Living Traditions Writers Group

Larry Loyie on cover of "Tribal Libraries, Archives and Museums"

2011-10-25T15:30:00.000-07:00

Larry Loyie is honoured to be on the cover of a new book, "Tribal Libraries, Archives, and Museums: Preserving our Language, Memory, and Lifeways" (Scarecrow, 2011).

Loriene Roy, professor at the School of Information, The University of Texas at Austin, and iSchool graduates Anjali Bhasin and Sarah Arriaga edited this new book. It offers a collection of articles devoted to tribal libraries and archives and provides an opportunity to share their stories, challenges, achievements, and aspirations to the larger professionl community.

That is Larry Loyie on the lower left hand corner of the new book.

Thank you to Loriene Roy for this great honour.

Larry Loyie recently gave a talk to Masters students at the iSchool in Austin on the history of Canadian residential schools. He introduced his story as a residential school survivor in his powerful children's/youth books As Long as the Rivers Flow and Goodbye Buffalo Bay.

As Long as the Rivers Flow class play

2011-05-09T17:26:00.000-07:00

These photos are of a class play based on Larry Loyie's As Long as the Rivers Flow, performed by grade 4 students (Mrs Caudron's class), St Andrew's Catholic School, High Prairie, Alberta, Thursday, May 5, 2011.

The top shows the student who ran back and forth with signs announcing the chapter and scene. Young actors playing roles sit behind him.

The second photo is of the Loyie family heading for their summer camp. A plush bear was used for many animals in the book including (below) a horse (on a student's head).

The third photo (below) is also from the play. The entire class had parts. They switched parts at times. The props were simple and clever -- for example -- a rubber duck was Ooh-Hoo, the owl, a pile of paint brushes was a campfire.

Well done students! From your invited guests, Larry and Constance

Larry Loyie is booking fall 2011 author visits / school tours

2011-04-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in having award-winning Cree author Larry Loyie visit your school, please read on.

Larry and his touring partner Constance Brissenden are now booking school visits, talks, writing workshops and so on for the fall of 2011.

Larry's new book The Moon Speaks Cree, A Winter Adventure (Theytus) is now in the final editing stages. The illustrations by Heather D. Holmlund combined with Larry Loyie's beautiful text promise to make this a must-have illustrated family-reading book.

Being a children's book author has many perks ... from meeting wonderful students of all ages to travelling to new (sometimes remote) and beautiful places. The photo here was taken in Jasper on the way back from Bella Coola and Quesnel, BC.

This spring, Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden gave a total of 30 presentations in southern Alberta (Sundre, Olds and Delburne) and central British Columbia. The Delburne School visit was partially funded by the Young Alberta Book Society. Thank you YABS as well as the teachers and librarians who organized these visits. On this subject (because we are often asked), we charge $350 per half day and $700 per full day. We may require travel funding. We keep our travel expenses down and try to combine schools to make the visits cost-effective for all concerned. The price of gas is the biggest challege to touring these days.

Schools in Quesnel, Bella Coola and Hagensborg gave us the chance to talk about Larry Loyie's traditional Cree childhood, explain "what was residential school," share his residential school experience (six years in St Bernard Mission residential school, Grouard, Alberta) as introduced in As Long as the Rivers Flow and its sequel Goodbye Buffalo Bay), explain how war affected his family (in When the Spirits Dance, opening conversations on war and its effect today), some discussion of The Gathering Tree (HIV awareness and prevention), and give several writing workshops / classes (grades 2, 3-4, 6-7s, adult learners).

We were also privileged to give a public reading at Acwsalcta School in Bella Coola (thank you Beth Jay, Librarian), and teach a writing workshop at the Li'phaylch Learning Centre, Bella Coola (we really enjoyed the students' works here).

Subjects: When Larry and Constance tour this fall, they can talk about the following subjects:

-- Larry Loyie's new book The Moon Speaks Cree, A Winter Adventure (Theytus) -- what it was like to live a traditional Aboriginal childhood; the rhythms of Aboriginal seasons; how children learned; the importance of being good to animals (in the story, toboggan dogs); sibling dynamics; the emotional influence of family history on children; childhood adventures and using the imagination.

-- Another subject is "what was residential school." Larry Loyie is a balanced speaker who gives a true, compassionate overview of the residential experience as a residential school suvivor. It is difficult to get an accurate accounting from anyone who did not go to residential school. The talk includes images to bring the subject of residential school to visual life. Larry Loyie is a survivor of six years of residential school, has written two books and a play on the subject, and has given dozens of talks on the subject in school classrooms (with Constance Brissenden).

-- Other subjects include the effects of war, HIV awareness and prevention, what it is like bring an author and writing books, Aboriginal publishing. Larry and Constance can adapt their talks to school curriculum.

-- writing workshops are also possible

Your friends, Larry and Constance

Larry Loyie and James Bartleman As Long as the Rivers Flow

2011-02-27T09:22:00.000-08:00

It is always noteworthy when an Aboriginal author is published. The former Governor General of Ontario, James Bartleman, has his first book out. It is a novel called As Long as the Rivers Flow. The overall theme is residential school and its effect on a person's life.

Thousands of readers are familiar with Larry Loyie's illustrated children's book As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood). The book shares Larry Loyie's last traditional summer living with his Cree family in the northern forest, a life he loved. It ends with the poignant, memorable scene of a grain truck coming to pick Larry and his sisters up and taking them to residential school. An epilogue explains the meaning and purpose of residential school and Larry's experience. Larry Loyie's As Long as the Rivers Flow came out in 2002 and is still in print and going strong. It won the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction, as well as the First Nation Communities Read Honour Book. In 2010, it was one of four books chosen for major distribution by the Durham District School Board as part of their province-wide literacy program. (One of the other books chosen was its sequel Goodbye Buffalo Bay by Larry Loyie.) In 2010, it was one of only 20 Aboriginal titles chosen for distribution by the Belinda Stronach Foundation in laptops to schools across Canada.

Several years ago, Larry met James Bartleman at the first award ceremony for his Aboriginal youth writing competition. Larry gave James Bartleman a complimentary copy of Larry Loyie's As Long as the Rivers Flow. By the way, James Bartleman read from his manuscript at this event. At the time, he noted that he did not have a title yet.

Both books, by Larry Loyie and James Bartleman, are about residential school, which makes the same-title issue confusing. Larry's publisher, Groundwood, told us that titles can't be copyrighted. Constance talked to Bartleman's publisher a few months back to let them know about the same-title issue, and we were told they did not know of Larry Loyie's book As Long as the Rivers Flow.

Congratulation to James Bartleman, but there are two points to make:

Is it so hard to find an original title?

Why did the publisher not check if the title had been used before?

Especially since Bartleman's book is also about residential school?

Larry Loyie's As Long as the Rivers Flow is a classic children's book that has won its place in the hearts and minds of its readers of all ages. We hope you will read it.

You can also check out the reviews for the book on Larry Loyie's website: www.firstnationswriter.com. It includes study materials, photos of Larry Loyie in residential school, images from As Long as the Rivers Flow and more.

Larry Loyie also write a not-to-be-missed sequel, Goodbye Buffalo Bay (Theytus), a chapter book about his time in residential school and moving on. Please check out information about this readable, moving, dramatic, funny and uplifting book.

The images by Heather D. Holmlund in As Long as the Rivers Flow are moving, beautiful and instructive about traditional Aboriginal life. We are proud that Heather D. Holmlund will illustrate Larry Loyie's new book, The Moon Speaks Cree, coming out this fall from Theytus.

Survivor Larry Loyie on the history of residential schools

2011-02-17T11:15:00.000-08:00

Larry Loyie on the history of residential school and his personal story as a survivor
[reading list follows]

In my early childhood, I lived a traditional Cree life. I grew up in northern Alberta surrounded by forest. One of my teachers was my grandfather Edward Twin, my mother's father. He did nothing special, he was simply a good person. He encouraged me to live the same way. He also gently warned me, "It's not easy being good."

As children, we listened to storytellers who taught about a good way of life. Every story had an underlying purpose, to teach people how to get along with each other and how to survive the environment. In the stories, greed and selfishness were frowned upon. Sharing was encouraged.

At the age of nine, I was taken to residential school and lost a beautiful way of life. These schools were created by the Canadian government and run by various churches. The goal of the Canadian government was to wipe out Aboriginal cultures, languages and traditions. The irony is that during the 300 years of the fur trade in Canada, Aboriginal people were central to survival and the European economy as hunters, trappers, guides and labourers. Once the fur trade was replaced by settlement, we were in the way. The residential school system was part of the plan to blend us into the mainstream European way of life. They thought that we would not care about our Aboriginal cultures anymore. How wrong they were!

Although the numbers are approximate, I estimate that upwards of 200,000 children attended residential schools between the late 1800s and the closing of the last school in 1984. If our parents tried to stop the government officials from taking us away, they could be put in jail.

I went to St. Bernard Mission residential school in northern Alberta, about 150 kilometres from my home on Rabbit Hill near the town of Slave Lake. My first memories of the school include the long ride in an open-air grain truck, then the school buildings looming over me, dull and unfriendly.

The teachers and staff were harsh and often cruel with physical punishment being an everyday occurrence. I did have one kind and well-trained teacher, Sister Theresa. She encouraged me to read and travel the world when I grew up. Sadly, she was only at the school for a few months before being transferred.

My mother died while I was in residential school. It was very confusing and sad as I was so far away. I was never comforted or had a chance to talk about my loss. Although I knew she had died, I prayed it wasn't true. With so much hurt inside, I ran away twice. When I was caught, I was punished. I was even punched in the side after running away as punishment. I wrote about this in my book Goodbye Buffalo Bay.

Finally I quit school at 13 years of age and began my working life picking rocks on a farm, fighting fires and working in a logging camp. I went on to work at many jobs over the next 40 or so years. When I was in my 50s, I went back to school to fulfill my dream of becoming a writer. I am proud to say I have accomplished my dream. I continue to write because there is so much I want to share about being a proud Aboriginal person.

On June 11, 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized to First Nations, Métis and Inuit people on behalf of Canada for a century of residential schools. For school survivors and their families, it was an emotional day. Finally our personal histories and those of thousands of Aboriginal children could be told without fear of denial or reprisal.

The Prime Minister’s apology has made it possible to share this long-hidden aspect of Aboriginal and Canadian history. I no longer worry that people who read my books or hear me speak about residential school will ask, “Is it true? Was it that bad in the school?”

Although the residential school scheme destroyed many families and took many lives, I am proud to say it did not destroy our cultures. Our cultures are stronger than ever today.

As a children's book author, I've visited many schools across Canada in the past ten years. I am impressed with the programs and curriculum now being introduced to teach the positive aspects of the Aboriginal way of life. The truth is out, and I am hopeful about the future. The children are being remembered and honoured at last.

See Larry's website: www.firstnationswriter.com for background and study material.
Larry Loyie's books to read about residential school:
As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood, a multi-award winner)
Goodbye Buffalo Bay (sequel to As Long as the Rivers Flow, from Theytus)

Larry Loyie's books to read about traditional Aboriginal life:

The Moon Speaks Cree (a winter adventure, a new book coming out in September 2011 from Theytus)
When the Spirits Dance (set in the Second World War, from Theytus)
As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood)
Goodbye Buffalo Bay (Theytus)

Larry Loyie's book about HIV awareness and prevention:

The Gathering Tree (a bestselling illustrated children's book from Theytus)

For more information on Theytus Books, go to: www.theytus.com

New for 2011 from Larry Loyie aboriginal children's books

2011-01-04T14:49:00.000-08:00

Hi to everyone for 2011.

Larry and Constance focused on family and health for much of 2011.

All is well, and we are lining up plans for 2011. We have several school visits in the next few months, and welcome your inquiries. Our email address is: livingtradition@telus.net

Watch for:

The Moon Speaks Cree, a new illustrated children's book from Theytus (www.theytus.com. Out in September 2011. A winter adventure, set in Cree country.

When the Spirits Dance, now out in paper cover from Theytus. Larry Loyie writes about his Cree family and how traditional life begins to change during the Second World War ... a new look and great feel!

As Long as the Rivers Flow, still in print (Groundwood), a bestseller since 2002. A classic by Larry Loyie about his last summer learning traditional Aboriginal skills before being taken to residential school. Once you read this, make sure you read the sequel, Goodbye Buffalo Bay

Goodbye Buffalo Bay (Theytus), Larry Loyie's chapter book about his time in residential school... and moving on. If you haven't read this yet, you are missing a true, dramatic, funny, compassionate view into a true story of residential school

The Gathering Tree, Larry Loyie's bestselling book about HIV awareness and prevention.

