I Am Not A Number author gives back
By Kelly Anne Smith
NIPISSING FIRST NATION— I Am Not A Number author gives back to help others tell stories of truth.
During Truth and Reconciliation Week, Jenny Kay Dupuis was the featured author at the Anishinabek Nation Orange Shirt Day Meet the Author workshop on Sept. 27.
A member of Nipissing First Nation, Dupuis was candidly talking about the process of writing I Am Not a Number during the live-streamed event.
She talked about sharing her Granny’s truth while discussing the concepts of her children’s storybook. Dupuis drives to inspire youth and writers of all ages to tell their truths.
“That is something more recent that I’ve been doing. I’m currently in the process of finishing up my second book. I’ve been using this particular time to really reflect on the different teachings or the different skills to think about when it comes to writing,” she explains. “It’s been a big period of reflections and what I can do in terms of passing some of that messaging to young people that have an interest in building their writing skills.”
Dupuis devotes time to mentorships with young people. She wants youth to have tools for their future.
“It’s a feeling of ‘I should give back’ – in helping to build self-confidence – especially to young people. I really didn’t have that growing up. I think it’s important for young people to see what a real-world experience might look like. Or to get some insight into what a real-world experience would look like, to see outside of the classroom. And have some of the thinking that an author or writer has to go through,” she says. “And I think it’s also important to see that as you are writing, it’s not just a one-time draft. You have to work through many, many revisions and also work with many, many different people to develop that story.”
Sharing the experience of Irene Couchie Dupuis, her own granny, has been transforming.
“It opens me up to the reality that was around me in terms of histories, and in terms of realizing the impact that it had on people’s lives, through many generations – not just one,” she tells. “It also made me think about the value of truth and the importance of listening to truth and also sharing truth and what that can mean for future generations as well.”
Dupuis explains the importance of the community in sharing stories.
“To realize that writing a book is really a community experience, whatever that community experience looks like for you, whoever those are that are involved, they are really a part of your community in helping to support you. I think that message is really important for young people and it’s important for all people to realize that you are not in isolation. You have mentors around you. You have support people around you to guide you, whether it’s editors as well too. There are many people taking a role in creating a book.”
Nipissing First Nation language keepers translated I Am Not a Number into Anishinaabemowin.
“That book really helped me to connect to Muriel (Sawyer) and to Geraldine (McLeod) and to Tory (Fisher) and to have that experience of bringing the book home in the community dialect. That was really important. Especially when you look at a story with the intent to take away culture and language. And take away other rights as well,” she shares. “It’s important that we brought that home to the community in the language especially. I think of the people in the high schools or other places that they can now experience it in the dual language form.”
There has been a positive shift towards truth-seeking since I am Not A Number was first published in 2016, says Dupuis.
“Talking to young people and people in communities across Canada, and the US, one thing I noticed is when you ask the question about what they know about [the Indian] Residential School system, you got a lot of people shaking their heads. They didn’t know very much. Five years later, now very young children, very recently five years old, put up their hands and tell me many stories that they have heard,” she explains. “What I’m finding is that there is a change in the discussions. Older people are attaching words to it. It’s not just a story. Is it a genocide? People are starting to question things.
“What happened after once they heard the story realizing the impact on communities, culture and language? There has been a lot of loss from the impact it’s had. And attaching other words to it. What does healing look like? What does reconciliation look like? Is that even happening? So, I’m finding there are more conversations now,” she continues. “I’m also thinking about that idea of action and what people’s responsibilities are as they are hearing the stories and learning. The conversations that I’ve been part of as a result of the book are definitely shifting in a different way.”
Dupuis has a passion for writing meaningful children’s books.
“My next one coming up I anticipate in 2023. It’s going to be coming out in Canada, the US and the UK. I can’t really say what it is but it’s something in the Indian Act that’s really important that people need to talk about.”
The author is now working with the illustrator for illustrations in the story.
“I just finished it so I’m really excited about that. I’ve been working on it for the past two years writing it. It’s a reflection of some of my own experiences that I’ve drawn on through my own life that I’ve drawn on to build into a story of a young little girl named Maggie.”
Dupuis’ other passion is for art.
“I’m also spending a lot of time working on art – woodland pop art. I’ll be coming out with some limited edition prints in the next month and some original works around that. I’m professionally trained in art and years ago I was a high school art teacher. I have experience of working with various artists across Canada as well.”
She doesn’t think she is making art for her children’s books though.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for other artists out there, especially with this new one coming out. The artist is really well known for her paintings and her illustration work. It’s an opportunity to get them some exposure too.”