The Saskatchewan Book Awards were crammed with winners whose books centre on Aboriginal themes.
The awards ceremony in Regina on the weekend saw University of Saskatchewan author Ken Coates pick up the award for best non-fiction writing, with his book “Idle No More and the remaking of Canada.”
The University of Regina Arts award for scholarly writing was given to Mareiki Neuhaus, who wrote “The Decolonizing Poetics of Indigenous Literature,” while the Aboriginal peoples’ writing award
went to “nakamowin’sa for the seasons” by Rita Bouvier.
The children’s literature was award was given to Leah Marie Dorion for her book “My First-Metis Lobstick.” Dorion’s book was published by the Gabriel Dumont Institute Press.
Books on Indigenous topics swept the publisher’s categories.
Charlie Angus’s book “Children of the Broken Treaty” won in two publisher’s categories, and “Nationhood Interrupted” by Sylvia McAdam won in the aboriginal publication category.
“The Education of Augie Merasty” was nominated for three awards, but did not win.
In the book’s forward, contributor David Carpenter – who undertook the sometimes-difficult task of compiling Augie Merasty’s memoirs – chronicled his dealings with the elderly man from northern Saskatchewan, often describing it as very difficult to get in touch with him. With that in mind, it’s exceptional that author Augie Merasty, was in attendance.
The awards ceremony was held Saturday night in Regina.