More soon... Larry and Constance

2011 Photos from Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden

2011-01-04T14:45:00.001-08:00

We are working on this. Watch for photos from 2010, coming soon. Larry and Constance

Aboriginal Publishers in Canada Updated List

2010-09-15T08:20:00.000-07:00

Aboriginal Publishers in Canada (updated Sept 2010)

Compiled by: Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden,

http://www.firstnationswriter.com/

To add to this list, email livingtradition@telus.net or add a comment.

Theytus (Penticton, BC) -- Canada's oldest Aboriginal publisher, established in 1980. Adult and children's works on Aboriginal themes by Aboriginal authors, http://www.theytus.com/

NOTE (right): a poster created for The Gathering Tree, Larry Loyie's bestselling book on HIV awareness (Theytus)

Kegedonce Press (Cape Croker First Nation, Wiarton, ON) -- Award-winning Aboriginal-owned and operated. Develops, promotes and publishes the work of Indigenous peoples. Specialist in quality poetry books, http://www.kegedonce.com/

Gabriel Dumont Institute Publishing (Saskatoon, SK) -- High-calibre Metis-specific adult and children's books and cultural resources, http://www.gdins.org/

Ningwakwe Learning Press (Saugeen First Nation, Southampton, ON) -- Publishes culturally appropriate resources for the Aboriginal literacy field and for all readers. Established in 1999, http://www.ningwakwe.on.ca/

Pemmican Publications Inc. (Winnipeg, MB) -- Since 1980, publishes books that promote Canadian Metis writers and illustrators through stories that are informed by Metis experience, http://www.pemmican.mb.ca/

Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (Saskatoon, SK) -- Materials written in Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakota, Lakota, or English that pertain to the First Nations of Saskatchewan, http://www.sicc.sk.ca/

New to list:

Nunavut Arctic College Language and Culture Department (Arviat, NU) -- Since 1988, materials published primarily to support Interpreter Translater and Inuit Studies programs at the college, and also to provide information on Inuit perspectives, http://nac.nu.ca/publications_for_sale

Updated Resources:

http://www.goodminds.com/ --- GoodMinds.com began distributing Native educational reources in April 2000. Native-owned and operated by Jeff and Linda Burnham in Brantford, ON. Sheila Staats is the cultural book reviewer. 4000 Aboriginal titles including books, cds, dvds, classroom kits, plus non-Aboriginal educational titles. Excellent resource for purchasing Aboriginal books, including reviews of titles.

http://www.oyate.org/ -- "Oyate is a Native organization working to see that our lives and histories are protrayed honestly, and that all people will know our stories belong to us." Informative, thought-provoking website, indispensible in learning how to "read" books about Aboriginal peoples, fiction or non-fiction.

http://tiny.cc/EQ7ua -- First Peoples Libraries Wiki provides a list of publishers and distributors.

http://www.firstnationswriter.com/ -- Award-winning Cree author Larry Loyie's website includes study materials on all of his titles.

Aboriginal author Larry Loyie celebrates 1000 school visits

2010-06-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

Aboriginal Author Larry Loyie Celebrates 1000 School Visits

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 marked award-winning Cree author Larry Loyie's 1000th school visit. Larry celebrated the occasion with St Peter Catholic School's Grade 4-5 class in Cambridge, ON.

The eager students wrote individual letters to author Loyie after reading As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood), winner of the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction. Published in 2002, the book is the bestselling story of the author's last traditional summer with his family before residential school. The book is now a classic Aboriginal title, taught in schools and curriculum across Canada.

"I was impressed by the students and their questions about my traditional Aboriginal lifestyle. They wanted to know more about my grandmother's adventure with the biggest grizzly bear in North America, as well as what happened to Ooh-hoo, the owl we cared for as children," said Loyie. "Above all, the wanted to know more about my residential school experience. Their questions were thoughtful and sincere."

Larry Loyie pointed out that his sequel, Goodbye Buffalo Bay (Theytus), takes up where As Long as the Rivers Flow ends. Teacher Michelle Evans and her class look forward to Loyie's next book, The Moon Speaks Cree, coming out in Spring 2011 from Theytus.

"The students were thrilled to meet Larry and his co-presenter Constance Brissenden. Larry answered every question openly and honestly. To get this kind of response from an author was a great ending to our school year," added Evans.

For more on Larry Loyie, his award-winning children's books, residential school resources and study material, see http://www.firstnationswriter.com/

Goodbye Buffalo Bay and As Long as the Rivers Flow chosen for First Nation Literacy Partnership Project

2010-03-05T09:15:00.000-08:00

Press Release: Living Traditions Writers Group, March 5, 2010

Aboriginal author's books honoured

Cree children's book author Larry Loyie and partner Constance Brissenden display a poster featuring two of his award-winning books.

Goodbye Buffalo Bay (Theytus) and As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood) were chosen for distribution to students in the Durham District School Board east of Toronto, as well as in First Nations communities across Ontario.

In all, only four books were chosen for this major purchase. "I'm thrilled that my books were selected," says Larry Loyie. "It proves that knowledge about Aboriginal history and traditions is valued." For more on Loyie's books, see his website: www.firstnationswriter.com

The books will be distributed under the First Nations Literacy Partnership Project. The project involves the Durham District School Board (DDSB), Durham Regional Police Service, Durham College, Ontario Provincial Police, North-South Partnership for Children, Baagwating Community Association, and the Rotary Club.

"The project is about people connecting with one another through books and other media like the Internet," says Bill Littlefair, Aboriginal studies education officer with the school board. "The books will encourage learning and understanding more about First Nations histories, cultures and perspectives in Ontario schools." For more on the project and a full list of titles, go to: www.durham.edu.on.ca

Larry Loyie's life is a bowl of wild raspberries

2010-01-20T08:36:00.000-08:00

In mid-winter, it is beautiful to remember when life was a bowl of wild raspberries picked from our backyard.

Here is a photo of Larry taken on the front porch of our log house by my niece Heather Brissenden in the summer of 2009. Heather, a city girl, loved picking berries with us (including saskatoons on the hills of Peace River).

We love winter too. Larry Loyie's upcoming new book, The Moon Speaks Cree, is set in winter. He shares a way of life that depended on winter's cold and snow, a memorable season of dog teams and toboggans, traplines and festivities.

Larry Loyie residential school exhibit opens

2009-09-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

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).

Goodbye Buffalo Bay, research and reaching into the past

2009-07-05T16:56:00.000-07:00

Goodbye Buffalo Bay (Theytus, www.theytus.com) was launched in British Columbia in McBride, BC, on Wed., April 22, 2009, at The Beanery 2 Cafe. The last four chapters of Larry Loyie's newest book tell of his year in McBride when he was 15 years old.

Book summary: Goodbye Buffalo Bay

"In his last year in residential school, Lawrence learns the power of friendship and courage. Returning home, he finds himself a stranger to his family and First Nations culture until he hears his grandfather's gentle guiding voice. Before he turns 16, Lawrence fights a terrifying forest fire, flies for the first time, makes his first non-Native friends, works on the green chain at a sawmill in McBride, BC, and fulfills his dream of living in the mountains."

To write the final four chapters, Larry returned to McBride, assisted by a Canada Council grant.

Excerpt from Goodbye Buffalo Bay by Larry Loyie.
Published by Theytus, www.theytus.com, p. 112-113:

As they neared McBride, the Fraser River curled beside the train track. Lawrence felt rising excitement as they pulled into the station platform.

McBride was a small village in the Robson Valley. It seemed as if the whole town was out on the platform waiting for the train. Some boarded the train to leave for Prince George and points beyond. The Rocky Mountains to the north and the Cariboo Mountains to the south pushed in toward the village. McBride Peak on Mount Teare seemed so close Lawrence fancied he could climb it in an hour.

“I love McBride,” he said to Elizabeth. “I could stay here forever.”

“That’s the cafe where I’ll be working.” She pointed inside the station. The Beanery Cafe had a big window that looked out onto the platform. Elizabeth was pleased. “I’ll be the first to see who gets off the train. Who knows? Maybe some famous movie star will get off one day.”

His sister strode out of the station carrying her suitcase. Lawrence hurried to keep up. “We’re staying with cousin Adele and her husband Frank. They live across the river,” Elizabeth said. She walked to a taxi nearby, got in, and told the driver their destination.

Background: Larry arrived in McBride as a 15-year-old in the late 1940s. He came by train with his older sister Elizabeth who had a job as a waitress at The Beanery, then a Canadian National Railway cafe.

Larry was hired to work nights on the green chain in Sam Arbour's sawmill a few miles out of town. Skating on the back eddies of the Fraser River, he made new friends such as his first sweetheart Thelma (now Thelma Molendyk of McBride). He learned the meaning of personal freedom and determined to see the world, and to return to McBride one day.

The final four chapters of Goodbye Buffalo Bay share a time in the author's life when he was discovering who he was in the world outside of the Indian residential school he had attended for six years. As he sets about doing a man's work on the green chain, he learns how to speak up for himself, make new friends, enjoy a new-found personal freedom, and set goals for his future.

When Larry and his partner Constance Brissenden first returned to McBride in the summer of 2007 to do research for his book, the author went to the library to ask if anyone knew if Thelma was still in town. They met later that day, to Thelma's amazement. Both recalled each other well, even though nearly 60 years had passed.

Thelma showed Larry and Constance photos of herself as a teenager in the late 1940s and early 1950s. She filled in many details about the town in those years. Thelma also gave Larry the contact number of Hinda Simkin, daughter of Sam Arbour who owned the sawmill where Larry worked.

Hinda Simkin, Larry and Constance met up in Vancouver where she now now lives. Hinda was able to fill in more facts regarding the sawmill where Larry worked.

As well, local McBride historians welcomed Larry and Constance in 2007 at The Beanery 2 Cafe where they shared memories about earlier days.

McBride, BC, is a beautiful town. It will always have a special place in Larry’s life.

"It's not enough to remember and write about your past. You must also check it to make sure your memory is true," says Larry. Research plays a major role in all his books.

Larry Loyie's six-week book tour and excellent reviews for Goodbye Buffalo Bay

2009-06-21T20:20:00.000-07:00

Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden recently returned from an exhilarating six-week book tour with Goodbye Buffalo Bay and his three earlier titles, When the Spirits Dance, As Long as the Rivers Flow and The Gathering Tree.

They gave a book launch and school readings in McBride, BC (which features in Goodbye Buffalo Bay)and a visit to the Dunster Fine Arts School in nearby Dunster, BC. The people of the area are wonderful. Noteworthy is the amazing Thelma Molendyk, the "real Thelma" in Goodbye Buffalo Bay. Thanks to the Beanery 2 Cafe and Bistro (in the old CNR station, and a must-stop if you travel to McBride) for hosting the event.

Then we moved on to four library readings in Vancouver (thank you to the many people who came to Central Branch, Britannia, Carnegie and Gathering Place to hear Larry and Constance). Your presence made everything special. We enjoyed meeting Hinda Simkin again with her daughters at VPL Central Branch. Hinda is the daughter of Sam Arbour, the owner of the sawmill in McBride where Lawrence worked in Goodbye Buffalo Bay.

We flew to Ontario for one week (17 talks) with the Durham School Board and the next week (13 talks) with Trillium-Lakeland School Board, plus two talks with the impressive readers at Toronto's Earl Beatty School.

We met up with Jeff and Linda Burnham and nephewn Josias twice on this tour. They are www.goodminds.com, an important resource and source of Aboriginal books and music. And GREAT people! They are always helpful and knowledgeable and supportive of Aboriginal authors.

Then we flew back to BC, and gave two presentations on Aboriginal Day (May 26 for this school) at Surrey's Wm. F. Davidson School. Thank you Debra Merrier, Aboriginal education consultant, and students for your enthusiasm for Larry's book and Aboriginal culture overall. It was an exciting and heartwarming day.

We gratefully acknowledge the Canada Council for the Arts for its support in helping to make this wonderful tour a reality -- we presented to more than 2,000 people!

The support and interest in Aboriginal culture is stronger every year.

Larry wants to share some other news about Goodbye Buffalo Bay.

If you are curious about what award-winning Cree author Larry Loyie experienced in residential school and how it influenced his early working years, you will want to read Goodbye Buffalo Bay.

This is Larry’s first chapter book. It was published by Theytus (www.theytus.com) last fall and has already become a classic look at the residential school experience. It is unique because it explores what happened when he went home at 13 years of age to find his place in his family, culture and community again. Written with truth, insight and humour, the chapter book is loved by all ages of readers.

In addition to being “Highly Recommended” by CM (Canadian Materials) from the U of Manitoba, and called “a joy to read” by GEIST reviewer Patty Osborne, Larry Loyie is honoured that Goodbye Buffalo Bay is featured as a “Title of Exceptional Calibre” by the Canadian Children’s Books Centre in the 2009 Best Books for Kids & Teens.

