Joseph Kakwinokansum is a writer, creator, and storyteller. A member of the James Smith Cree Nation, Joseph grew up in the Peace Region of northern BC.
Joseph is a graduate of Simon Fraser University’s The Writer’s Studio and The Writer’s Studio Graduate Workshop. He was selected by Darrel J. McLeod as one of the Writers Trust of Canada’s Rising Stars of 2022. His short story Ray Says, was a finalist for CBC’s Nonfiction Prize in 2020 and his manuscript Woodland Creetures was awarded the 2014 Canada Council for the Arts Creation Grant for Aboriginal Peoples, Writers, and Storytellers.
His debut novel, My Indian Summer, loosely based on his own childhood was winner of the 2023-2024 First Nations Communities READ Award and shortlisted for the 2023 ReLitAward for fiction. His work has been published in the Humber Literary Journal, the anthology Resonance: Essays on the Craft and life of Writing, Emerge; The Writer’s Studio anthology, and Better Next Year: An Anthology of Christmas Epiphanies. Joseph was also selected as the 2024 Storyteller in Residence for Vancouver Public Library.
Writing and Storytelling (a 55-minute lecture). Using My Indian Summer (Tidewater Press 2022) to discuss themes, inspiration, research, character development, and writing process/tools.
Agenda: Intro/bio/thank you; themes intended and passive; Inspiration, where does it come from; Research, it can be (too) fun; Character Development, getting out of your way; The Writing Process, deadlines help; Extra Talking Points, your tool shed.
Writing Emotional Truths (A Workshop). Objective: using your personal power; writing from a distance (self-preservation); develop a piece using distance to enrich story, while keeping the writer safe.
Agenda: Intro; legal talk; exercises 1; break; exercise 2; Q&A; thank you.
Exercise 1: Personal Power Exercise (cue cards); 10-minute break; welcome back; cue card debrief.
Exercise 2: Writing From A Distance discussion, stretch, Writing from a distance final exercise
Q&A/discussion
Thank you.
