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Charlotte Gill reckons with ethnicity, belonging and the complexities of life within a multicultural household; Alicia Cox Thomson recommends three reads that recall the work of Montgomery; Sixties Scoop folk singer Raven Reid on hopefulness and Johnny Cash; and Jordan Abel's trippy, genre-bending subversion of The Last of the Mohicans on this episode of The Next Chapter.
Daybreak explores "Empty Spaces."
My guest on this episode is Jordan Abel. Jordan is the author of The Place of Scraps (which won the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize), Un/inhabited, Injun (winner of the Griffin Poetry Prize) and NISHGA, which won the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize and the VMI Betsy Warland Between Genres award and was a finalist for the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction, the Wilfrid Eggleston Award for Nonfiction, and the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize. Jordan is an Associate Professor in the Department of English and Film Studies at the University of Alberta where he teaches Indigenous Literatures, Research-Creation, and Creative Writing. Jordan's most recent book is Empty Spaces, which was published by McClelland & Stewart in 2023, and was shortlisted for the Amazon First Novel Award. In its review of Empty Spaces, the Boston Globe called it “a singular, incantatory work.” Jordan and I talk about how being in academia has enriched his creative work, and why, all the same, he doesn't always feel he belongs there, and about how he was shocked that his agent and publisher would take a chance on a book as strange and difficult as Empty Spaces, and about how odd it is that his published work to date has been so dark and serious, when he doesn't see himself that way at all. (We do a lot of laughing in this episode, FYI.) Empty Spaces by Jordan Abel at Penguin Random House Canada. Music: "simple-hearted thing" by Alex Lukashevsky. Used with permission. Contact Nathan Whitlock at nathanwhitlock.ca/contact
Cherie Dimaline's queer YA reimaging of The Secret Garden, Phyllis Webstad on her picture book Every Child Matters, Jordan Abel subverts The Last of the Mohicans, and we revisit an interview with bestselling author David Alexander Robertson.
We hope you would pick up a book by an Indigenous author this September and take some time to look through the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Books mentioned on this episode: A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair, Nishga by Jordan Abel, Manikanetish by Naomi Fontaine, translated by Luise von Flotow, and The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/keepitfictional/message
That's a wrap on Season 2! To cap off 2022, Jennifer and Waubgeshig are joined by author, poet, and professor Joshua Whitehead to talk about NISHGA by Jordan Abel. NISHGA is a powerful autobiographical exploration of Indigenous identity and self-awareness in the ongoing devastation of intergenerational trauma. This collection of reflections, poems, artwork, and more is eclectic, candid, and heartfelt, and we felt honoured and privileged to be able to read and discuss it at the end of this season.More on NISHGA:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/610846/nishga-by-jordan-abel/9780771007903More on Joshua Whitehead:Joshua Whitehead is an Oji-Cree, Two-Spirit member of Peguis First Nation (Treaty 1). He is the author of full-metal indigiqueer (Talonbooks 2017), Jonny Appleseed (Arsenal Pulp Press 2018), the editor of Love after the End: an Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction (Arsenal 2020) and most recently, Making Love with the Land (Knopf Canada 2022). He currently resides in Treaty 7 territory, Calgary, where he lives and teaches.
ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Jordan Abel. Jordan's book NISGHA is a finalist for the 2022 Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize and the 2022 Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize. In their conversation, Jordan talks about thinking expansively about genre and writing, and how he approached the balance of text, white space and visuals in NISGHA. ABOUT JORDAN ABEL: Jordan Abel is a Nisga'a writer from Vancouver. He is the author of The Place of Scraps (winner of the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize), Un/inhabited, and Injun (winner of the Griffin Poetry Prize). Abel's work has recently been anthologized in The New Concrete: Visual Poetry in the 21st Century (Hayward), The Next Wave: An Anthology of 21st Century Canadian Poetry (Anstruther), Best Canadian Poetry (Tightrope), Counter-Desecration: A Glossary for Writing Within the Anthropocene (Wesleyan), and The Land We Are: Artists and Writers Unsettle the Politics of Reconciliation (ARP). Abel's work has been published in numerous journals and magazines–including Canadian Literature, The Capilano Review, and Poetry Is Dead–and his visual poetry has been included in exhibitions at the Polygon Gallery, UNIT/PITT. ABOUT MEGAN COLE: Megan Cole the Director of Programming and Communications for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based on the territory of the Tla'amin Nation. Megan writes creative nonfiction and has had essays published in Chatelaine, This Magazine, The Puritan, Untethered, and more. She has her MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of King's College and is working her first book. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com ABOUT THE PODCAST: Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen. Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.
Join us for a look back at some highlights from past seasons of Writers Festival Radio as we head towards our 25th Anniversary this Fall. This recap spotlights some content from Season 3, which ran in the Fall of 2021. Click play to hear from Yusef Salaam, Clayton Thomas-Muller, Jordan Abel, Elisabeth de Mariaffi, Melanie Challenger and Myriam J.A. Chancy. Books are available from our friends at Perfect Books. The Ottawa International Writers Festival is supported by generous individuals like you. Please consider subscribing to our newsletter and making a donation to support our programming and children's literacy initiatives.
