What resources are available for researching Native (Canadian) literature, and how can a First Nations, Métis, or Inuit author be contacted?

Resources

You could begin by consulting the Encyclopedia of Literature in Canada. -- Editor W.H. New. -- Toronto : University of Toronto Press, 2002. -- xxii, 1347 p. ; 27 cm. : see such headings as First Nations literature, Haida oral literature, and Inuit literature, as well as biographical excerpts on such authors as Thomas King, Minnie Aodla Freeman, and Alootook Ipellie. As well, the Canadian Encyclopedia at: www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?TCE_Version=E includes sections on Indian literature and Inuit literature under the subtopic, Ethnic Literature.

The following non-exhaustive bibliography will help in your survey of Canadian Aboriginal literature.

Reference sources:

Angmarlik, Pauloosie ... [et al.] -- In the words of elders: aboriginal cultures in transition. -- edited by Peter Kulchyski, Don McCaskill, David Newhouse. -- Toronto: University of Toronto Press, c1999. -- xxv, 458 p. : ports. ; 24 cm.

Boudreau, Diane. -- Histoire de la littérature amérindienne au Québec : oralité et écriture : essai. -- Montréal : L'Hexagone, 1993. -- 201 p., [8] p. de pl. : carte, portr. ; 23 cm. - Comprend des références bibliographiques : p. [187]-201.

Eigenbrod, Renate and Jo-Ann Episkenew (Eds.). -- Creating community: a roundtable on Canadian aboriginal literature. -- Penticton, B.C. : Theytus Books, 2002. -- 297 p. : ill.; 23 cm.

Gedalof, Robin. -- An annotated bibliography of Canadian Inuit literature. -- [Ottawa]: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 1979. -- 108 p. ; 28 cm.

Gilbert, Charlotte. -- Répertoire bibliographique -- auteurs Amérindiens du Québec = Bibliographic directory of Amerindian authors in Quebec. -- [1re ed. = 1st ed.] -- Saint-Luc, Quebec : Centre de recherche sur la littérature et les arts autochtones du Québec = Research Centre for Native Lit. -- 46 p. ; 28 cm.

Grant, Agnes (Ed.). -- Our bit of truth: an anthology of Canadian native writing. -- Winnipeg: Pemmican Publications, c1990. -- xvii, 347 p. ; 23 cm. -- Includes bibliographical references.

Hulan, Rénee. -- Northern experience and the myths of Canadian culture. - Montréal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2002. -- 245 p.; 24 cm.

Hymnes à la grande terre : rythmes, chants et poèmes des Indiens d'Amérique du Nord-Est. -- Choix, présentation et traduction des textes, Pierre DesRuisseaux. -- Montréal : Triptyque, c1997. -- 265 p. : ill. ; 19 cm. - Comprend des références bibliographiques : p. 253-259.

Joe, Rita & Choyce, Lesley (Eds.). -- The Mi'kmaq anthology. -- Lawrencetown Beach, N.S. : Pottersfield Press, c1997. -- 282 p. ; 23 cm.

King, Thomas, Calver, Cheryl, & Helen Hoy [Eds.]. -- The Native in literature. -- [Toronto]: ECW Press, c1987. -- 232 p. ; 23 cm. - Includes index.

Maki, Joel T. (Ed.). -- Steal my rage: new native voices. -- Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, c1995. -- 135 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.

McGrath, Robin. -- Canadian Inuit literature: the development of a tradition. -- Ottawa: National Museum of Man, National Museums of Canada, 1984. -- x, 230 p. : ill., maps ; 28 cm. -- Bibliography: p. 165-211.

Miska, John P. -- Ethnic and native Canadian literature: a bibliography. -- Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1990. -- xv, 445 p. ; 29 cm. - Includes index.

Moses, Daniel David & Goldie, Terry (Eds.). -- An Anthology of Canadian native literature in English. -- 2nd ed. -- Toronto: Oxford University Press, c1998. -- xxix, 529 p. ; 23 cm. -- Includes index.

Mukwa Geezis : resource guide to aboriginal literature in Canada. -- [Toronto]: Wabanoong Multimedia Publications, ANDPVA, [1997] -- vi, 47 p. : ill., ports. ; 27 cm. - Includes bibliographical references : p. 38-46.

Native literatures in Canada : a collection of writings by Indian, Inuit and Métis authors. -- Compiled by Hartmut Lutz and Sabine Meyer for the participants in the seminar on native literatures in Canada, Fachbereich Sprach - und Literaturwissenschaft, Universitat Osnabruck, summer term 1988 ; Hartmut Lutz, ed. -- [Osnabruck : Fachbereich Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft, Universitat Osnabruck, 1988] -- iv, 168 p. : ill., music ; 21 x 30 cm.

Native North American literature : biographical and critical information on native writers and orators from the United States and Canada from historical times to the present. -- Janet Witalec, editor ; Jeffery Chapman, Christopher Giroux, associate editors. -- New York ; Toronto: Gale Research, c1994. -- xlv, 706 p. : maps, ports. ; 29 cm. -- Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Petrone, Penny. -- Native literature in Canada: from the oral tradition to the present. -- Toronto : Oxford University Press, 1990. -- viii, 213 p., [18] p. of plates : ill., ports. ; 23 cm. -- Includes bibliographical references.

