The City is Still Red
The Indigenous Writers Collective
Free Admission
*Masks and proof of vaccination required*
Sometime in the 1990s (no one remembers exactly when), the Indigenous Writers Collective held a public reading, an event called Red City which featured many of the most prominent Indigenous writers in Winnipeg at the time. Among those who presented on that historic evening was the poet Duncan Mercredi. And now, more than two decades later and as Winnipeg’s Poet Laureate, Mercredi is spearheading the next iteration of this momentous occasion, The City is Still Red.
When Mercredi was named Poet Laureate in March 2020, one of the things he wanted to accomplish was to reignite the Indigenous Writers Collective, which hadn’t gathered since 2014. Mercredi saw his appointment as a perfect avenue to reassemble and expand the group. Of course, a week after it was announced, Manitoba registered its first case of covid-19 and public gatherings ground to a halt. But the pandemic didn’t stop Mercredi and he has been writing tirelessly for the past 21 months as well as giving talks and visiting schools in Winnipeg and beyond. He has gotten used to the virtual tools we’ve come to rely on, but looks forward to the first in-person event he has been able to host since becoming Poet Laureate.
“We have some great writers that came up together,” says Mercredi, “but there is an amazing number of younger people doing incredible things and telling their stories in new and exciting ways. As much as I wanted to get the old gang back together, I want to help provide a place for the next generation to do their thing. Elizabeth Denny suggested we pay tribute to that event from the 90s while at the same time acknowledging the next generation, so she came up with the name The City is Still Red.”
The event promises “stories, poems, songs, tears and laughter.” In addition to Mercredi and Denny, the event features: television news host Michael Hutchinson; New York Times bestselling Tasha Spillett-Sumner; author and activist Sadie-Phoenix Lavoie; writer, photographer and climate researcher Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett Huson); Gemini Award-winning scriptwriter Jordan Wheeler; journalist (and musician!) Trevor Greyeyes; writer, broadcaster and playwright Rosanna Deerchild; and recent winner of the Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, Katherena Vermette. The event is hosted by NCI-FM’s David McLeod.
The event takes place at the West End Cultural Centre on Tuesday November 30. Doors open at 7:00 and the performance begins at 7:30. Tickets are not required but masks and proof of vaccination are.
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Rosanna Deerchild (She/Her) is Cree, from the community of O-Pipon-Na-Piwan Cree Nation. She has been a storyteller for more than 20 years; as a journalist, broadcaster and a poet. She is the host of CBC Radio One's Unreserved. Her debut poetry collection this is a small northern town shared her reflections of growing up in a racially divided place. It won the 2009 Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry. Her second book, calling down the sky is a collaborative work with her mother who was forced to attend Indian Residential School. Her first play with the Royal MTC’s Pimootayowin Creators Circle is called how to drink red rose tea.
Elizabeth Denny is a Métis writer based from the Interlake region of Manitoba. Denny has been writing for several years with credits in various genres. Her first book, a children’s story entitled Jenneli’s Dance, was published in 2008 by Theytus Books. Denny has also written for three national television productions with APTN: Tipi Tales, Wapos Bay and Cashing In. Select works of poetry, short fiction and creative nonfiction have been published in various anthologies, most recently: Gush, ndncountry and Red Rising Magazine. She is currently working on developing a limited series based on her original work, a novel, a collection of creative non-fiction, a stage play and a follow-up children’s book.
Trevor Greyeyes is from Netley Creek First Nation. He has been an award winning journalist and fiction writer but few know that he plays music as well. Greyeyes said, "After many years of practicing guitar, I am finally the guitar player I wanted to be in the 1980s but it's 2021 now."
Brett Huson, also known as Hetxw'ms Gyetxw, is a husband, father, artist, author and knowledge keeper from the Gitxsan Nation, whose territories are located in the northwest interior of what the settlers call British Columbia. He's author of the award winning series Mothers of Xsan and also a research associate with the Prairie Climate Centre at the University of Winnipeg.
Michael Hutchinson is Swampy Cree from the Treaty 5 area and a member of the Misipawistik Cree Nation. During his early years, he fought forest fires, worked in an underground research mine and did catering for rock concerts and movie shoots. As an adult, he has switched back and forth between the communications and journalism sides of the desk. He has been the host of APTN National News for seven years, while producing two other news related shows. As a communication professional, he has worked for numerous First Nation advocacy organizations from the local to the national level, including, the Assembly of First Nations and the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak. He wrote the Mighty Muskrats Mystery series to educate young Canadians, build pride in First Nation and impoverished youth, and create a better Canadian and First Nations relationship.
Sadie-Phoenix Lavoie is a 28-year old Two Spirit Anishinaabe of the Turtle Clan, from Sagkeeng Anishinaabe Nation located in Treaty 1 territory of Manitawapow, currently residing in Winnipeg. “The three main things I do all the time are organize, teach, and create. I am the co-founder of Red Rising Magazine, unfiltered Indigenous platform for emerging and featured Indigenous writers, poets and artists across Turtle Island. I work as a graphic artist, photographer, bud tender, community educator and published poet.”
David McLeod has been published in several anthologies including Let the Drum Be My Heartbeat, Prairie Fire, CV2, and Manitowapow: Aboriginal Writings from the Land of Water, amongst others. David has written and directed children’s programs, hosted both radio and television talk format programs, and has worked as a television reporter covering stories throughout northern Manitoba for several years. He is currently the CEO of Native Communications (NCI-FM) which owns and operates a Manitoba-wide radio network.
Duncan Mercredi is a Cree/Métis poet, writer and storyteller. A longtime resident of Winnipeg, he was born in Misipawistik (Grand Rapids) and grew up listening to his grandmother’s stories. His affinity for the wilderness and his sensitivity to the deep cultural prejudices of the broader culture inform his writing. Duncan is Winnipeg’s Poet Laureate.
Tasha Spillett draws her strength from both her Ininewak and Trinidadian bloodlines. She is an author, poet, new mother, celebrated educator and emerging scholar, but is most heart-tied to contributing to community-led work that centres land and water defence, and the protection of Indigenous women and girls. Spillett’s debut graphic novel, Surviving the City, vol. 1 (illustrated by Natasha Donovan), was published by Highwater Press and won the Eileen McTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book by a Manitoba Author at the 2019 Manitoba Book Awards. Volume 2 of the series was shortlisted for four Manitoba Book Awards in 2021. Most recently her children’s book, I Sang You Down from the Stars (illustrated by Michaela Goade) debuted at no. 3 on the New York Times bestsellers list.
Katherena Vermette writes books and lives in Winnipeg.
From the George Gordon First Nation, Jordan Wheeler has been writing professionally since 1982 and working in film and television since 1984. Among his numerous writing credits are the books Digital Ogichida, Brothers In Arms and Just A Walk. As a scriptwriter and story editor his credits include the TV series Arctic Air, renegadepress.com and North of 60. Wheeler has been nominated for and won numerous awards including a 2006 scriptwriting Gemini for an episode of renegadepress.com. When not writing he teaches writing, scriptwriting, story edits, tells stories and plays golf. Born in Victoria in 1964, Wheeler has two kids and three step kids. He lives in Winnipeg with his wife Kim.
Doors - 7:00pm
Show - 7:30pm