The book was also positively reviewed in The Globe & Mail by Susan Perren. Here is what she wrote:

GOODBYE BUFFALO BAY

By Susan Perren, The Globe & Mail

By Larry Loyie with Constance Brissenden, Theytus, 142 pages, $14.95, ages 10 to 14

This memoir continues one begun in picture-book form. As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood, 2002), written by Cree author Loyie with Brissenden and illustrated by Heather D. Holmlund, describes in words and pictures Loyie's idyllic childhood near Slave Lake in northern Alberta in the 1940s. As that book ends, 10-year-old Larry and his sister and younger brothers are taken away from their family and sent to a residential school.

This memoir, a prose narrative, is Loyie's story of his time at the St. Bernard residential school on Buffalo Bay, and of his re-entry to the world beyond the school when, his education finished but by no means complete, he is sent home, not quite 14. It is an account of institutionalized emotional and physical brutality meted out by priests and nuns. It would be utterly heartbreaking were it not for Larry's resilience, his ability to survive the system, even overcome it, by learning how to stand up to the tyrannical – if not diabolical – Sister Denise, and how to find the best in the place in the form of the saintly Sister Theresa, whose time with Larry imparts in him a love of learning that will last for the rest of his life.

This memoir owes much of its power to its author's candour, his openness about his feelings. The residential school's aim was to beat its students into submission, literally and/or figuratively. It was a highly successful operation, in that sense, and one that left children deeply scarred.

Although Larry emerges seemingly unscathed, he describes incidents in which his ever-present, residual anger about his treatment, and the treatment of other children, threatens to overwhelm him. As this book ends, Larry is still a teenager, but one who has gained a measure of freedom from guilt and anger. We can only hope that there is more to come from this fine writer.

Vancouver Book Launch and Taeko's Cookies

2009-05-01T08:14:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all who travelled the residental school road with us last night... our old friends (Heather, Lucina, Elisa, Anthony, and others), residential school researchers (Alison and colleagues), SGI Buddhist supporters, new friends like Hinda Simkin (daughter of Sam Arbour who owned the sawmill in McBride, BC), her daughters and niece, Yuri and Tyler, Sam, Lily and family, and many new faces. Monica came from Salt Prairie, AB, too. We had a wonderful evening with you in celebration of Larry Loyie's new book Goodbye Buffalo Bay from Theytus Books.

Thank you to Beth at Carnegie Library (see you for our 3 pm reading today) for introducing us and your kind words. Thanks also to VPL for the great space and all the assistance. Suzanne (at Theytus) your poster was greatly appreciated.

And thank you to Taeko in Japan for sending cookies. We shared them last night and enjoyed thinking of you. How amazing that the cookies arrived for us at Gathering Place (where you used to volunteer) on Tuesday. Very clever!

-- Your friends, Larry and Constance

Aboriginal Publishers & Resources (Aboriginal books)

2009-04-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

Aboriginal Publishers in Canada

[note: If you know of additional Aboriginal publishers or resources, please email: livingtradition@telus.net -- we will expand this list]

• Theytus (Penticton, BC) – Canada’s first Aboriginal publisher, in business for nearly 30 years. Publishes adult and children’s works on Aboriginal themes by Aboriginal authors -- www.theytus.com

• Kegedonce Press (Cape Croker First Nation, Wiarton, ON) – Award-winning Native-owned and operated. Develops, promotes and publishes the work of Indigenous peoples -- www.kegedonce. com

• Gabriel Dumont Institute (Saskatoon, SK) -- High-calibre Metis-specific resources – www.gdins.org

• Ningwakwe Learning Press (Southampton, ON) – publishes culturally appropriate resources for the Aboriginal literacy field, located at Saugeen First Nation -- www.ningwakwe.on.ca

• Pemmican Publications Incorporated (Winnipeg, MB) – Publishes books that promote Canadian Metis writers and illustrators through stories that are informed by Metis experience – www.pemmican.mb.ca

• Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (Saskatoon, SK) – Materials written in Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakota, Lakota or English that pertain to the First Nations of Saskatchewan – www.sicc.sk.ca

Resources:

• www.goodminds.com – www.goodminds.com began distributing Native educational resources in April 2000. It is a Native-owned and operated business located on the Six Nations Reserve at Brantford, ON. www.goodminds is owned and operated by Linda and Jeff Burnham. Sheila Staats is the cultural book reviewer. The company now offers 4000 Aboriginal titles including books and music and has recently branched out to carry non-Aboriginal books to offer a comprehensive distribution service. An excellent resource with an informative website.

• www.oyate.org – “Oyate is a Native organization working to see that our lives and histories are portrayed honestly, and that all people will know our stories belong to us.” A fascinating, informative and thought-provoking U.S. website, indispensible in learning how to “read” books about Aboriginal people, fiction or non-fiction.

Student Questions About Residential School

2009-04-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

Student Questions About Residential School

We asked grade 10 sociology students at St. Andrew’s School in High Prairie, Alberta, to write questions related to Larry Loyie’s presentation on his life in residential school and his new book Goodbye Buffalo Bay (a true story of life in a residential school... and moving on). These excellent questions were the result.

These questions can be used to prepare a class for a residential school presentation. When Larry answers questions like these in a classroom setting, he is respectful of the age, comprehension and sensitivity of the students.

For more study material, see Larry Loyie's website: www.firstnationswriter.com

Here are the questions asked by the grade 10 students:

What was residential school?
What is a Mission?
What was residential school like?
What happened at residential school?
What was life like there?
What were some of the things that happened in residential schools?
What did the schools look like inside?
What did the sleeping quarters (dormitories) look like?
How long did you have to go to school?
Was it hard being young and not really having family around while you were at school?
Did their parents know how they were treated? Did they do anything?
How long did parents and children have to prepare before children were sent away?
In summer, when kids went home, was it celebrated?
Where did white people go to school?
Do things like that still happen?
In residential school was there lots of abuse?
What were some of the punishments in residential school?
Was Lawrence (Larry Loyie in his books) ever beaten up?
Did they have nurses or anyone to help them if they were sick?
Did many people try to escape from residential school and did they get out?
Was it hard trying to escape from the school?
What would happen if they caught you? If you escaped would they beat you?
What year did residential school end?
When you were in the school, what was your form of wealth value?
What did you do with others? Interact? Trade your value items? Or did you keep to yourself?
How long did you have to stay in school?
How did they take away the culture and language?
Do you still speak Cree?
Was it hard to become a writer?
When you started writing, what made you want to write about your childhood?
Did the residential school scar you for life?
Is there anything you wish you can go back into the past to fix?
What was the greatest thing that had happened to you in your struggling life?

Larry Loyie talks and news

2009-04-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

April and May are busy months for Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden. We hope to see you along the way!

Presentations to May 1, 2009

Alberta Library Association Conference, Jasper, BC. Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden will give a talk “Perspectives on Aboriginal Publishing” on Friday, April 24 at 1:15 pm.

Introducing Goodbye Buffalo Bay, A true story of life in a residential school…and of moving on. Join Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at the Central Branch, Vancouver Public Library, 7:30 pm. All are invited to this free event.

Other free talks in Vancouver: The Gathering Place, Tuesday, April 28 at 2 pm; Britannia Branch Library, Wed., April 29 at 12:15 pm; Carnegie Community Centre, May 1 at 3 pm.

ALSO: McBride, BC. On Wednesday, April 22, 2009, noon to 3 pm at the Beanery 2 Bistro, Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden will visit for a Goodbye Buffalo Bay book signing and reading. Several chapters of Goodbye Buffalo Bay are set in McBride, BC.

Excerpt from Goodbye Buffalo Bay:

“I love McBride,” Lawrence said to Elizabeth. “I could stay here forever.”

“That’s the café where I’ll be working.” She pointed inside the station. The Beanery
Café had a big window that looked out onto the platform.

Elizabeth was pleased. “I’ll be the first to see who gets off the train. Who knows? Maybe some famous movie star will get off one day.”

His sister strode out of the station carrying her suitcase. Lawrence hurried to keep up. “We’re staying with cousin Adele and her husband, Frank. They live across the river,” Elizabeth said. She walked to a taxi nearby, got in, and told the driver their destination.

More news of Larry Loyie books:

Larry’s four children’s books have now sold more than 35,000 copies.

Goodbye Buffalo Bay from Theytus Books received a “Highly Recommended” rating from CM magazine. Review available on the CM website.

Now a best-seller: The Gathering Tree from Theytus Books, Larry Loyie’s fictional account of a First Nations family learning HIV awareness and prevention together is now a best-seller. Larry and Constance have heard from many classes (from grade 4s to college level) that they use the book for health studies. The Gathering Tree include 15 questions and answers about HIV and AIDS, prepared in a family friendly way by health educator Melanie Rivers of the Chee Mamuk education program of the BC Centre for Disease Control.

When the Spirits Dance, Larry’s family story set during the Second World War, will soon be available in a soft cover edition from Theytus Books. The book introduces many subjects, including how war affects a family, Aboriginal culture and traditions, a child’s anger and confusion when trying to understand the meaning of war, Aboriginal veterans, food rationing and other changes to lifestyle brought about by war.

All of Larry Loyie’s children’s books are on the recommended resources listing of many school boards. The latest is the Calgary Board of Education which positively evaluated The Gathering Tree, When the Spirits Dance and Goodbye Buffalo Bay and will include them in the board’s May 2009 Recommended Resources listing for schools. The Calgary Board had already reviewed and highly recommended As Long as the Rivers Flow.

In March 2008, 2000 copies of As Long as the Rivers Flow were purchased by Scholastic Canada from Groundwood Books for use as part of the Moving Up with Literacy Program for Grade 5s.

We Hear From Schools

2009-03-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden have given more than 700 presentations at schools, libraries, colleges, universities, writers' festivals, conferences and so on. We love visiting schools and really appreciate the students and teachers we meet. Here is some recent feedback:

FROM CROSSROADS SCHOOL, DEVLIN, ONTARIO:

Thank you so much for visiting our school and sharing your stories and experiences. We truly appreciate your energy and your willingness to visit rural schools.

The children and teachers enjoyed your presentations and the information you shared. They also learned from you.

Sincerely, Donna Kowalski, Acting Principal

FROM ANOTHER GREAT SCHOOL: Sir Isaac Brock PS, Guelph, Ontario:
 After our presentation on residential schools

Hi Constance and Larry,

Here are some quotes & reflections from our students about your visit.

They are genuine, and haven't been "polished" in any way. Both myself and the students have learned a lot from your experiences.

Thanks again,

Sean. (Sean Cameron, Grade 6 teacher, Sir Isaac Brock PS, Guelph, ON)

Here is what the students wrote (no editing):

Larry Loyie,

we really liked how you explained your childhood and how you wrote a book about it.
Sarah & Annemieke

To: lary
From: Scott and Nicholas
We liked your books and presentation when you came to S.I.B.
We liked when you didn't just talk about your books you talked much about your childhood.

To: Larry Loyie
The book you wrote Where Thr Riverss Flow, is a really well written book. I loved it and all the detail you put in it. It was a really good book, I loved it so much. Thanks for coming in and talking to us about your childhood and how you were taken to residential schooling.
Brock.

Larry,
In the book as long as the river flows I thought you were very brave going through what you were forced to do. If that was me I would not have been as brave as you because I can't imagine what it would be like. I'm really impressed you took control of your life and became a writer after what the government did to you. You have taught me a lot in this book and I think you r doing a great job with it.
Kali.

Larry,
If I were in your shoes I would feel horrible if I were taken away from the ones I love.If I was taken away from the ones I love like my mom and dad,I would cry every single day.Your parents would have made the right choice because if they went to jail ,you would have nowhere to go so they would just send you to the school. It would be really hard to not speak my very own language ,but I would try hard not to so that I would not get beat up.It would also be really hard not to give a dirty look in the picture.I would be really upset if I were in your shoes.

Amy.

Larry's visit was very informing and a great learning experience. It really opened my eyes to the past. I was amazed that Larry was able to keep calm about something so tragic almost being tears myself, just hearing some thing so heart felt like it. It made me realize that even our wonderful country has had many flaws in the past.

Katie.

FROM SWAN HILLS SCHOOL, Division 1-K-3 – Thank You Address

Thank you for letting us enjoy your stories and for sharing your life with us. We liked when your grandma shot the biggest grizzly bear. We learned that you speak a different language. We also learned that you had difference medicine than us. You used plants and rat roots for medicine. We liked how you used tobacco to than the earth for making plants. We enjoyed the pictures in your story. Thank you for your book.

 Note that Larry and Constance also received a huge package of feedback and art from the students of the Swan Hills School. You students are wonderful!

