Niigaan Sinclair is an Anishinaabe writer and editor from Winnipeg, wanted to share his perspective of Canada through an Indigenous lens. When he pitched his book, Winnipeg: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre, to a publisher in Toronto, he was told it would probably be seen as a “regional book,” mainly appealing to people in Manitoba, northwestern Ontario, and Saskatchewan. Sinclair wasn’t expecting much attention from other parts of Canada and was not surprised when most of the sales came from these areas. But to his surprise, his book reached a much wider audience, and it was recently awarded the Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction. Sinclair shared in a video call from Winnipeg that, even though the book had little fanfare outside of Manitoba at first, it had clearly resonated with people across the country.
Congrats Niigaan!
Governor General’s Literary Awards – @Niigaanwewidam hopes his book can spark conversation over efforts to address Indigenous injustice and violence in “Wînipêk”
https://t.co/yfBT5fYbzc— Dennis Ward (@DennisWardNews) November 13, 2024
The award recognizes the growing presence of Indigenous voices in Canadian literature. Jordan Abel is a Nisga’a writer from Edmonton, he also won the fiction award for his novel Empty Spaces. Abel’s book is unconventional, with no characters or dialogue, and focuses on Indigenous relationships with land, displacement, and diaspora. Abel was worried that his unusual approach would turn readers off, but winning the award reassured him that his book had sparked meaningful conversations. Abel’s work responds to The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper, arguing that Cooper’s novel helped shape U.S. nationalism by ignoring the guilt surrounding the treatment of Indigenous people. Abel believes the themes of his book are especially relevant today, given the current political climate.
Chimwemwe Undi from Winnipeg also won the poetry award for Scientific Marvel, adding to the celebration of Indigenous writers. The Canada Council for the Arts awarded prizes in several categories, with each winner receiving $25,000. These awards show the growing recognition of Indigenous literature, which has gained more attention in recent years thanks to writers like Sinclair, Abel, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, and Sinclair’s late father, Murray Sinclair, who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Sinclair, who teaches at the University of Manitoba, is passionate about raising awareness of the challenges Indigenous communities face in Winnipeg. He sees the city as the “front line” of Canada’s ongoing struggles with colonialism and injustice. While Sinclair has noticed a rise in interest for Indigenous writing, he also points out that there are still vocal groups denying the history of residential schools. He believes that even as Indigenous voices grow stronger, there will always be resistance. However, he remains hopeful that Canada is ready for the conversation, and he’s proud that his book is helping to drive it.
Big Coagulations to their achievements!