Skins : contemporary indigenous writing. -- Compiled by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm and Josie Douglas. -- Wiarton, Ont. : Kegedonce Press, 2000. -- x, 177 p. ; 24 cm.

Stevens, Mark. -- Situating native Canadian writing [microform] : notes towards an anthology. -- Ottawa: National Library of Canada, 1990. -- 2 microfiches (177 fr.) -- Thesis (M.A.) -- University of New Brunswick, 1989. -- Includes bibliographical references.

Writing the circle : native women of Western Canada, an anthology. -- Compiled and edited by Jeanne Perreault and Sylvia Vance ; with a preface by Emma LaRocque. -- Edmonton: NeWest Pub., 1990. -- xxx, 293 p. ; 22 cm.

Fiction within Native Canadian literature

Birbalsingh, Frank. -- Novels and the nation: essays in Canadian literature. -- Toronto: TSAR, 1995. -- xvi, 183 p. ; 23 cm. -- Includes bibliographical references and index.

King, Thomas (Ed.). -- All my relations : an anthology of contemporary Canadian native fiction. -- Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1992, c1990. -- xvi, 220 p. : ports. ; 22 cm.

Roman, Trish Fox (Ed.). -- Voices under one sky ; contemporary Native literature: reflections in fiction and non-fiction. -- Scarborough, Ont. : Nelson Canada, [1993], c1994. -- 224 p. : ill., map ; 23 cm.

Poetry within Native Canadian literature

Day, David & Bowering, Marilyn (Eds.). -- Many voices: an anthology of contemporary Canadian Indian poetry. -- Vancouver: J.J. Douglas, 1977. -- 98 p. ; 22 cm.

Hodgson, Heather (Ed.). -- Seventh generation: contemporary native writing. -- Penticton, B.C. : Theytus Books, c1989. -- 99 p. ; 23 cm.

Poems, in their own voices: "Going to war", World War One, World War Two: Metis series. -- [Interviewer, Carol Pearlstone; editor, Mick Burrs]. -- Regina, Sask. : Province of Saskatchewan, Dept. of Culture and Youth, c1975. -- iv, 40 leaves, [4] leaves of plates: ill. ; 28 cm.

Native poetry in Canada: a contemporary anthology. -- Edited by Jeannette C. Armstrong & Lally Grauer. -- Peterborough, Ont. : Broadview Press, c2001. -- xxix, 360 p. ; 23 cm. -- Includes bibliographical references.

Critical essays on Native Canadian literature

Francis, Daniel. -- The imaginary Indian : the image of the Indian in Canadian culture. -- Vancouver : Arsenal Pulp Press, c1992. -- xii, 258 p. : ill. ; 22 cm. -- Includes bibliographical references and index.

LaRocque, Emma. -- Three conventional approaches to native people in society and in literature. -- [Regina] : Saskatchewan Library Association, [c1984] -- iii, 9 p. ; 23 cm. -- Includes bibliographical references.

Looking at the words of our people: first nations analysis of literature. -- Collected by Jeannette Armstrong. -- Penticton, B.C. : Theytus Books, 1993. -- 214 p. ; 23 cm. -- Includes bibliographical references.

Monkman, Leslie. -- A native heritage: image of the Indian in English-Canadian literature. -- Toronto: University of Toronto Press, c1981. -- xiii, 193 p. ; 24 cm.

Native North America: critical and cultural perspectives : essays. -- By Patricia Monture Angus ... [et al.] ; edited by Renee Hulan. -- Toronto: ECW Press, c1999. -- 274 p. ; 22 cm. -- Includes bibliographical references.

Native peoples in Canadian literature. -- Edited by William and Christine Mowat. -- Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, c1975. -- 122 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.

New, W.H. (Ed.). -- Native writers and Canadian writing : Canadian literature special issue. -- Vancouver: UBC Press, c1990. -- 306 p. ; 26 cm. -- Includes bibliographical references.

Ruffo, Armand Garnet Ruffo (Ed.). -- (Ad)dressing our words: aboriginal perspectives on aboriginal literatures. -- Penticton, B.C. : Theytus Books, 2001. -- 247 p. ; 23 cm. -- Includes bibliographical references.

Waubageshig (Ed.). -- The Only good Indian: essays by Canadian Indians. -- Rev. ed. -- Don Mills, Ont. : New Press, 1974. -- vii, 214 p. ; 21 cm.

Willie, Janine A. -- On theorizing Native literatures [microform]: searching for effective, culturally appropriate ways to read and understand Native literatures. -- Ottawa: National Library of Canada = Bibliotheque nationale du Canada, [1999] -- 2 microfiches. -- Thesis (M.A.) -- York University, 1996. -- Includes bibliographical references.

Contacting Authors

Library and Archives Canada does not hold a list of such contact information for authors. We suggest contacting the publisher of the author. An Internet search may also produce results, or you may wish to contact an association of writers, such as The Canadian Authors Association at www.canauthors.org/national.html or l'Union des écrivaines et écrivains québécois at www.uneq.qc.ca/apropos/mission.html.
The ISBN Publishers' Directory at www.collectionscanada.ca/isbndir-bin/isbn-search?p=0&l;=0is also a useful tool for this kind of inquiry.

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