ends. Teacher Michelle Evans and her class look forward to Loyie’s next book, The Moon Speaks Cree, coming out in Spring 2011 from Theytus.

“The students were thrilled to meet Larry and his co-presenter Constance Brissenden. Larry answered every question openly and honestly. To get this kind of response from an author was a great ending to our school year,” added Evans.
For more on Larry Loyie, his award-winning children’s books, residential school resources and study material, see http://www.firstnationswriter.com/

Goodbye Buffalo Bay and As Long as the Rivers Flow chosen for First Nation Literacy Partnership Project

Posted by admin9 on March 6, 2010  |   1 Comment »

Press Release: Living Traditions Writers Group, March 5, 2010


Aboriginal author’s books honoured

Cree children’s book author Larry Loyie and partner Constance Brissenden display a poster featuring two of his award-winning books.

Goodbye Buffalo Bay (Theytus) and As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood) were chosen for distribution to students in the Durham District School Board east of Toronto, as well as in First Nations communities across Ontario.

In all, only four books were chosen for this major purchase. “I’m thrilled that my books were selected,” says Larry Loyie. “It proves that knowledge about Aboriginal history and traditions is valued.” For more on Loyie’s books, see his website: www.firstnationswriter.com

The books will be distributed under the First Nations Literacy Partnership Project. The project involves the Durham District School Board (DDSB), Durham Regional Police Service, Durham College, Ontario Provincial Police, North-South Partnership for Children, Baagwating Community Association, and the Rotary Club.

“The project is about people connecting with one another through books and other media like the Internet,” says Bill Littlefair, Aboriginal studies education officer with the school board. “The books will encourage learning and understanding more about First Nations histories, cultures and perspectives in Ontario schools.” For more on the project and a full list of titles, go to: www.durham.edu.on.ca