Grandmother of Indigenous literature is resilient and determined

By Christine McFarlane

TORONTO – Lee Maracle, a member of Tsleil Waututh First Nation in North Vancouver, BC is many things to many people. Though she is a grandmother, a mom, an activist, she is also one of the most recognizable names in Indigenous literature, and for decades has been a powerful Indigenous advocate that many people look to.

She is a renowned author, mentor, actress storyteller and a traditional teacher and lecturer who works out of First Nations House at the University of Toronto. She nurtures and mentors emerging writers – while still paving a way for other writers who want to write like her.

Maracle is known to be the Grandmother of Indigenous Literature because she has paved the way for many Indigenous writers with works such as Bobby Lee: Indian Rebel, RavenSong, I Am Woman, amongst other numerous works.

“I work in all mediums in different ways, each helps to strengthen the other. Teaching strengthens my art and in turn my art strengthens my teaching and writing,” says Maracle. “I am not so concerned with being strong as I am with being determined and resilient. I like the story of the little tiny spider going up the water spout, getting rained out, then as soon as the sun comes out, off the bitty spider goes again to see if he can climb that water spout. There is both resilience and determination in that spider.”

She says that she’s resilient and determined.

“I never take no for an answer. I keep coming at something until I succeed. It took me years to become a fiction writer, but eventually I succeeded.”

Maracle reminds youth to be determined.

“Do not take failure as a sign of being less than, or not up to the task. If at first we fail, then take the lessons from that failure and turn them into success. This will strengthen you!”

Maracle was honoured in 2014 with the Ontario Premier’s “Individual Artist” Award for Excellence in the Arts.  She has also recently published a new book titled Celia’s Song.