Local author’s book wins Governor General’s award

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A children’s book that explores the history and effects of Canada’s residential schools has won a Governor General’s Literary Award.

When We Were Alone — written by Winnipeg author David Robertson (a member of Norway House Cree Nation) and illustrated by Julie Flett, a Cree-Métis author, illustrator and artist — took top honours in the English-language Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books category.

Published by Portage & Main Press, When We Were Alone also topped the McNally Robinson Book for Young People Awards — Younger category at the 2017 Manitoba Book Awards and is a finalist for the 2017 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards, which will be handed out Nov. 21.

“I feel very honoured — it’s a little surreal,” Robertson said on Wednesday of winning a Governor General’s Award. “I never felt this was something that would happen to one of my books.”

Robertson is well-known for his graphic novels about Indigenous people and their history, as well as for his novel The Evolution of Alice. His most recent book is the YA novel Strangers.

It is the first Governor General’s Award nomination and win for Robertson; Flett was previously nominated for Owls See Clearly at Night (Lii Yiiboo Nayaapiwak lii Swer): a Michif Alphabet (L’alphabet di Michif).

In When We Were Alone, a young girl helping her kókom (grandmother) tend her garden asks about things that make her curious: why her kókom wears long braids, speaks another language and spends so much time with family. Her kókom tells her about her experiences in a residential school, where such things were not permitted, and why she celebrates them now that she is able.

“This win is an important step in moving towards reconciliation,” said Catherine Gerbasi, publisher of HighWater Press, an imprint of Portage & Main Press. “This is a thrilling and well-deserved recognition for David and Julie. Thanks to their work, generations of Canadians will continue to learn about residential school history in the classroom and beyond.”

Robertson echoed Gerbasi’s reaction. “This award, and any recognition of this book, is an opportunity to share the story with more people. It’s about how many more people can I educate on this history. This award enables a broader reach. It’s also a platform for me to be able to share other literature that’s trying to do similar work — great books that I love to talk about that are always teaching us history.”

Founded in 1936, the Governor General’s Literary Awards program is one of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious honours. Finalists are chosen by peer assessment committees per category, per language (seven in English and seven in French). Each winner receives $25,000 and the publisher of each winning book receives $3,000 to support promotional activities.

Other finalists in Young People’s Literature — Illustrated Books were: Short Stories for Little Monsters by Marie-Louise Gay; The Tragic Tale of the Great Auk by Jan Thornhill; Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz and Sydney Smith; and When the Moon Comes by Paul Harbridge and Matt James.

“Kids are so articulate and are able to comprehend complex ideas and subjects. I’m really encouraged to see the amazing books that were shortlisted in my category,” Robertson said. “I’m really proud to have been included in that group.”

Another Winnipeg author nominated for a 2017 Governor General’s Award was Michael Kaan, in the English-language fiction category, for his novel, The Water Beetles. Kaan, however, lost to Newfoundland’s Joel Thomas Hynes’ We’ll All Be Burnt in Our Beds Some Night.

The awards will be presented on Nov. 29 by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

ben.macphee-sigurdson@freepress.mb.ca