Larry Loyie residential school exhibit opens

Photo: Cree author Larry Loyie is honoured to be the subject of a residential school exhibit

You are invited to attend the launch of the exhibit Larry Loyie and the Residential School Experience at the Native Cultural Arts Museum in Grouard, AB. The exhibit will be ongoing at the museum.

Well-known local author Larry Loyie will be on hand to sign books on Saturday, September 26, 2-3 pm, for the opening of a new exhibit at Northern Lakes College's Native Cultural Arts Museum in Grouard, Alberta.

The exhibit, Larry Loyie and the Residential School Experience, includes rarely seen photographs detailing the award-winning author's life and the St. Bernard Mission residential school he attended for six years. Copies of Loyie's books, including Goodbye Buffalo Bay set at the school, are available for sale at the museum. The exhibit is sponsored by a grant from Alberta Culture and Community Spirit.

The exhibit opening is being held in conjunction with the September 26 & 27 Grouard 100th Birthday Party Celebration hosted by the Grouard & Area Historical Society.

This centennial event begins Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Kisemanito Centre and includes old-time games, exhibits and an open house. From 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. there will be an open house at the St. Bernard Church.

Saturday evening activities at the Kapawe’eno Band Hall include a $5.00 bison stew and bannock supper, birthday cake, speeches, a moose-calling contest and a country jamboree and dance.

Souvenir programs and ribbons will be given away and there will be 50/50 draws and raffles and a concession.

On Sunday, September 27, a special 10:30 a.m. church service will be held at St. Bernard’s Church. A lunch will follow at the Kisemanito Centre.

Goodbye Buffalo Bay Reviews & Articles

Here is Larry Loyie at the Vancouver Public Library, Thursday, April 30, 2009.

Check out reviews and feature articles on Larry Loyie and Goodbye Buffalo Bay that have appeared recently. Constance Brissenden will add links as soon as possible (or search, please). This post will be a work in progress as Larry and Constance were busy working on Larry's new book The Moon Speaks Cree.

Have a look:

Legacy magazine, Fall 2009. "Elder in Demand for Childhood Stories" by Dianne Meili, www.legacymagazine.ab.ca. Heritage to a New Generation article -- a four-page article with photos of Larry in 2009 and also in residential school. Excellent background on Larry, his goals as a writer and First Nations person, and on his (currently) four books for all ages. Legacy is an impressive Alberta magazine featuring history, education and culture.

Globe & Mail, Review of Books, excellent review by Susan Perrin.

Vancouver Sun, feature article and book review, Goodbye Buffalo Bay highly reviewed. Also in Ottawa Citizen (www.vancouversun.com and www.ottawacitizen.com). Article by Sherie Posesorski: "When parents are gone: Children's books focus on combating the loss of loving protectors"

Guelph Mercury, Cambridge Times, Goodbye Buffalo Bay as a recommended youth book

Ramona Kiyoshk -- a perceptive review at http://www.ramonawrites.com/goodbye,_buffalo_bay.htm

The Valley Sentinel, April 20, 2009 -- introducing Larry to readers in the Robson Valley area -- "Author to visit McBride" by Birgit Stutz.

Also reviews in Geist (www.geist.com/books/goodbye-buffalo-bay) and CM (Canadian Materials), Prairie Books NOW (Spring 2009) www.bookpublishers.mb.ca/pbn , among others (see earlier posts).