ANOTHER MEMORABLE EMAIL: Independent Studies Program (adults)

I am a volunteer literacy tutor in the Independent Studies program for adults with developmental disabilities at Frontier College in Toronto.

This year our book club students chose to read As Long as the Rivers Flow. It was a challenging read for them but your words are so poignant and so well represented in the beautiful illustrations that I think the students were truly moved by your story. I certainly was.

Thank you for sharing this very important story. If ever you are in Toronto, you will be a welcome guest at Frontier College.

The Best Way to Get Published

2009-03-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

The Best Way to Get Published

By Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden
www.firstnationswriter.com
livingtradition@telus.net

The best way to get published is to do your research.

Find out where writing like yours is published. When you start out, aim to get your writing published somewhere, somehow. I (Larry Loyie) started in the Carnegie Community Centre’s newsletter in Vancouver and in college newsletters which picked up on my early writing. It's also good to find a writers’ group where you can share your writing, and read it out loud.

Constance started writing professionally after she spent ten years working in Canadian theatre. It proves there are many approaches to your writing goals, at many stages in life.

Write, write, write! Read your work aloud to people whenever possible. It helps to see where you can improve it. Also, read, read, read. That way you'll know good and bad writing, and your own writing will improve.

There are many legitimate Canadian short story or poetry contests. They may cost a few dollars to enter. They are good because they make you shape your work and give you a deadline for tackling your goals.

Make sure the competition is legitimate.

Watch out! Some poetry contests are not legitimate. They will accept any poem and publish it in a “poetry anthology.” You must pay a hefty price to buy a copy of the book that includes your poem. This is how these publishers make money at your expense.

Self-publishing: You can publish your own book and pay the publishing costs. It’s up to you to sell the copies and all the profits are yours. You can usually publish your book faster this way.

Canadian publishers:

Depending on what you want to write and your desired audience (readers), check the internet and learn more about the many Canadian publishers. Go to the library and bookstore to see what books they publish.

For first time authors, we recommend you submit your completed book (known as the “manuscript”) to a publisher. Some publishers only require the first three chapters and a chapter-by-chapter outline. If you are a well-known author or noted expert on a subject, the publisher may only require a “book proposal.” Look on the publisher's website to see what they require.

There are books available (check with the library) on how to write a book proposal.

When your manuscript is accepted for publication, the publisher pays the cost of printing and distributing the book. You will be assigned an editor to help you polish your manuscript before publication.

You will receive a royalty for every book sold, usually around 10 to 12 per cent of the selling price of the book. Authors receive an advance on their future royalties when they sign their contract. This can range from a token amount to something sizable. Either way, it is an advance against future sales. You will not receive any more money until your book sells enough copies to outstrip your advance.

Once you are published: However you get published, be prepared to work hard to make your book known and sell copies. Canadian publishers can’t afford to do much to promote your book. It will be written up in their annual catalogues and on their website. They may take out an ad for your book. The publisher may offer some money for a book launch or to travel to a conference.

Constance always says, “We travel 200 kilometres to sell one book.” That’s how sales of my books have climbed to more than 35,000 copies. From our experience, it’s really up to you to make the book known.

Copyright Info: It’s easy to copyright your material. Please don’t send anything out without this simple copyright formula on the document. You don’t have to do more than this. It is internationally recognized and respected:

c 2009 Larry Loyie

1. copyright symbol “c” -- in a circle
2. the present year
3. your name

We wish you all the best in your writing. Publishing is not everything. Getting your story down and sharing it with others is what it is all about. There are many ways to accomplish this goal!

Never Give Up Your Goals: Larry Loyie’s story as an adult learner (published by Canadian Commission for UNESCO)

2009-03-05T08:58:00.000-08:00

Celebrating International Adult Learners’ Week 2009

Never Give Up Your Goals: Larry Loyie’s story as an adult learner, published in The Power of Learning, a Canadian Commission for UNESCO publication celebrating International Adult Learners’ Week 2009, March 2-8. www.unesco.ca/en/activity/education/adultlearners.aspx

First Nations writer Larry Loyie (Cree name: Oskiniko/Young Man) was 55 years old when he went to Vancouver’s Carnegie Learning Centre to fulfill his dream of becoming a writer. He is now the award-winning author of four children’s books, with two more in the works. His website is: www.firstnationswrwiter.com

Never Give Up Your Goals

I clearly remember my first day at the Carnegie Learning Centre in Vancouver. It was early spring of 1988. I was uncertain, nervous and scared, having committed myself to upgrading my literacy skills. I knew there was no turning back.

Since I was 12 years old, my dream was to be a writer. I was one of many First Nations children who went to residential school. The level of learning was very low. Working as a labourer to support my family, I didn’t know the skills needed to be a writer. In my mid-fifties, I found myself disabled. I thought, ‘This is my chance.’ All my efforts went into learning English and grammar. I taught myself to type and upgraded my reading, math, science and health skills. The free writing classes at Carnegie made it possible to replace the drudgery of daily life with the excitement of change and personal growth.

At Carnegie, I could trust and be comfortable with the instructors. They were encouraging and honest. I was treated as an equal. They erased the fear and shame of me being an older person going back to school. Without realizing it, I learned leadership skills, to be more assertive and speak up at meetings. I went from being invisible to being very visible.

In 1994, I wrote a play, Ora Pro Nobis, Pray for Us, about my residential school years. To complete one scene, where the nun berates us and belittles our families, I went to a medicine wheel to find the strength to write the ugly things she said. I cried many times but I got it down. With my partner Constance Brissenden as director, the play was staged in three provinces.

In 2001, I received the Canada Post [Community] Literacy Award for Individual Achievement (B.C.). My first children’s book, As Long as the Rivers Flow, an award-winner, is about the traditional life I loved before residential school. Two more books about my childhood followed: When the Spirits Dance (set during the Second World War) and Goodbye Buffalo Bay about my last year in residential school and moving on as a child worker. I also wrote The Gathering Tree, a children’s book that introduces HIV awareness and prevention.

My goal is to continue building on the knowledge of traditional First Nations lifestyle through my writing and to encourage pride in our cultures. To other learners, I say: “Never give up your goals. They are attainable.”

Background: You can find out more about Larry Loyie and his writing at www.firstnationswriter.com

Larry Loyie served on the committee that established the National Indigenous Literacy Association (NILA). NILA works to increase awareness about Aboriginal literacy issues in Canada and the benefits to learners, the community and the economy of increased literacy levels. For more information, got to www.nila.ca

The Carnegie Learning Centre is located in the Carnegie Community Centre in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Learning programs are provided in cooperation with Capilano University, and tutoring services are also provided by volunteers. The centre if funded by the City of Vancouver. For more information, go to http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/carnegiecentre/

For more information about Capilano University, go to www.capilanou.ca/home.html

"It's an important book." More feedback on Goodbye Buffalo Bay by Larry Loyie

2009-02-19T17:49:00.000-08:00

From: Joanne Schwartz, children’s librarian, Lillian H. Smith Library, Toronto

“I want to tell you how much I love Goodbye Buffalo Bay. I was so moved by the book. The writing is superb -- simple and compelling with such a strong, dignified voice. Larry's character and experiences build to a rich ending that resonates long after the book is closed. To write about such a difficult topic for a young audience can be tricky and you found the perfect tenor. It's an important book. I'm just so impressed and will recommend it to many teachers and kids.”

From: Eleanor Kelly, retired, former head librarian, Carnegie Community Centre, Vancouver, BC

“Am browsing through your book. Love the detail of the boy’s lives and the occasional bits of humour. It’s a wonderful document for kids and I hope it’s one day made into a movie. Really took me right into the school, and though I have known many former residents, I really had no idea of the petty cruelty and how the children were so afraid of the big, black cloaked nuns and priests. Another winner!”

From: Brian Isaac, author, South Okanagan Indian Band, Kelowna, BC

“My wife and I have just finished your book ‘Goodbye Buffalo Bay.’ We didn’t know what to expect from a book written for school age children, but we both really enjoyed it, especially the way you captured the feelings of the young people, which to some writers, isn’t that easy to do. Your descriptions of nature and a life lived outdoors reminded me of my youth. There was a certain peacefulness about the book, despite the harsh treatment in the residential school. Nicely wrapped up with Lawrence’s first kiss and his dreams of traveling.”

From: Taeko who lives in Japan
“Thank you!! for the book, and I was very happy when I found your hand-writing message in the book. It's not a big picture book, so I can carry it in my bag. I read it on train to/from my working place and at lunch time. I finished up to Chapter 6. There's some words I don't know but I read it through and enjoy it. I can pick dictionary after I finish reading. I was thinking it could be some harsh scenes in the book but it doesn't appear so far. Each time I turn the page, I'm a little scared as it could be shown on new page. I don't like to read harsh scene, but you have to face it when it's a reality.”

Info on our Presentations

2009-02-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

Presentations: Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden

Below is information on our presentations, K-seniors.

Please email us with questions on tours, talks and fees at: livingtradition@telus.net

In general, our presentations are 45 minutes to one hour (including a Q&A)

For more on these books, see our website: www.firstnationswriter.com

Background:
Award winning Cree author Larry Loyie and co-author Constance Brissenden have given more than 700 presentations together. These include keynotes, writers festivals, school visits, readings, talks on writing (libraries, learning centre, etc) and writing workshops, to all ages, educational levels and interest groups.

“Larry and Constance have a wonderful way of connecting to audiences of all ages.” – Yvonne Mury, Head Librarian, Valleyview Municipal Library, Valleyview, AB

KEYNOTES AND OTHER TALKS: We have given talks on these and other topics

Aboriginal Writing and Publishing: From an author’s perspective.

The Literacy Journey – Never Give Up! Award-winning author Larry Loyie went back to school at 55 years of age to fulfill his dream of becoming a writer. A sharing, encouraging presentation for learners.

Residential school and its aftermath: How the Prime Minister’s apology (June 11, 2008) has changed the approach to aboriginal history. Based on Larry Loyie’s personal experience at residential school, and moving on.

PRESENTATIONS:

School and public presentations: K-8, high school, learning centres, post-secondary, seniors, general audiences

Please note: Larry and Constance do not have “set” presentations. They follow the topics outlined below but innovate in their presentation techniques in response to their audience

1. Younger children – K-grades 1 and 2
Topics: animals, learning about animals, sharing animal adventures, how Larry grew up learning about nature, emotions and how they feel, learning about First Nations culture. Books referenced:

 As Long as the Rivers Flow
 When the Spirits Dance

2. Grades 3-4
A First Nations child’s life, affect of war on a child’s life, aboriginal culture and traditions, importance of grandparents, grizzly bear adventure, enjoying the outdoors, touches on residential school history, feeling emotions, writing and illustrating. Books referenced:

 As Long as the Rivers Flow
 When the Spirits Dance
 The Gathering Tree (illustrator’s role)

3. Grades 5-6-7-8
A variety of topics can be addresses, such as:

Writing about your life
An overview presentation that touches on “writing about your life” with reference to Larry Loyie’s books, writing about your culture and traditions, life adventures, writing difficult subjects, adding emotion, writing tips, the illustrator’s role. Books referenced:

 Goodbye Buffalo Bay
 As Long as the Rivers Flow
 When the Spirits Dance
 The Gathering Tree (illustrator’s role)

Remembering “children’s history”
The importance of culture and history, remembering “children’s history,” residential school and the Prime Minister’s apology on June 11, 2008. The author’s experience of residential school and moving on, readings dramatic, humorous and encouraging.

 Goodbye Buffalo Bay, with reference to:
 As Long as the Rivers Flow
 When the Spirits Dance

4. High School level

More in-depth versions of grades 5-8 presentations. Books referenced:

 Goodbye Buffalo Bay
 As Long as the Rivers Flow
 When the Spirits Dance
 The Gathering Tree

5. Post-secondary schools, learning centres, libraries (general audiences), seniors centres, etc

Presentations are directed to the interests of the audience.

Among the topics are:

The Writing Life
Focus on becoming and being a writer, making personal dreams come true, writing about your life, tackling difficult subjects, residential school and how it influenced the author’s desire to become a writer, adding humour, writing tips.

Our History, Through Our Eyes
Larry Loyie went back to school at 55 years of age to become a writer. His goals: to write honestly about Aboriginal culture and history and to encourage other Aboriginal people to tell their stories.

Remembering Residential School
How the author’s experience inspired his life and writing.

