Wanda John-Kehewin
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Wanda John-Kehewin is a Cree-Métis (Kehewin Cree Nation) author and poet.
Early life and education
[edit]John-Kehewin grew up on the Kehewin reserve in Alberta, but did not grow up speaking the Cree language.[1] She lived with her mother, a Métis woman who struggled with alcoholism, for parts of her childhood.[2][3] John-Kehewin began writing poetry at age six, as a way to express he feelings.[4] She became aware of the lack of literature centering First Nations voices at a young age, after seeing the lack of representation in the books in her reserve's library.[3] At age 19, John-Kehewin became pregnant. She left her reserve and traveled to Vancouver.[2]
She attended Douglas College, where she studied criminology, and she also studied Sociology and Aboriginal Studies at Langara College.[5] She earned her Master of Fine Arts at University of British Columbia.[1] In 2011 she completed The Writer's Studio, a creative writing program at Simon Fraser University.[6]
Career
[edit]John-Kehewin has worked for the Canadian Ministry of Children and Families.[2]
John-Kehewin released her first graphic novel, Visions of the Crow, in 2023, with illustrations by Nicole Marie Burton.[2][3] The story features a Cree-Métis teenager who tries to figure out his relationship to a crow and a new girl at his school, while also dealing with his mother's alcoholism and life away from his Alberta reserve. It is the first in a planned trilogy.
Her first young adult novel, Hopeless in Hope, was published by Highwater Press in September 2023[3][7] and was included among the 41 titles selected for the 2024 USBBY Outstanding International Books List.[8]
Personal life
[edit]John-Kehewin currently lives in Vancouver.[1] She has five children.[9]
Books
[edit]Poetry
[edit]- In the Dog House (2013), Talonbooks[10][11]
- Seven Sacred Truths (2018), Talonbooks[10][12]
- Spells, Wishes, and the Talking Dead ᒪᒪᐦᑖᐃᐧᓯᐃᐧᐣ ᐸᑯᓭᔨᒧᐤ ᓂᑭᐦᒋ ᐋᓂᐢᑯᑖᐹᐣ mamahtâwisiwin, pakosêyimow, nikihci-âniskotâpân (2023)[1][13]
- Nominated: League of Canadian Poets 2023 Raymond Souster Award[14]
Graphic novels
[edit]Novels
[edit]- Hopeless in Hope (2023)[3]
- Shortlist: 2023 B.C. and Yukon Book Prizes Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize for the best non-illustrated book written for children, awarded by the West Coast Book Society[17][18]
- Shortlist: 2024 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards; Middle Reader category[19]
- 2024 USBBY Outstanding International Books List[8]
- Nominated: 2025 Northern Lights Award, Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Awards[20]
Awards
[edit]- World Poetry Empowered Poet Award 2018, for In the Dog House[12]
- Finalist for the Indigenous Voices Awards 2019, Published Poetry in English, for Seven Sacred Truths[21]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Taylor, Rob (2023-04-26). "Learning a Second Language When It Should Be My First: An Interview with Wanda John-Kehewin". Read Local BC. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
- ^ a b c d Narine, Shari (March 22, 2023). "Graphic novel tells story of the spiritual journey of Cree-Métis teen". Windspeaker.com. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
- ^ a b c d e f Derdeyn, Stuart (March 23, 2023). "Visions of the Crow is Coquitlam author's graphic novel aimed at Indigenous teens connecting with cultural roots". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
- ^ "Q&A with Wanda John-Kehewin". Victoria Festival of Authors. 2023-09-18. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ "February 2019 - Onjana Yawnghwe and Wanda John-Kehewin". www.sfu.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
- ^ Townsend, Natasha. "Wanda John-Kehewin - Continuing Studies". www.sfu.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
- ^ Hopeless in Hope.
- ^ a b "2024 USBBY Outstanding International Books" (PDF). www.usbby.org. 2024.
- ^ Harowitz, Sara (2023-11-08). "Well Read: Wanda John-Kehewin, author of "Hopeless in Hope"". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ a b "Seeking Peace: An Omnibus Review of Poetry by Wanda John-Kehewin, Arielle Twist and Kim Trainor". PRISM international. 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
- ^ Wayman, Tom; Gingell, Susan (2014). "Realism & Conceptualism". Science & Canadian Literature (221): 162–63. Retrieved 2024-09-12 – via canlit.ca.
- ^ a b "Seven Sacred Truths". CBC. August 1, 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- ^ "Spells, Wishes and the Talking Dead by Wanda John-Kehewin". CBC. February 27, 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- ^ "Britta Badour, Brandi Bird, Laila Malik each shortlisted twice for League of Canadian Poets prizes". CBC. 2024-04-17. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ VISIONS OF THE CROW | Kirkus Reviews.
- ^ "25 Picture Books, Graphic Novels, and More with Indigenous Protagonists for Young Readers Of All Ages". School Library Journal. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ Gee, Dana (2024-04-11). "B.C. and Yukon Book Prize finalists list include Naomi Klein and John Vaillant". Vancouver Sun.
- ^ "Darrel J. McLeod, Naomi Klein and David A. Robertson among 2024 BC and Yukon Book Prizes finalists". CBC. 2024-04-11.
- ^ "Shortlists for the 2024 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards announced". Ontario Arts Council. 2024-05-16.
- ^ "2025 Northern Lights Nominees". MYRCA. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ "2019 IVAs". Indigenous Voices Awards. Retrieved 2023-06-05.