Genesis 50 NLT read aloud by Simon MacFarlane. 1 Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him. 2 Then Joseph told the physicians who served him to embalm his father's body; so Jacob was embalmed. 3 The embalming process took the usual forty days. And the Egyptians mourned his death for seventy days. 4 When the period of mourning was over, Joseph approached Pharaoh's advisers and said, “Please do me this favor and speak to Pharaoh on my behalf. 5 Tell him that my father made me swear an oath. He said to me, ‘Listen, I am about to die. Take my body back to the land of Canaan, and bury me in the tomb I prepared for myself.' So please allow me to go and bury my father. After his burial, I will return without delay.” 6 Pharaoh agreed to Joseph's request. “Go and bury your father, as he made you promise,” he said. 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. He was accompanied by all of Pharaoh's officials, all the senior members of Pharaoh's household, and all the senior officers of Egypt. 8 Joseph also took his entire household and his brothers and their households. But they left their little children and flocks and herds in the land of Goshen. 9 A great number of chariots and charioteers accompanied Joseph. 10 When they arrived at the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan River, they held a very great and solemn memorial service, with a seven-day period of mourning for Joseph's father. 11 The local residents, the Canaanites, watched them mourning at the threshing floor of Atad. Then they renamed that place (which is near the Jordan) Abel-mizraim, for they said, “This is a place of deep mourning for these Egyptians.” 12 So Jacob's sons did as he had commanded them. 13 They carried his body to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre. This is the cave that Abraham had bought as a permanent burial site from Ephron the Hittite. 14 After burying Jacob, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father's burial. 15 But now that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said. 16 So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us 17 to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.' So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. [...]
Griffin Poetry Prize winner Jordan Abel's Nishga is a groundbreaking, deeply personal, and devastating autobiographical meditation that attempts to address the complicated legacies of Canada's residential school system and contemporary Indigenous existence. It is necessary reading; an astounding work that explores some of the most pressing issues of our time. Journalist and award-winning author, Tanya Talaga, who has worked throughout her career to document and advocate for the need for justice for Indigenous peoples in Canada, spoke to Abel about his latest work. Presented in partnership with SFU's Master of Publishing program. The content in this conversation can be difficult and upsetting. Visit our website for resources supporting survivors: https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/podcast-jordan-abel-in-conversation-with-tanya-talaga
In this episode, multiple award-winning Nisga'a author Jordan Abel and host Linda Morra discuss his most recent book, Nishga (published by McClelland & Stewart in 2020), the intergenerational legacies of trauma for residential school survivors, and the importance of not only listening to, but also "witnessing" their stories. He speaks about his relationship with his father's art and the kinds of "activism" that writing might perform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
David O'Meara sits down with Griffin Poetry Prize winner Jordan Abel to discuss his latest publication, NISHGA , a groundbreaking, deeply personal, and devastating autobiographical meditation that attempts to address the complicated legacies of Canada's residential school system and contemporary Indigenous existence. As a Nisga'a writer, Jordan Abel often finds himself in a position where he is asked to explain his relationship to Nisga'a language, Nisga'a community, and Nisga'a cultural knowledge. However, as an intergenerational survivor of residential school--both of his grandparents attended the same residential school--his relationship to his own Indigenous identity is complicated to say the least. NISHGA explores those complications and is invested in understanding how the colonial violence originating at the Coqualeetza Indian Residential School impacted his grandparents' generation, then his father's generation, and ultimately his own. The project is rooted in a desire to illuminate the realities of intergenerational survivors of residential school, but sheds light on Indigenous experiences that may not seem to be immediately (or inherently) Indigenous. Books are available from our friends at Perfect Books. The Ottawa International Writers Festival is supported by generous individuals like you. Please consider subscribing to our newsletter and making a donation to support our programming and children's literacy initiatives.
A heat wave is hitting B.C. and we head to the waterpark; New travel rules for vaccinated Canadians; Cancer treatment trial program coming to Terrace; New Tourism PG CEO bringing back Women's World Curling championship; A look at the impact of personal savings on the Canadian economy; Community garden using crab buckets in Prince Rupert; Fort St. John arts groups 'shocked' as city takes over cultural centre; NISGHA author Jordan Abel.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Griffin Poetry Prize winner Jordan Abel. He joins me to talk about his intriguing new book Nishga. It's a groundbreaking, deeply personal, and devastating autobiographical meditation that attempts to address the complicated legacies of Canada's residential school system and contemporary Indigenous existence. Drawing on autobiography and a series of interconnected documents (including pieces of memoir, transcriptions of talks, and photography), NISHGA is a book about confronting difficult truths and it is about how both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples engage with a history of colonial violence that is quite often rendered invisible. Then, veteran New Yorker staff writer Tony Hiss joins me on Zoom from his home in New York City's East Village. His new book, "Rescuing the Planet" is an urgent call to protect 50 percent of the earth's land by 2050--thereby saving millions of its species--and a candid assessment of the health of our planet and our role in conserving it.
