Joseph Kakwinokasum
BIO
Biography

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.

 

Joseph lives and works on the unceded territory of the Sooke Nation on Vancouver Island.

ADDRESS
City: Sooke, Province/Territory: British Columbia
EMAIL
GENRE
Fiction and memoir
LANGUAGES
English
PUBLICATIONS
Publications
Title
My Indian Summer
Publisher
Tidewater Press
Year
2022
AWARDS
Awards
Name
Waters' Trust of Canada Rising Stars
Year
2022
Name
Periodical Marketers of Canada, First Nations Community Reads Award for Young Adult/Adult
Year
2023/24
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
Presentation details
Audience Size
Audience size
Any size
Presentation Genre
Fiction/ Memoir
Presentation Length
60 - 90 minuets
Presentation Description
Presentation description

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.

Presentation Fee(s)
Negotiable
Workshop details
Audience Size
Negotiable
Intended Audience
High school/ adult
Workshop Length
60 -9o minutes
Workshop Description
Workshop description

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.

Workshop Fee(s)
Negotable
School presentation details
Presentation Description
Presentation description

 

 

 

EQUITY INITIATIVE
As part of the Union’s Equity Implementation Plan, we are committed to increasing awareness of authors who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQI2S, or living with a disability. This author identifies as:
Members who identify as:
Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized
Programs & Interests
Interested in participating Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program:
All members are eligible for the Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program. Are you interested in participating in this pro
Yes
Interested in participating in the Northern Ontario WITS program:
The Union’s Northern Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program funds in-person visits to northern Ontario schools when possible. Ar
Yes