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Wanda John-Kehewin

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Canadian author and poet

Wanda John-Kehewin is a Cree-Métis (Kehewin Cree Nation) author and poet.

Early life and education

John-Kehewin grew up on the Kehewin reserve in Alberta, but did not grow up speaking the Cree language. She lived with her mother, a Métis woman who struggled with alcoholism, for parts of her childhood. John-Kehewin began writing poetry at age six, as a way to express he feelings. 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. At age 19, John-Kehewin became pregnant. She left her reserve and traveled to Vancouver.

She attended Douglas College, where she studied criminology, and she also studied Sociology and Aboriginal Studies at Langara College. She earned her Master of Fine Arts at University of British Columbia. In 2011 she completed The Writer's Studio, a creative writing program at Simon Fraser University.

Career

John-Kehewin has worked for the Canadian Ministry of Children and Families.

John-Kehewin released her first graphic novel, Visions of the Crow, in 2023, with illustrations by Nicole Marie Burton. 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. It won the 2024 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize and was included among the 41 titles selected for the 2024 USBBY Outstanding International Books List.

Personal life

John-Kehewin currently lives in Vancouver. She has five children.

Books

Poetry

  • In the Dog House (2013), Talonbooks
  • Seven Sacred Truths (2018), Talonbooks
  • Spells, Wishes, and the Talking Dead ᒪᒪᐦᑖᐃᐧᓯᐃᐧᐣ ᐸᑯᓭᔨᒧᐤ ᓂᑭᐦᒋ ᐋᓂᐢᑯᑖᐹᐣ mamahtâwisiwin, pakosêyimow, nikihci-âniskotâpân (2023)

Graphic novels

  • Visions of the Crow: Volume 1 Dreams (2023)

Novels

Awards

  • World Poetry Empowered Poet Award 2018, for In the Dog House
  • Finalist for the Indigenous Voices Awards 2019, Published Poetry in English, for Seven Sacred Truths

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Narine, Shari (March 22, 2023). "Graphic novel tells story of the spiritual journey of Cree-Métis teen". Windspeaker.com. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. "Q&A with Wanda John-Kehewin". Victoria Festival of Authors. 2023-09-18. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  5. "February 2019 - Onjana Yawnghwe and Wanda John-Kehewin". www.sfu.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  6. Townsend, Natasha. "Wanda John-Kehewin - Continuing Studies". www.sfu.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  7. Hopeless in Hope.
  8. ^ "Announcing the winners of the 2024 BC and Yukon Book Prizes". CCBC. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  9. ^ "2024 USBBY Outstanding International Books" (PDF). www.usbby.org. 2024.
  10. Harowitz, Sara (2023-11-08). "Well Read: Wanda John-Kehewin, author of "Hopeless in Hope"". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. Wayman, Tom; Gingell, Susan (2014). "Realism & Conceptualism". Science & Canadian Literature (221): 162–63. Retrieved 2024-09-12 – via canlit.ca.
  13. ^ "Seven Sacred Truths". CBC. August 1, 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  14. "Spells, Wishes and the Talking Dead by Wanda John-Kehewin". CBC. February 27, 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  15. "Britta Badour, Brandi Bird, Laila Malik each shortlisted twice for League of Canadian Poets prizes". CBC. 2024-04-17. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  16. VISIONS OF THE CROW | Kirkus Reviews.
  17. "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.
  18. "Shortlists for the 2024 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards announced". Ontario Arts Council. 2024-05-16.
  19. "2025 Northern Lights Nominees". MYRCA. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  20. "Forest of Reading reveals chosen books for 2025 — students across Canada to choose winners". CBC. 2024-10-15.
  21. "2019 IVAs". Indigenous Voices Awards. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
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