Lisa Bird-Wilson

Lisa Bird-Wilson is a Métis and nêhiyaw writer from Saskatchewan.

Biography

A survivor of the Sixties Scoop, as a child Bird-Wilson was taken from her Indigenous parents and adopted, disconnecting her from First Nations and Métis heritage.[1] This experience informs much of her writing.[1]

Bird-Wilson's debut collection of short stories, Just Pretending (2013), was chosen as the Saskatchewan Library Association's 2019 One Book One Province.[1] The book won four Saskatchewan Book Awards (including 2014 book of the year), and was a finalist for the 2014 Danuta Gleed Literary Award.[2][3] Reviewing the stories for The /tƐmz/ Review, Amy Mitchell says "the stories and characters are so alive, and the writing is so beautiful in its stripped-down simplicity."[4]

She has also published poetry and non-fiction books.

As of 2020, Bird-Wilson is director of the Gabriel Dumont Institute, the education arm of the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan.[5][6] She is also the founding board member of the Ânskohk Aboriginal Writers' Circle and founding president of the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network.[7]

Works
  • An Institute of Our Own: A History of the Gabriel Dumont Institute, non-fiction (Gabriel Dumont Press, 2011)
  • Just Pretending, short stories (Coteau Books, 2013)
  • The Red Files, poetry (Nightwood Editions, 2016)
  • Probably Ruby, short stories (Coteau Books, 2020)[8]

Awards
2014
  • Shortlisted for the Danuta Gleed Literary Award for Just Pretending[3]
  • University of Regina Book of the Year for Just Pretending[9]
  • SaskPower Fiction Award for Just Pretending[9]
  • Rasmussen, Rasmussen & Charowsky Aboriginal Peoples' Writing Award for Just Pretending[9]
  • First Nations University of Canada Aboriginal Peoples' Publishing Award for Just Pretending[9]
  • YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Arts, Culture or Heritage[10]
2017
  • John Hodgin's Founder Award for short story "Counselling"[11]
2018
  • Saskatchewan Arts Board, RBC Emerging Artist Award[7]
2019
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gollark: Why do *you* believe in Islam, then?
gollark: This is troubling, the tool I use to bundle potatOS is interacting badly with... another tool one of the libraries is bundled with, because of course.
gollark: You've failed to explain why you believe there are any.
gollark: As I said, since I don't believe in any actual afterlifey consequences from not doing it, I do.

References
  1. Martin, Ashley (1 March 2019). "A One Book One Province pick, Lisa Bird-Wilson's short story collection is about a search for identity". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  2. Martin, Ashley (26 October 2018). "Saskatchewan Arts Board honours 2018 awards recipients". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  3. "Danuta Gleed Literary Award finalists announced". Quill & Quire. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  4. Mitchell, Amy. "Lisa Bird-Wilson's Just Pretending". The /tƐmz/ Review. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  5. Vescera, Zak (16 September 2019). "Ministry will not meet 'aggressive' Indigenous graduation goal: educators". Saskatoon Star Phoenix. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  6. "Curriculum advisory committee created". Yorkton This Week. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  7. Oloo, James (21 December 2018). "Lisa Wilson Receives 2018 Saskatchewan Arts Award". Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  8. "Probably Ruby". CBC Books. CBC. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  9. Narine, Shari (27 February 2014). "Strong Aboriginal representation in Saskatchewan Book Awards". Saskatchewan Sage. 31 (12). Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  10. "YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Nominees" (PDF). YMCA Saskatchewan. p. 41. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  11. "Jack Hodgins Founders' Award for Fiction: 2017". The Malahat Review. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  12. "Announcing the Winners of the 42nd Annual National Magazine Awards". National Magazine Awards. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.

Further reading
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