Books referenced:

 Goodbye Buffalo Bay
 As Long as the Rivers Flow
 When the Spirits Dance
 The Gathering Tree

Goodbye Buffalo Bay "A wonderful read..." CanLit for Kids

2009-02-01T08:45:00.000-08:00

“A wonderful read…” CanLit for Kids Books

CanLit for Kids “Books for Middle Grades” – Grades 6-8, Winter 2008-2009

http://www.canlitforkids.com/WinterMid08_09/Winter_Mid08_09.html

Goodbye Buffalo Bay by Larry Loyie

This book draws on personal experience from a man (Larry Loyie) who found the courage and strength of character to find hope and fulfillment in life after residential school. Themes include friendship, self-esteem, humour, the joy of reading, overcoming anger, endurance, hope, and self-discovery. A wonderful read that is gently and succinctly told.

Geist reviews Goodbye Buffalo Bay

2009-01-26T10:29:00.001-08:00

Geist Magazine's Patty Osborne has reviewed Goodbye Buffalo Bay on page 79 of Winter 2008, Geist 71 edition. If you haven't read Geist before, ask to see it in the library or magazine stand. It is published in Vancouver, BC. Known and appreciated internationally, Geist offers thoughtful, intriging and entertaining commentary on all aspects of Canadian culture.

Patty Osborne called Goodbye Buffalo Bay "a joy to read." Here is the full review by Patty Osborne in Geist:

"Larry Loyie's new book, Goodbye Buffalo Bay (Theytus Books), covers the lonely and bewildering time that Loyie spent at a Native residential school and his subsequent problems finding a place in his Aboriginal community, and even though Loyie tackles harsh topics, the rhythm and simplicity of the writing speaks to the inner strength that helped young Larry withstand the racist attitudes and strict discipline of the nuns and priests and to find solace in the unexpected kindness of a teacher, the freedom of skating on a frozen lake, and even the hard physical work that he and his fellow students were expected to perform. At age fourteen, when Loyie returned home for the summer, he vowed he would never return to the residential school, which meant he had to leave his home again to find work wherever he could. This YA novel is not only a joy to read, it is a refreshing portrayal of the life of a First Nations kid as a continuum, rather than one crisis after another."

Larry Loyie now on Facebook

2009-01-26T10:23:00.000-08:00

Check Larry Loyie's Facebook site -- search Larry Loyie.

There is a great new photo of Larry (known as Lawrence, age 13) in his hockey attire, with four friends, or "Mission Beans." The picture was taken in McLennan, Alberta. The photo was found by Fern Welch in her sister Pauline's photo collection. Pauline was one of Larry's best friends. She passed away several years ago.

Goodbye Buffalo Bay: great readers feedback

2009-01-12T07:54:00.000-08:00

Goodbye Buffalo Bay: What readers are saying

Please check out CM Magazine’s review of the book. Goodbye Buffalo Bay is “Highly Recommended” and received the highest rating Larry Loyie has received for his children’s books: www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol15/no10/goodbyebuffalobay.html

More feedback from readers:

Thanks so much for the copy of your new book. It is a valuable insight into life at a Residential School and a step back in time, when life was very different. We are so caught up in the here and now that we don’t take time to remember and learn from the past. When I was young, we used to travel the road through Grouard. At that time, the south part of the wooden bridge was still there. Even that part of the bridge seemed to go on forever. The whole bridge must have seemed endless. Thanks for sharing your past and giving me a reason to reflect and appreciate good parts of my past. – Judy Smith, Literacy Coordinator, Valleyview, AB

Just a note to tell you that I enjoyed reading Goodbye Buffalo Bay. Somehow the focus on the few bright moments and encounters emphasizes how unfair the whole system (and majority of controlling individuals) was. I liked the style of the book – vignettes all connected… as I am writing this a patron just asked the staff person on the desk for children’s books about First Nations people! – Laura Reilly, Children and Youth Services Librarian, Grande Prairie Public Library, Grande Prairie, AB

Thank you very much for your new book Goodbye Buffalo Bay. It’s a beauty! I LOVE it. You guys are fine artists. You are making a wonderful contribution to humanity by expressing your creativity in such a beautiful and sensitive manner. Congratulations. – Steve Heller, Lopez Island, Washington, USA

Once I started reading it (Goodbye Buffalo Bay) – I couldn’t put it down and finished it… wishing it hadn’t ended so soon!!! It was excellent and gave me more insight into what “residential life” was like for you and others Larry – much to Canada’s shame. I was wondering what happened to your cousin, Jackie – sounded like Sister Denise was particularly cruel to him. I was so glad Sister Theresa was there to offer encouragement and real learning. – Anne Robertson, Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario

What a beautiful beautiful beautiful book! I LOVE it! I cried twice, laughed lots, and fell in love with Oskiniko [note: Young Man, Larry’s Cree name] all over again. Thank you so much. What a treasure. Fabulous work, you two. No Wonder you're proud of it! Awesome. – Karen Essex, Toronto, Ontario

Press Release Goodbye Buffalo Bay

2008-11-11T14:34:00.000-08:00

Press Release from: Theytus Books
In Canada: Green Mountain Rd, Lot. 45, RR#2, Site 50, Comp. 8, Penticton, BC V2A 6J7
In USA: P.O. Box 2890, Oroville, Washington 98844

PRESS RELEASE November 10, 2008

Goodbye Buffalo Bay, award-winning Cree author Larry Loyie’s true story of his life in residential school and moving on, available now

Cree author Larry Loyie went back to school at 55 years of age to fulfill his dream of becoming a writer. At age 75, Loyie’s fifth book, Goodbye Buffalo Bay looks back on his residential school days, and moving on to find his place in the world. The award-winning Cree author has no plans to quit writing. “I’ve just started,” says Loyie, “There is much more to share about the strength of our First Nations cultures.”

Goodbye Buffalo Bay, now available from Theytus Books, is the sequel to his award-winning children’s books, When the Spirits Dance (Theytus) and As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood).

After reading about Larry Loyie’s traditional Cree childhood in these best-selling books, readers asked, “What happened to Lawrence?” The new chapter book, Goodbye Buffalo Bay is the answer. Goodbye Buffalo Bay is the true story of Lawrence (Larry Loyie) in his last year in residential school and of moving on, searching for his place within his family, culture, community and as an individual.

In his last year in residential school, Lawrence (Larry Loyie) learns the power of friendship and courage. Returning home, he finds himself a stranger to his family and First Nations culture until he hears his grandfather’s gentle guiding voice. Before he turns 16, Lawrence fights a terrifying forest fire, flies for the first time, makes his first non-Native friends, works on the dangerous green chain in a sawmill in McBride, BC, and fulfills his dream of living in the mountains.

Goodbye Buffalo Bay is dramatic, fast-paced, funny, perceptive and reader friendly. The book explores themes of family and culture, the effects of residential school, the power of friendship, anger versus assertiveness, self-discovery, personal freedom, and making dreams come true.

“Goodbye Buffalo Bay will break your heart, lift you up and leave you longing to follow Cree author Larry Loyie's remarkable life to the present day,” observes Loriene Roy (Anishinabe), past president of the American Library Association and founder of If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything, a national reading club for Native American children.

For more information, see Larry Loyie’s website: www.firstnationswriter.com

Or contact: Tracy Lawlor, Theytus Books,
Green Mountain Road, RR#2, Site 50, Comp. 8, Penticton, BC V2A 6J7
Tel: 250-493-7181, Fax: 250-493-5302, Email: news@theytusbooks.ca
www.theytusbooks.ca

Info on Goodbye Buffalo Bay by Larry Loyie

2008-11-04T10:52:00.000-08:00

Goodbye Buffalo Bay, award-winning Cree author Larry Loyie’s true story of his life in residential school and moving on, now available from Theytus Books

Cree author Larry Loyie went back to school at 55 years of age to fulfill his dream of becoming a writer. At age 75, Loyie’s fifth book, Goodbye Buffalo Bay, is now available from Theytus Books. The award-winning Cree author has no plans to quit writing. “I’ve just started,” says Loyie, “There is much more to share about the strength of our First Nations cultures.”

Goodbye Buffalo Bay is the sequel to his award-winning children’s books, When the Spirits Dance (Theytus) and As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood).

After reading about Larry Loyie’s traditional Cree childhood in these best-selling books, readers asked, "What happened to Lawrence?" The new chapter book, Goodbye Buffalo Bay, from Theytus Books, is the answer. Goodbye Buffalo Bay is the true story of Lawrence (Larry Loyie) in his last year in residential school and of moving on, searching for his place within his family, culture, community and as an individual.

In his last year in residential school, Lawrence (Larry Loyie) learns the power of friendship and courage. Returning home, he finds himself a stranger to his family and First Nations culture until he hears his grandfather’s gentle guiding voice. Before he turns 16, Lawrence fights a terrifying forest fire, flies for the first time, makes his first non-Native friends, works on the dangerous green chain in a sawmill in McBride, BC, and fulfills his dream of living in the mountains.

Goodbye Buffalo Bay is dramatic, fast-paced, funny, perceptive and reader friendly. The book explores themes of family and culture, the effects of residential school, the power of friendship, anger versus assertiveness, self-discovery, personal freedom, and making dreams come true.

"Goodbye Buffalo Bay will break your heart, lift you up and leave you longing to follow Cree author Larry Loyie's remarkable life to the present day," observes Loriene Roy (Anishinabe), past president of the American Library Association and founder of “If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything,” a national reading club for Native American children.

For more information, including photographs from Larry Loyie’s childhood, please see Larry's website: www.firstnationswriter.com

Remembering our first school visit

2008-09-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

[This blog is dedicated to the students of Northern Lakes College in Alberta.]

In the Fall of 2000, before As Long as the Rivers Flow was published by Groundwood Books, Larry Loyie and myself (Constance Brissenden) were invited to talk to the students at Lord Nelson Elementary School in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Since the book came out, followed by Goodbye Buffalo Bay, When the Spirits Dance and The Gathering Tree (all from Theytus Books), Larry and I (Constance Brissenden) have give more than 600 talks together. But Lord Nelson Elementary was our first.

We made a real connection with the students who were great listeners. Larry talked about his last summer in a traditional Cree setting and his years in St. Bernard Mission residential school from age 9-13.

We have saved a giant green thank-you card from the school ever since. It is two feet wide by three feet high. On the front is a painting done by a student of a Haida mask.

In the past eight years, the card has been crushed, bent, rolled, and is wet and blurry from raindrops – and it means a lot to us.

Before the thank-you card falls apart, here are some of the students’ comments, from eight years ago:

Thank you, Larry Loyie. We thank you for telling us about your life and showing us some of the different medicines you used as a child and thank you for showing us pictures [of traditional life and of residential school].

I really enjoyed your presentation.

Thank you for coming to our school and talking about your life. It was pretty hard, remembering your past.

I really liked the story about your grandmother [Bella Twin, who shot the biggest grizzly hear in North America).

Your book is cool and your life must have been hard. I’m really sorry.

Thank you for sharing your family story with us.

I think your book is going to be a big success.

Larry, I think you’re cool!

I was really interested in the book, the part where your grandmother shot the bear. I understand how hard it was not to speak Cree in that school.

I think your book is very good!

… We hope the students are doing well in high school now! Please read Larry Loyie's new books -- you will like them!

New book Goodbye Buffalo Bay is a winner

2008-09-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

Dear readers ... Please pass the word...

Award-winning Cree writer Larry Loyie's new book, Goodbye Buffalo Bay, will be out in a few weeks from Theytus Books.

Larry has written his first chapter book and we (Larry and Constance Brissenden) are really excited about it. As writers, we've learned we have to work hard to write and promote Larry's wonderful books. We truly appreciate the readers, librarians, teachers and many more who believe in Larry's authentic, issues-based, culturally themed books and tell others about them. Thank you!

Larry's new book, Goodbye Buffalo Bay, isn't out yet (available mid-October from Theytus Books) but it's already getting great response from pre-publication readers.

The subject "A true story of life in a residential school...and moving on" is timely due to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's recent apology to residential school students, survivors, and their families. It is more than 12 years since Larry Loyie first wrote about residential school. As Larry says, "There were times when I gave a presentation that listeners expressed disbelief about the horrible history of residential school, what happened to us as children, and how it affected our families. Now I can speak about my personal history and the history of the schools and know that I will be believed."

The new book is written with compassion, wit, drama, action, perception, and hope. It encourages readers to have courage, value friendship, look deep inside to make positive change, to read and make their goals come true.

Here's what Loriene Roy (Anishnabe), past president of the American Library Association, has to say:

I love the story! Goodbye Buffalo Bay will break your heart, lift you up, and leave you longing to follow Cree author Larry Loyie's remarkable life to the present day.

From stories of heartbreak and deep friendships developed in a residential school to the triumph of learning how to do a man's job, Goodbye Buffalo Bay continues Larry Loyie's remarkable journey as a modern Cree man.

