Cherie Dimaline on Writing Indigenous Narrative into the Future
The Literatures of Modernity MA Program recently welcomed award-winning Canadian M茅tis author Cherie Dimaline as part of its Distinguished Speaker Series. Dimaline is the author of the acclaimed young adult novel The Marrow Thieves, which recently competed as one of the top 5 books in Canada Reads. The Marrow Thieves also won the 2017 Governor General鈥檚 Literary Award for Young People鈥檚 Literature and the 2017 Kirkus Prize. Dimaline鈥檚 other works include Red Rooms (2007), The Girl Who Grew a Galaxy (2013), and A Gentle Habit (2016).
Dimaline spoke to an eager group of Ryerson students who were excited to hear her presentation, entitled 鈥淲riting Indigenous Narratives Into the Future.鈥� Caleb De Jong, a current LitMod student, says that Dimaline was a 鈥渄ynamic and engaging speaker鈥� who discussed a wealth of topics including 鈥淚ndigenous land-rights, cultural appropriation, and the continuing importance of shared memories, dreams, and traditions.鈥� Similarly, Zach McCann-Armitage, another LitMod student, comments that Dimaline 鈥渋s telling really rad and important stories through her writing.鈥�
Emily Hunsberger, who is also in the LitMod program, found Dimaline鈥檚 talk so intriguing that she took notes to reflect on later. Emily describes Dimaline as being 鈥渋ncredibly down-to-earth and candid, while also eloquently expressing herself.鈥� Likewise, Caleb felt that Dimaline 鈥渂roached difficult topics with an abundance of wit, humour, and passion.鈥�
Ryerson students were left moved by Dimaline鈥檚 powerful talk. Of the variety of subjects discussed, Dimaline鈥檚 explanation of the dystopian genre as a particularly appropriate space for Indigenous narratives stood out to Emily. As Dimaline said, 鈥渨ho better to survive an apocalypse than people who have already done so?鈥� Like all of the attendees who had the privilege of hearing Dimaline鈥檚 talk, Zach feels 鈥渓ucky and inspired to have heard her speak.鈥�
News report by Claire Buttery and Aesha Nananso.