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

Early life and education

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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] 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 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.[4] 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.[5]

Career

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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, is scheduled to release in September 2023.[3][6]

Personal life

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John-Kehewin currently lives in Vancouver.[1]

Books

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Poetry

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Graphic novels

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Novels

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Awards

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "February 2019 - Onjana Yawnghwe and Wanda John-Kehewin". www.sfu.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  5. ^ Townsend, Natasha. "Wanda John-Kehewin - Continuing Studies". www.sfu.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  6. ^ Hopeless in Hope.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b "Seven Sacred Truths". CBC. August 1, 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Spells, Wishes and the Talking Dead by Wanda John-Kehewin". CBC. February 27, 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  10. ^ VISIONS OF THE CROW | Kirkus Reviews.
  11. ^ "2019 IVAs". Indigenous Voices Awards. Retrieved 2023-06-05.