Larry Loyie's story is full of lessons -- of conquering anger with assertiveness, of the secret strength of reading, of living a traditional Cree life in today's world.

Larry Loyie's six years at a residential school is a story of hope and endurance -- from dreaming of eating carrots, discovering his dream to become a writer, to standing firm in the face of injustice.

In this autobiography, Cree author Larry Loyie captures the hope, intense injustice, and lessons learned through six years at a residential school and emergence into strong young manhood.

Larry Loyie writes of some of the most difficult times a young person can face with tenderness, strength, soft Native humour, and hope.

We also want to share what professional editor Lynne Hussey in Toronto had to say:

Fantastic read! Really powerful, vivid images and well-paced story. Written with such clarity and passion and pared (edited) to the bone. Congratulations!

Please note: Larry and I will continue to share our experiences about the new book in future blogs.

Snowed in

2008-04-22T06:57:00.000-07:00

The snow started falling on Sunday, April 20 and here it is Tuesday, April 22 and we are covered in a soft, almost knee-high blanket of snow. Expect anything in Alberta!

The snow is actually perfect for two writers working on a new book. Larry Loyie is at the other computer polishing Goodbye Buffalo Bay. This is his first chapter book. Theytus Books is publishing Goodbye Buffalo Bay this fall 2008.

Every so often we look out to admire the drifts of snow. As yet, no footsteps, only sunlight on the snow. Inspiring!

Next blog -- I will add a photo of the snow.

Also, check our "2007 in review" to learn more about last year and see a photo of our log house. We travelled more than 70,000 km (about 45,000 miles).

Constance and Larry

2007 was a great year

2007-11-27T11:00:00.000-08:00

We're starting to look back on 2007. It was a busy year -- with school tours in northern Alberta in January/February, moving to Alberta to write Larry Loyie's next three books, 10 days in Northwest Territories for Literacy week in October (Yellowknife, Inuvik and Aklavik visits), seven presentations at the Calgary-Banff WordFest in October, Larry as guest children's book author for Northern Lakes College Adult Basic Education Children's Book Project.

Up-coming is a special event at the Aboriginal Powwow in Toronto, where Larry's book As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood) was chosen for special storytelling presentations on student day, Friday, Nov. 30. Larry, Constance and illustrator Heather D. Holmlund will be there! It's really going to be fun. Thank you Elementary Schoolteachers Federation of Ontario (ESFO) for choosing the book. They have also prepared a curriculum kit and will have a draw for 20 copies of the book.

Nearby, www.GoodMinds.com will be selling all three of Larry Loyie's children's books -- When the Spirits Dance and The Gathering Tree (Theytus Books), plus of course As Long as the Rivers Flow. We're told by Jeff Burnham of GoodMinds.com that he will offer a special discount on Thursday for our books.

Jeff is selling all titles in a bigger booth, with 4,000 titles in all. He often has authors and musicians (such as Larry and Susan Aglugark) signing there. Do drop by anytime during the 3-day festival.

Also, good news that our friend Loriene Roy, president of the American Library Association, will be visiting Alberta twice in 2008, in February at U. of Alberta in Edmonton, and in April, at the librarians conference in Jasper. Loriene is the first Native American president of this prestigious association. To see more of what she is accomplishing, please google Loriene Roy.

More later...

Larry and Constance

Writers retreat in Alberta

2007-08-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

Taeko, a friend in Tokyo, asked by email: you haven't blogged for a long time. Have you been very busy?

Yes, Larry Loyie and I have been busy. And it's been fun.

We toured Alberta this winter (got caught in a snowstorm or two). Then we decided it was time for a change and so we departed from Vancouver (for the time being) and we're now living near High Prairie, Alberta.

We have a forest, a river and soon to be finished (we hope before snow flies), a little log house that will make the perfect writer's retreat.

Three new books are in progress.

"Rabbit Hill" -- the first of the Lawrence Trilogy, which includes When the Spirits Dance (Theytus Books) and As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood Books). Larry is working backwards to complete the trilogy which began with As Long as the Rivers Flow.

A chapter book on his last few months in residential school and his adventures after leaving school at 14 to work on farms and in a logging camp. We are working on this one now thanks to a grant from the Canada Council. Thank you, Canada Council.

"Remember the Children" -- a history of residential schools in Canada for young readers. This book is dedicated to Gail Valaskakis, our mentor and friend at the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. We mourn and miss Gail who passed away recently.

PLUS we will be traveling this fall -- to be part of NWT Literacy Council week, and WordFest in Calgary. Both will be exciting trips (our second to NWT, this will include Yellowknife, Inuvik, and Aklavik). Also our second time to WordFest and Book Rapport events. Last time only one children's book, now we have three.

We'll stay in touch and blog more often...

Larry and Constance

Night in a Hunting Camp

2007-02-26T12:58:00.000-08:00

We're still reveling in our memories of being part of TD Canadian Children's Book Week, Nov 18-15, 2007. We want to share one more memory from the week, visiting in the Thunder Bay area. Photos of the school below can be found in the Canadian Children's Book News (Winter 2007 issue) on page 25.

Upsala, Ontario, is a village of 200 people, so small that when its one motel was temporarily closed, we stayed overnight in a hunting camp. At the bus depot, Shirley Niemi, the teacher who picked us up, recommended taking food with us as the camp café was closed for the season. Night was falling as she dropped us off. At first the site was spooky. We were alone, overlooking a frozen river. The television had one channel and we quickly tired of it. Instead, we opened the front curtains, turned off the lights and ate our fish and chips by the moonlight.

The next day we visited Upsala Public School with 37 students. The First Nations children shared Ojibway words with us. All the students live an outdoorsy life. They wanted to know why Larry wrote about his traditional First Nations childhood. They understood when he said that storytelling is disappearing because technology is moving so fast. They heartily shared the non-technology part of their world, including stories of moose and bears. What is birch used for? we asked the junior classroom (gr. 3-5). “Birch wood makes a hot fire,” answered one boy. Another said the bark was a good fire-starter. A third had a homemade hockey stick made of birch. All answers fit well with Larry’s new book, When the Spirits Dance. The final chapter is set in a Cree camp in a birch grove. Not many city children would know the uses of birch!

Hi to students Mary Jane Norris Elementary School

2007-01-17T22:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Larry Loyie and myself (Constance Brissenden) braved the snows and drove to Surrey, BC, to talk to the wonderful students at the Mary Jane Norris Elementary School.

We talked to three groups -- gr 4&5 with some gr 3's, then gr 6's, then gr 7's. And I promised the gr 7's that I would mention them in our blog.

Which is neat because we are lazy bloggers. But a promise is a promise. Here is our first blog of 2007.

So hi to the students and staff and First Nations advisor Debra Merrier. Thanks for a fun day... you were our first presentations of the year. That made them extra special. Your questions were good and we enjoyed joking around as well as being serious!

Coming up:

St. Stephen's Elementary School - Valleyview, AB - Thurs, Jan 25

Ecole Providence - McLennan, AB, Friday, Jan 26

Northern Lakes College, Slave Lake, AB - Monday, Jan 29 - PD Day book signing with photographer Nelson Lusk (who also teaches at the college). Nelson's photos of the area look great in our new book When the Spirits Dance.

Authors visit and book signing - High Prairie Library, High Prairie, AB - Sat., Feb 3

School visits, Feb 5-9 in Grimshaw, Peace River and Manning

Launch: BC First Nation Communities Read

2006-11-15T00:13:00.000-08:00

The October 2006 launch and month-long tour for the BC First Nation Communities Read program was undoubtedly a highlight of our writing careers. In all, we were proud to present to some 1,547 children and adults at schools and libraries on the North Coast, Cariboo/Chilcotin, Vancouver Island, Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland. We also tried to do as much outreach as possible as we toured, to promote the program, First Nations cultural awareness and libraries in general.

The focus was on our book As Long as the Rivers Flow, the Honour Book selection for the 2006 First Nations Communities Read program. And we were also privileged to be able to introduce our new book When the Spirits Dance. We are so grateful to be able to do outreach on these two books as well as our third book, The Gathering Tree.

The BC First Nation Communities Read program accomplishes so much. It encourages reading, it inspires children’s imaginations and seeking minds, it opens the door for cultural understanding, and it promotes Canadian authors who happen to be of First Nations heritage. It reaches urban and rural communities, both Native and non-Native.

Librarians are an integral part of BC’s communities. Their role can’t be underestimated. They bring the pleasure of reading to all the communities in their region. Without the active support and encouragement of the librarians, and much hard work, the program could not have happened. We thank all the librarians that took part.

Tiny tots looked at us in wonderment as we read to them. Elementary school students asked a barrage of sometimes-tough questions. High school students put aside their reticence to ask about First Nations culture, writing, illustrating and publishing. Librarians and elders welcomed us to share their lunches. These are all happy memories.

We were fortunate to be the BC writers featured during this first year of involvement with the First Nation Communities Read program. We hope the program continues in various ways each year to support and promote inter-cultural reading across a wide swath of every community. A special thank you must go out to the funders who made this program possible.

Fraser Valley: Week 1 – Thurs Oct 5 - Fri Oct 6

Our first week on tour set the scene for the entire five weeks: welcoming librarians, enthusiastic audiences, and perfectly sunny fall weather.

The launch was exceptionally well organized, well attended, and included the local mayor and acting mayor. Organized by Ene Haabniit, Ada Conn and other librarians, it was a memorable event. Everyone (especially the students) enjoyed the refreshments, which included locally made bannock. Very well done and exciting.

The first event set the stage for whether the tour would be well received or not. The launch buoyed us up and set the mood for the entire tour. At the launch, students had prepared questions with the teachers, and that was a nice approach. It opened up discussion for other students to ask questions and feel comfortable. When they started asking questions, they couldn’t stop!

We met with students from a number of schools at three of the four locations. The fourth ran into a conflict with a professional development day but we visited the library and were interviewed by the Surrey Now editor Carolyn Cook resulting in a good article about the program with photo as well.

North Coast: Week 2 – Mon Oct 9 – Sat Oct 14

We flew to Smithers on Monday and our tour ran Tuesday to Friday. Karen, the librarian in Houston invited us to Thanksgiving dinner which was delicious and fun. It was exciting to visit the wonderful reserve schools as well as meet town-based students. We revisited Kispiox school and were remembered by several students from our visit three years before. In Moricetown, we were invited to the elders lunch and talked with them about the tour and the books before the presentation. The community centre opened up their Feast Hall for us adjacent to the school and we spoke to a huge crowd. The students were enthusiastic about having their photo taken with us.

After we finished, we were asked to drop by the band office. We did, and band members bought quite a few books. They were happy to hear about the visit because we had done outreach that morning visiting a number of band resources.

Shaun Thomas, reporter for The Northern View, came to our reading at Conrad Elementary School in Prince Rupert. The report appeared in the newspaper (but we haven’t seen it yet). The students were impressive: they created their own stories based on the illustrations by Heather D. Holmlund wonderful illustrations in As Long as the Rivers Flow and shared them with us.

Cariboo/Chilcotin: Week 3 – Mon Oct 16 – Thurs Oct 19 and Mon Oct 23

We drove to Williams Lake on Monday, Oct. 16, and once again with beautiful weather.

We visited Williams Lake, Hundred Mile House and Merritt the first week. Williams Lake has a strong alcohol and drug free program and we dropped by several community programs (including Thompson Rivers University, health centres, youth centres etc). It was gratifying because some of those we visited came out to the reading later that day.
We had a great turnout; the room was full. Children came by bus from the reserve school as well.

The Hundred Mile House library was a cozy, fun reading, standing room only. We also read twice at the Merritt library, two separate readings. The first was younger students, the second older students. The older students asked a lot of questions. They were enthusiastic about our presentation, and asked questions about aboriginal culture, publishing and being a writer. We also did an impromptu presentation at the learning centre nearby and visited several community resource centers.

We drove back to Vancouver on Thursday night because Friday was a teacher development day in Lillooet. Then we returned to Lillooet on Sunday for three presentations on Monday – tiny tots, high school and elementary school. The tiny tots were adorable. Reporter Tina Alexander of The Statimc Runner took photos of them as well as Larry and Constance that appeared in the above newspaper. The caption reinforced the fact that children love stories (and families should encourage reading).

The high school was a good experience. A huge crowd joined us in the library, from about grade 7 and up. We focused on books, publishing, how hard it is to write books, and the importance of pursuing goals and dreams. Larry always emphasizes that reading is fun but it’s also the way to good grades and accomplish dreams and goals in life. After the reading, a male First Nations student in a hoodie approached Larry. He told Larry that he was an artist. Larry gave the student feedback and encouragement. The interaction summed up the purpose of the tour in so many ways.

