A Magical Sturgeon longlisted for First Nation Communities READ 2023
The longlist for the First Nation Communities READ 2023 has been announced, and we are happy to share that A Magical Sturgeon written by Joseph Dandurand and illustrated by Elinor Atkins was nominated in the children’s books category.
A Magical Sturgeon is an endearing story of two sisters and their connection with nature. Written and illustrated in the tradition of the Kwantlen people, the story is told with grace and simplicity, exploring the themes of sharing and kinship with all other living things. The book is the second book in Joseph Dandurand’s series of illustrated books for children. Other titles in the series include The Sasquatch, the Fire and the Cedar Baskets and The Girl Who Loved the Birds.
Joseph Dandurand is a member of the Kwantlen First Nation on the Fraser River east of Vancouver, BC. He is the director of the Kwantlen Cultural Centre and an award-winning author of several books of poetry including The East Side of It All, which was shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize. He received the BC Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence in 2021 and the Latner Writers’ Trust Poetry Prize in 2022.
Elinor Atkins (Miməwqθelət, “the first bird to sing in the morning”) is a member of the Kwantlen First Nation and a Nɬeʔkepmx artist. Her works draw from the traditional teachings of the Coastal and Interior Salish culture and a deep connection to the land and water. She creates in different mediums including illustration, painting, printmaking, wood carving and public art installation.
First Nation Communities READ (FNCR) celebrates Indigenous literature across Turtle Island. The program encourages family literacy, intergenerational storytelling as well as intergenerational knowledge transmission. FNCR also helps to increase awareness of the importance of First Nation, Metis and Inuit writing, illustration and publishing. The award winners will be announced in October during First Nations Public Library Week (October 2 to 8, 2023)