Indigenous Spotlight: John McDonald
Channel: Saskatoon Public Library
Date: 2021-02-27

February is Aboriginal Storytelling Month, sponsored by The Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples #lssap. To celebrate, we have the incredible John McDonald with a poetry reading.

John is a Nehiyawak-Metis writer, artist, historian, musician, playwright, actor and activist originally from Prince Albert. A member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and the great-great-great grandson of Chief Mistawasis of the Plains Cree, John’s writings and artwork have been displayed in various publications, private and permanent collections and galleries around the world, including the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. 

He is the author of the 2020 poetry collection "Childhood Thoughts and Water," published by Bookland Press. John has studied at England’s prestigious University of Cambridge, where in July 2000 he made international headlines by symbolically ‘discovering’ and ‘claiming’ England for the First Peoples of the Americas. John is also an acclaimed public speaker, who has presented in venues across the globe. John’s artwork and writing have been nominated for several awards, including the 2001 Saskatchewan Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award. John was awarded the 2017 BOB Award for Best Artist. He has been honoured with several grants from the Saskatchewan Arts Board.

To purchase "Dispatches From The Front, Vol 1," contact the author at: dog_soldier_01@hotmail.com.