Vancouver Island: Week 4 – Tues Oct 24 – Thur Oct 26

We came back from Lillooet on the Monday night and on Tuesday on 3 pm, we went to an after-school session at the Strawberry Hill library in Surrey en route to BC Ferry in Horseshoe Bay. We couldn’t say no to the librarian although it wasn’t on our official tour. It was such a heartwarming visit! The students ranged from 7 years to 14 years and were so enthusiastic. It was a parent-supported group and we just about sold all the books we had brought with us for Vancouver Island.

After that, we caught the 7 pm ferry and stayed in Nanaimo. The next morning, we went to the Nanaimo library and spoke to a good-sized group of about 60 students. They had a lot of questions and we enjoyed meeting them.

Then we drove to Duncan where we gave a reading at the library. The children responded very openly to the books, and liked getting a copy of the poster. We gave out the First Nation Communities Read poster everywhere we went and it was a big hit. We were invited to speak to a youth at risk class on the reserve after that, but when we went over to the school, the coordinator had left abruptly for the hospital in Vancouver after an injury. It was disappointing but we felt good that we had gone there and tried anyway.

In Central Saanich, the library had invited the reserve school. Students arrived on two buses. The instructor was worried and said they were full of energy after lunch. But her worries were for naught as they were great listeners, very attentive and had excellent questions. It was satisfying to encourage them to set goals, work hard to attain them, and not give up on their dreams. We took the 4 pm ferry back to Vancouver.

Vancouver, Thurs Oct 27

The next day we read at the Strathcona Branch Library which is connected to the Strathcona Elementary School. An added plus was that this was a reading also promoted by the Heart of the City Festival. We had a full house of students, plus members of the public, plus a group of eight Korean visitors who were researching community centres. The Korean visitors stayed for the reading and were amazed because programs like this do not happen in Korea. One of the older students (about 13 years old) told us he had read As Long as the Rivers Flow and thought it was the greatest book. We were beaming!

Vancouver: Week 5 – Fri Nov 3

On Friday, Oct. 27, we completed our tour with two presentations, both at the Carnegie Community Centre in Vancouver. Both were part of the Heart of the City Festival as well. They were promoted in the festival program with a credit to the BC First Nation Communities Read program.

The first event was a 90-minute writing workshop. We had the perfect number – 18 writers – plus more showed up to listen to the results for a total of about 25 people or more. The results were excellent. When we do a workshop, we take the writers through a step-by-step process which amount to only 12 minutes of writing but has vibrant results. All the writers shared their creations, and all were memorable.

In the evening, we gave a public reading, also in the theatre. Before the reading, a freelance reporter Angela Dopud interviewed Larry for a CTV/APTN feature which will be broadcast in the near future. Many people stayed behind to share their stories that were inspired by the readings from Larry’s new book When the Spirits Dance. We enjoyed hearing this response so much. A special thanks to the Heart of the City crew who did a great job setting up the Carnegie theatre space for us and worked so hard on our behalf.

Bye for now -- Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden

Honour Book Tour, First Nation Communities Read

2006-09-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

Press release from: British Columbia Library Association

October 1, 2006

BC launches First Nation Communities Read program

Vancouver-based First Nations author Larry Loyie returned to school in his mid-fifties to fulfill his dream of becoming a writer. His first children’s book, As Long as the Rivers Flow (House of Anansi Press/Groundwood Books) continues to win prizes for the author, co-author Constance Brissenden and illustrator Heather D. Holmlund.

Chosen as the first Honour Book to launch British Columbia’s First Nation Communities Read program, As Long as the Rivers Flow is featured in a month-long author’s tour this fall. The First Nation Communities Read program launch begins at the Langley Branch of the Fraser Valley Regional Library on October 5 and ends at Vancouver’s Carnegie Branch Library on November 3. Loyie and Brissenden will visit public libraries and schools in 16 communities including: Abbotsford, Delta, Duncan, Hazelton, Houston, Langley, Lillooet, Merritt, Nanaimo, One-Hundred-Mile House, Prince Rupert, Saanich, Smithers, Vancouver, White Rock, and Williams Lake.

Additionally, six public libraries have received grants from the BC Library Association for local celebrations and promotion of Aboriginal authors, publishers and stories. They include: Chetwynd Public Library; Pender Island Public Library, Port Moody Public Library, Powell River Public Library, Prince George Public Library and Surrey Public Library.

The First Nation Communities Read program is sponsored in BC by the British Columbia Library Association’s First Nations Interest Group, with support from Canadian Heritage and the BC Public Library Services Branch, Ministry of Education.

Larry Loyie got his start as a writer in free creative writing classes at Carnegie Community Centre. As Long as the Rivers Flow (House of Anansi/Groundwood Books) is the poignant story of his traditional Cree childhood before he attended residential school, with award-winning illustrations by Heather D. Holmlund of Pickering, Ontario. The book won the 2003 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction, as well as being named the 2006 Honour Book of the First Nation Communities Read program. The Gathering Tree, published by Theytus Books, Canada’s leading aboriginal publisher, was featured at the AIDS 2006 mega-conference in Toronto. Illustrated by Heather D. Holmlund, The Gathering Tree is a gentle introduction to HIV awareness with a First Nations storyline.

Loyie’s newly published children's book, When the Spirits Dance (Theytus Books) is the dramatic tale of his childhood during the Second World War. Co-author Constance Brissenden is a long-time writer and editor.

The First Nation Communities Read program, launched in Ontario in 2003, enables the public library community to recognize outstanding First Nations, Metis and Inuit books. Since its initiation, the program has expanded, with the province of Saskatchewan joining in 2005 and the province of British Columbia coming on board in 2006. A year-long celebration of the Honour Book selection, the program encourages family literacy and intergenerational storytelling, and promotes and shares Aboriginal voices and experiences.

- 30 -

For more information, contact Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden, 604-876-0880.
E-mail: livingtradition@telus.net. Website: www.firstnationswriter.com

Barred Owls, Busy Tours and a New Book

2006-06-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

We just got back from Ottawa where we did 8 presentations, 7 at Ottawa Public Library branches thanks to Friends of the Ottawa Public Library fundraising, and one at the Canadian Library Conference, all connected to As Long as the Rivers Flow being named 2006 Honour Book for the First Nation Communities Read program. Also two book signings with almost 100 books given away to librarians courtesy of the FN Communities Read program.

Watch for the First Nations Communities Read's new poster featuring As Long as the Rivers Flow as the Honour Book and a dozen other great books by other Aboriginal authors.

Life never stops moving. We got back Monday night and we're leaving shortly for Alberta to meet with students at the McLennan Catholic Elementary School, the only school in this small town near High Prairie. We'll be floating around in Alberta and BC until the end of July.

We head for the mega AIDS 2006 conference in Toronto early in August, with events starting Aug. 11 at the Indigenous Peoples Satellite, followed by readings from The Gathering Tree at the Global Village cultural venue. We will also do a presentation with educator Melanie Rivers of Chee Mamuk, BC Centre for Disease Control, on August 16. We were at the Embracing our Traditions AIDS conference in Anchorage, Alaska, for a week in May and learned so much from the delegates there. Their enthusiasm for our HIV awareness book The Gathering Tree was tremendous and heartwarming.

More good news...

The Gathering Tree has been recommended by Our Choice 2006, the Canadian Children's Book Centre's annual listing of the best new Canadian children's books. Libraries and schools across Canada look to this influential list for recommended books.

At the library conference, we went to an excellent workshop with www.goodminds.com (respected distributor of FN books) given by book selection editor Sheila Staats on how to choose good aboriginal books. She put The Gathering Tree and As Long as the Rivers Flow on the front table and said that they are "the best kind of children's books because they are accurate, truthful, informed, and written with feeling."

Larry said his head just glowed when he heard her say that!

Our new book When the Spirits Dance is in progress, with illustrations started. We’ll make an announcement about our illustrator soon, a First Nations artist who will be doing his first children’s book. Theytus Books is our publisher once again. They have been very good to us, making posters and a bookmark to promote this upcoming book.

The launch of When the Spirits Dance will be held in Ottawa, Nov. 19 (Sunday) at 2 pm at the Library and Archives Canada. The book is the second in the “Lawrence Series” and takes place during the Second World War. It is perfect for a launch in “the Nations Capital” and we thank the Library and Archives Canada for their support.

The year 2006-2007 is Veterans Affairs Canada’s remembrance program’s designated year to “Share the Story.”

When the Spirits Dance fits in perfectly as it takes place when Larry Loyie’s Papa, Victor Loyie, departs overseas with the Canadian Armed Forces in 1942. Mama, Kokum Bella and Mosoom Edward plus Lawrence and his three sisters stay behind on Rabbit Hill. Life is changing as 9-year-old Lawrence struggles to understand the meaning of war and his father’s absence while taking an increasingly grown-up role in his family’s survival.

We visited the impressive and respectful Canadian War Museum in Ottawa and did some great research in the Second World War area.

Have a great summer! We will be communing with the Barred Owls at our place in Northern Alberta.

Tour with us: First Nations Communities Read

2006-03-01T15:24:00.000-08:00

Our three-day First Nation Communities Read 2006 Author-Illustrator Tour is over. What a wonderful tour it was!

Our book, As Long as the Rivers Flow, was chosen as the honoured book for the First Nation Communities Read program, launched during Ontario’s First Nations Public Library Week. The program is considered a year-long celebration of the honoured book. In 2006, First Nations Public Library Week took place from February 13-February 18.

We visited three warm and welcoming Ontario First Nations communities. We were astonished at the tremendous turnout for us as authors along with our illustrator Heather D. Holmlund. Each community embraced the idea of First Nations Public Library Week and turned out in force.

Before we went on tour, we spent a day at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference 2006 giving two presentations. First Nations Consultant Patty Lawlor of the Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS) ably organized our schedule and escorted us around.

Our first OLA presentation was during a workshop on the First Nations library program that links smaller First Nations libraries with larger non-First Nations libraries. Our second presentation was an author and illustrator public reading at the conference. It was well attended and lively. This was followed by a book giveaway of As Long as the Rivers Flow, and book signings in the cafeteria area. Right across the signing area was the http://www.goodminds.com/ book booth. The next day we went back on our own steam and spent the day promoting our books (including our new book The Gathering Tree) and signing books with Jeff Burnham from www.goodminds.com. This was a fantastic opportunity for outreach. Among the benefits of the conference were meeting so many librarians from across Ontario, including the librarians we met later on our tour.

Our three-day community tour began with the following week with a 7:30 a.m. pickup in Mississauga on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14. Patty Lawlor was in the driver’s seat of the comfortable rented van, which meant we could relax and plan the six presentations ahead of us. After picking us up, Patty drove to Pickering where she picked up Heather. Now we were all together, and excited and eager to meet with each community.

The theme of the 2006 First Nations Public Library Week and Aboriginal Storytelling Week is “Preserving Our Cultures Story by Story … Building Our Communities Book by Book.” Over the three days we experienced the pride and enthusiasm of writers and artists of all ages, all reinforcing this year’s theme.

By 10:30 a.m., we reached Alderville First Nations. Our presentation was in the large and attractive community centre. Chairs were already set out in a circle for the elementary school students. Librarian Eileen Simpson welcomed us, along with teachers and other community members. By 11 a.m., around 20 to 30 children joined us for the As Long As the Rivers Flow feature program. About 5 adults, including the Ojibway language instructor, joined us. She was encouraged when Larry talked about the importance of learning Ojibway. After Larry spoke, Constance read several sections from the book. Heather spoke about the joys and challenges of illustrating a children’s book using slides to show images from As Long as the Rivers Flow. Tips and tricks of writing and illustrating peppered the presentations. A lively question and answer session followed.

At lunchtime, we joined librarian Eileen Simpson at a local restaurant, The Tipi. We met several members of the community who dropped by our table to say hello and talk about writing. A community tour followed. By 2 p.m., we were in the Alderville Learning Centre Classroom. A feast of Black Rice Pudding, as well as fruit, coffee and other refreshments was laid out.

Members of the community began to arrive for the 2:30 p.m. writing and illustrating workshop. The workshop was well publicized with a poster and bookmark distributed in the community. More than a dozen people showed up for the two-hour workshop including an artist and a song writer. Discussion, a reading, writing exercises and a talk on illustrating were very well received. Larry explained that he is motivated by the 3 V’s and 1 T: Value, Vision, Voice, and Truth. Afterward, one attendee said that it was the best workshop ever. That made us feel fantastic. The question and answer session continued on a one-to-one basis while all enjoyed the tasty feast.

Around 4 p.m., we left for Jackson’s Point on Lake Simcoe where we stayed overnight at the Georgina Resort and Conference Centre. Patty Lawlor was driving, and it was almost dark when we arrived at the hotel. We walked in the snow to a local café for supper. After that, we were all exhausted and happy to go right to sleep.