Episode 04: Getting the Song Out with Emilie LeBelThis week we are talking to Dr. Emilie Lebel! We feel so lucky that while we were searching for a composer for our first Women on the Verge commission, composer Jocelyn Morlock recommended Emilie to us. After exploring her music we were moved by her soundscape sensibility. At our initial meeting, we found that we really clicked as humans too and so Emilie agreed to write a piece for us in 2018, that became “Blue of the Distance”. Now we’ve toured it all over the world and are happy to call Emilie a close friend of ours. Audio Excerpts:“the place of scraps - the totem pole transported to Toronto” by Emilie LeBel, performed by soprano Phoebe MacRae and pianist Rachel Iwaasa with recorded text of Jordan Abel.“Blue of the Distance” for two sopranos and bowed piano, by Emilie LeBel. Performed by Women on the Verge. Artists you should check out:Laurie AndersonOther things we talked about:Art Song LabHow to make BoulevardierBlue of the Distance text by Emilie LeBelTo learn more about Emilie LeBel:Visit: https://www.emilielebel.ca/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilieclebel/Listen: https://soundcloud.com/emiliececilia
Friends and family described Heather Williams as a kind-hearted person who would help anyone. On May 2, Williams, of Jefferson, was found deceased at her boyfriend’s home. Her boyfriend, Chris Lee Myers, 39, of Jefferson, was arrested and charged in her death. Producers Heather Mongilio and Allen Etzler spoke with reporter CJ Fairfield about a vigil she attended for Williams. At the vigil, Fairfield spoke with Williams’ parents. Her father encouraged people to donate to Heartly House in Williams’ memory. Williams’ friend Jordan Abel spoke about her own abusive relationship and how Williams helped her leave it. Later in the episode, Abel speaks with Mongilio and Etzler about her experience with domestic violence and ways people can help survivors.
In Episode 4 of Recoding Relations we talk about remediation. We hear from Michelle Brown, who shares a story with us about her first experience with remediation. Brown then shares the premise of her virtual reality game, and describes how (Re)Coding was inspired. We also hear from Treena Chambers and Sarah Humphreys about the work they are doing with the popular book Cogewea. Finally, we hear the audio piece that Jordan Abel shared with us in his keynote called Injun. We learn a lot about remediation, reclamation, and recoding throughout the episode. (Written and produced by Autumn Schnell in collaboration with Melissa Haberl).
In Episode 2 of Recoding Relations we explore what Indigeneity means within the digital humanities. We listen to pieces by Jordan Abel, Michelle Nahanee, and Maize Longboat about their Indigeneity and how that manifests in the work they do. Jordan touches on his back story and how that inspired the creation of his book Injun; then we hear from Maize Longboat, who talks about the production of his video game. Maize is currently still in the process of developing that game, so we hear about that process and his inspiring factors. Finally, Michelle Nahanee shares her experience creating the game Sínulhkay and Ladders. Michelle closes by explaining the goals of her Decolonizing Activity Book. (Written and produced by Autumn Schnell in collaboration with Melissa Haberl).
This special program featured readings from three award-winning authors who are Indigenous voices and UBC Creative Writing alumni, followed by a Q&A, moderated by new Chair of the UBC Creative Writing Program, and acclaimed author, Alix Ohlin. Featured authors: Eden Robinson, Katherena Vermette, and Jordan Abel. Recorded March 19, 2018, at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre on UBC's Vancouver campus.
Christopher Levenson joins Pam and Kevin to read from and talk about his latest book "A Tattered Coat Upon a Stick."
Carmel Kilkenny speaks with Jordan Abel about winning the Griffin Poetry Prize for his 2016 collection called, 'Injun'.
To celebrate this festive season Dina and Daniel rented a snowy chalet and invited past Can’t Lit guests to join them by the fire to chat, eat and drink. A lot. Jen Sookfong Lee, Jordan Abel, Sean Cranbury, Billeh Nickerson and Aaron Chapman discuss important holiday stuff, like how to ruin poems for the holidays, hangovers, holiday traditions, eggnog, holiday movies and TV, the Nutcracker, stealing Christmas trees, curling, cats eating tinsel, veal, poetry as gifts, grilled cheeses and many more weird tangents. We also go over what we can’t with for Christmas. And there are so many F-bombs. Happy holidays and cheers, from all of us at Can’t Lit!
Finally! A Can't Lit games only episode. Dina, Daniel and Jordan play three literary games cut from Episode 18: Craigslist or Poem, Broetry or Noetry, and Jordan brings his own version of Literary Never Have I Ever: Vancouver edition. Play along at home!
Spring has sprung and Dina and Daniel bring in beautiful flower and great writer, Jordan Abel. We talk about Jordan's books, Un/Inhabited and The Place of Scraps, skim reading, sex positions, colonialism, visual and sound poetry, Mother's Day sadness, and even find time to speculate on the finale of Mad Men. Think we didn't play any games? Think again, they're coming up in a special bonus episode!