The next morning, Wednesday, Feb. 15, we left the hotel at 8:00 a.m. for a short drive to Virginia Beach. Here we had breakfast in the cafe facing the frozen lake. Soon our escort arrived to lead us across Lake Simcoe to Georgina Island. This was thrilling but scary, too. Later we learned the ice was 18 inches thick, which didn’t seem that thick! The ice road was busy with trucks and cars using the frozen lake as a highway.

From the Georgina Island dock, we drove for about 10 minutes along the lakeside road. At the Chippewas of Georgina Island Public Library (located in the Georgina Island Community School), we were greeted by student Randy standing outside in the cold. “Welcome to our school,” Randy called out with a broad smile. His teacher later told us that the students were so excited about our visit that Randy went out to welcome us.

Librarian Karen Foster and Literacy Program Director Lynn Mooney welcomed us into the library. A group of about 15 children came in from their classroom down the hall. We told them that we were feeling shy about meeting them, and they relaxed, knowing we were all feeling shy. We introduced ourselves and the teacher pulled out two long sheets of paper with questions that the students had written for Larry after reading As Long as the Rivers Flow.

Each child in turn read a question which Larry answered, such as “When did you write your book?” and “What is residential school?” which related to the story of As Long as the Rivers Flow. Next, the children eagerly shared the stories they had written. Afterward, three boys brought out a hand drum in and sang for us. Then they invited other boys for a second song. Girls have their own songs but the girls did not have their rattles handy and also felt a little shy, we think, about singing. Seeing the strength, pride and enthusiasm for their culture was one of the most moving and memorable experiences of our 10 years of touring.

After the presentation ended at 12:30 p.m., we visited the community hall. Hundreds of historic and community photos are displayed on glass-enclosed bulletin boards. We were told that the reserve holds an annual Christmas party in the hall. Everyone is given a gift with their name on it, followed by a community feast. Wish we could attend one year!

Back at the library, we ate a delicious lunch of hot chicken soup, homemade bread, veggies, fruits, a mammoth chocolate cake and iced red raspberry drink. By 1:00 p.m., a dozen community members arrived for our writing and llustrating workshop in the library. Many were contributors of stories to a Georgina Island stories project. This proved to be a fascinating sharing workshop, during which we had a chance to talk with the editor and listen to the writers read their stories. An advance copy of the book was due to arrive that afternoon, but it didn’t come in time for us to see it. We hope to see a copy one day. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to the array of memories of Georgina Island captured by their submissions for the book. The editor of a new local newsletter joined us. Her report was coming out the next day.

Larry, Constance and Heather followed up with presentations, and a good Q&A session. Then we all ate and enjoyed each other’s company, continuing to talk and answer questions. Once again, we came as strangers and left as friends.

After crossing back to the mainland to the Virginia Beach pullout around 4 p.m., we headed north for Orillia. As with the weather all week, it was a wintry drive with Patty Lawlor in the driver’s seat. All the arrangements for the tour were well made. Within about two hours, we were safely ensconced at the Days Inn for our visit to the Mnjikaning First Nation reserve. Patty drove us to dinner at a local restaurant. We talked about the amazing reception we had received during our first two days on tour. When we got back to the Days Inn, Larry, Constance and Heather had an editorial and illustration meeting about our new book When the Spirits Dance. We talked about possible illustrations and page breaks. When the Spirits Dance is the second in the “Lawrence Series” which includes As Long as the Rivers Flow.

Overnight, a storm came up and blew in snow and ice for our last day, Thursday, Feb. 16. While we were having our free continental breakfast at the hotel, we met a woman who asked us, “Are you going to Christian Island?” which is nearby. She was from Christian Island and had seen the poster for our visit over there. She said three people from Christian Island wanted to come to our workshop that day but the weather stood in their way. She was in Orillia taking a course and was disappointed that she couldn’t make it herself. It seemed as if everyone knew about our visit.

We arrived at the Mnjikaning Public Library a few blocks away in the community complex. Library Co-ordinator Barbara Lewis and her great staff greeted us. This was the second time we had met Barbara; the first being at the Ontario Library Association conference the week before in Toronto. Barbara did a great job of promoting our visit with posters everywhere.

Even though school buses were cancelled because of the weather, we had a crowd of more than 15 school children eager for our workshop. They came with their art teacher, Mr. Howard, from their classroom in the school part of the complex. For 90 minutes, we worked with the students, reading from As Long as the Rivers Flow followed by a writing exercise about a favorite person or thing. Illustrator Heather D. Holmlund picked up from their writing. She led the students through a two-part art exercise to illustrate what they wrote. It was fascinating to see the student work transformed from their first effort to a second “draft.” Real growth was evident in their work.

During the workshop, there was tremendous activity in the library. People kept pouring in, some from the media and others who were community members. A writer and photographer duo arrived from the local newspaper, as well as a Rogers Cable interviewer with her own camera. Both did interviews with Larry, Barbara, Patty and Heather.

The workshop ended at noon. By this time, quite a crowd had arrived, including the library’s retired founder. It was her dream from the time she was 14 to start a library on the reserve, so it was an honour to meet her. Lunch was brought in to the library. We ate and shared information with library staff and staff from the education and cultural departments.

From here we went on to the Seniors Centre. We met community elders including Donna, George, and others in their lunchroom. As we got started on our presentation with Heather, several staff members joined us. Larry spoke about writing about First Nations subjects, saying it was never too late to write. Constance did a lively reading of the grizzly bear scene from As Long as the Rivers Flow, then Heather talked about doing the illustrations for the book. The intergenerational audience and participation was very satisfying. A copy of the book was donated to the elders. We had tea and mingled until it was time to go.

At this point, the weather really turned on us. Freezing rain was falling and the windows of the van were frozen over with ice. After much scraping we drove back to the library for a gift presentation, then regretfully declined a community tour in order to head for home. By 3 p.m. we were on the road south. The drive was slow but Patty did an excellent job of reassuring us. We had plenty of time to talk about the wonderful tour before dropping Heather off in Pickering. As we left her place on the snowy country road, we saw two elegant deer in the woods. It was a good sign that we had accomplished all we hoped. By 6:45 p.m., we were back “home” in Mississauga.

To sum up, the highlights of touring a First Nations author and book, along with an illustrator, include:

. Connecting to the community in person, staying a full day, and being able to get know each community

. Encouraging people interested in writing and art from a First Nations perspective

. Meeting and sharing with people of all ages

. Sharing with children and appreciating their excitement about our visit

. The full day in each community meant we didn’t have to rush off right away after our presentations

. We got to know the community, its history and people

. We shared the things that are important to a community, their hospitality, enthusiasm, memories and feasts

. Larry’s pride in his culture was reflected in each community by their own pride in their cultures

. There was an obvious connection between Larry and the community members.

First Nations Public Library Week is a grassroots program launched in 2000 by Ontario’s First Nations public library community. In 2005, the program expanded to Saskatchewan as “Aboriginal Storytelling Week” and now also includes British Columbia. Through its featured titles, the First Nation Communities Read program encourages family literacy and intergenerational storytelling, and promotes and shares aboriginal voices and experiences.

We deeply appreciate the Southern Ontario Library Service, Ontario Library Association, Heritage Canada, the communities and libraries of Alderville, Georgina Island and Mnjikaning reserves, the children, community members, volunteers and librarians for their support and interest.

Writing Tips #1

2006-01-23T12:27:00.000-08:00

Writing Tips #1

From Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden
Authors of As Long as the Rivers Flow and The Gathering Tree
www.firstnationswriter.com

How to start writing? Pull up a piece of paper and a pen or tuck yourself in at your computer and start writing today.

. What are you thinking about today? Begin there.

. Forget about spelling and grammar. You can get back to them later.

. The best writing comes from your own “voice.” How you speak and think is how you can write.

. Hear the voice that talks inside your head and write what it is telling you.

. Keep you writing in a special place -- a large envelope, a drawer, a diary.

. Get to know yourself and your family better by writing your family stories.

. Got 5 minutes? Write for 5 minutes. Five minutes now and then really builds up. Keep all your writing.

. Write down any family or cultural/traditional stories you hear. You are saving them for generations to come.

. Don’t let anyone steal a good story you remember. Write it down.

. Let it flow. Enjoy!

Touring, Birds and Animals

2005-11-14T09:25:00.000-08:00

Most writers travel alone. We are lucky to travel together, and to give readings and writing workshops together. Being a writer can be a lonely business, and it takes a huge amount of emotional and physical energy to be on a tour. It really helps to have a fellow traveller to share the long trips.

Birds and animals help us when we travel. The first question we ask is, "What will we see first?" As we set out on our drive, we usually spot an eagle or sometimes two or more in the Fraser River delta or Fraser Valley areas. They may be flying or sitting in a tree.

Eagles are everywhere we go. We appreciate seeing them. On our tour with our new book The Gathering Tree, we drove to Dawson Creek, BC, and then across the Lesser Slave Lake area of Alberta to Edmonton. We saw two eagles by the side of the road, feeding on deer that had been hit by vehicles. One eagle was on the way to Wabasca-Desmarais, Alberta, the other on a small highway north of High Prairie. The eagles were not afraid of our car. They calmly went about their task of survival. Seeing them less than 15 feet away was unusual. Their white markings are very bright.

We have seen black bears, a grizzly, wolves, moose, foxes (including parents with four kits in Drayton Valley, Alberta), elk, mountain goats, mountain sheep, porcupine, rabbits, an opposum (we think! near Cambridge, Ontario), many smaller animals, as well as a great gray owl and three great horned owls. The number of deer on the northern roads is climbing and we see fewer moose.

A great horned owl was Larry's "pet" in his book As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood Books). We saw a great horned owl on the road to Wabasca-Desmarais when As Long as the Rivers Flow came out. It seemed like a good sign, and it was.

We often travel in Alberta in the spring and fall. Awe-inspiring flocks of Canada geese, snow geese, and sandhill cranes fly over Lesser Slave Lake, Winagami Lake and the Wabasca lakes. We pull the car over, get out, and watch and listen to the din as thousands migrate overhead. The birds were spectacular in October of this year, from McLennan east to Wabasca.

We enjoy remembering the birds and animals we have seen on our travels. We are privileged to share the earth with them. -- Larry and Constance

New books are marathons

2005-10-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

Just a few weeks ago, our new children's book, The Gathering Tree (Theytus Books), arrived all shiny and with that new book smell. A few days later, our previous children's book, As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood), was delivered in its new paper cover version. They are both great books, and good companions -- together both are only CDN$33. To learn more about them, and order copies, see our website www.firstnationswriter.com

The Gathering Tree was an intense nine-month project, starting on January 17 in the Chee Mamuk, HIV/AIDS aboriginal education program office, with educators Melanie and Lucy. We all wanted a book that would introduce the subject of HIV awareness and prevention, with a First Nations storyline, that would appeal to all readers, no matter their age or background. The race was on!

Theytus Books, our publisher, was also involved, as well as illustrator Heather D. Holmlund from afar. The book was written by March 31, the artwork completed in early July. Design and layout by Theytus in Penticton, BC. Printed in Winnipeg by Friesen's. A real marathon!

What made it all so great was the readers who came to our wonderful launch on Monday, Sept. 26 at the Squamish Nation Recreation Centre. More than 50 schoolchildren were there and they were an intelligent and supportive audience. The huge room was full, with more than 120 people. What a celebration! We followed with three launches at Vancouver Library Central branch, the Gathering Place Library on Helmcken, and the Carnegie Library at the Carnegie Community Centre.

Then we took off for Dawson Creek where we were to do 5 school readings, but these were cancelled because of the teacher's strike. Chee Mamuk was with us in Dawson Creek, so we did two readings/workshops together, one with youth and one with adults. The youth were attentive and impressive. Thank you for attending!

Following Dawson Creek was a tour of northern Alberta, where Larry grew up, including High Prairie, Grouard, Wabasca-Desmarais, Slave Lake and then on to Edmonton. We joined students from all the Northern Lakes College campuses at Lab Day on Oct. 19... 78 students came to our writing workshops.

Altogether, we must have visited or called more than 20 contacts regarding The Gathering Tree and also the paper cover version of As Long as the Rivers Flow. That included Treaty 8, Treaty 6, HIV/AIDS Edmonton, Edmonton School Board, Edmonton Public Libraries, Edmonton Journal, Shaw Cable TV, and many more.

In 2006, we'll catch up with those readings in Dawson Creek, and do many more -- with requests in High Prairie, Slave Lake, Wabasca-Desmarais, Edmonton and others. We can't wait to meet with readers young and older. -- Larry and Constance

Welcome!

2005-10-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Living Traditions Writers Group Blog...