Upcoming Events

Indigenous Storyteller in Residence, Joseph Kakwinokanasum

Indigenous Storyteller in Residence Finale

Thursday, May 16, 2024
6:30 - 8:00 pm
VPL Central Library

This is a celebration of Joseph Kakwinokanasum and his time as 2024 Indigenous Storyteller in Residence. Joseph and friends will share funny stories from their lives - be prepared to laugh!

Learn more and register

News

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Douglas & McIntyre acquires North American rights to WIHTIKOW

May 8, 2025

Douglas & McIntyre has acquired North American rights to WIHTIKOW by Joseph Kakwinokanasum.

When a down and out reporter stumbles on the story of a lifetime, in this case, two lifetimes, he must confront  a century-old Windigo on a mission of cannibalistic vengeance, grapple with his own forsaken Indigenous roots, and fight a cosmic battle for survival that reaches across centuries in this spellbinding, atmospheric and sometimes darkly comic thriller.

Publication is planned for Fall 2026.

Read more

2025 Nonfiction prize readers

Meet the 2025 CBC Nonfiction Prize readers

February 11, 2025

Joseph joins a panel of writers and editors from across Canada to determine the longlist for the 2025 CBC Nonfiction Prize.

Read more

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Story Stream: Joseph Kakwinokanasum, Indigenous Storyteller in Residence

June 21, 2024

In a special episode of VPL's Story Stream, Joseph reads from his book, My Indian Summer. and talks about the Indigenous Storyteller in Residence program at VPL.

Watch the video on YouTube

Image of cover of My Indian Summer with First Nation Communities Read logo and text "Watch an interview with 2023-2024 Winner Joseph Kakinokanasum on LearnHQ!"

Joseph interview on Learn HQ

June 21, 2024

In Celebration of National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Nancy Cooper, from the Ontario Library Service, interviewed Joseph Kakwinokanasum, the winner of the 2023/24 First Nation Communities Read award for his debut novel, My Indian Summer.

Listen to the recording on LearnHQ

CBC Early Edition Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Joseph talks storytelling and his latest work in progress on CBC's Early Edition

February 20, 2024

Check out Joseph's radio interview with Lisa Christiansen on CBC's Early Edition and on CBC Gem. He talked about his new role as Vancouver Public Library's Indigenous Storyteller in Residence, and shared thoughts on storytelling and some of his latest work in progress. The interview aired Tuesday, February 20 at 7:50am.

Listen here

2024 VPL Indigenous Storyteller in Residence

Joseph Kakwinokanasum is the 2024 VPL Storyteller in Residence

January 25, 2024

Joseph will be be in Vancouver from February 5 to May 25. The VPL Indigenous Storyteller in Residence program was created in 2008 in recognition of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and the importance of storytelling as a way to learn about and from Indigenous communities in Vancouver.

Read more

Vancouver Festival of Authors 2023

2023 Victoria Festival of Authors

October 2023

Joseph joined Susan Sanford Blades, Sonnet L’Abbé, Tim Lilburn, and moderator Barbara Pelman to discuss their writing process at the 2023 Victoria Festival of Authors.

Watch the panel discussion (YouTube)

PMC Indigenous Awards

Joseph Kakwinokanasum and Marty Wilson-Trudeau win $5K awards recognizing Indigenous literature

October 2023

Books by Joseph Kakwinokanasum and Marty Wilson-Trudeau won the 2023 PMC Indigenous Literature Awards. The awards encourage intergenerational storytelling and family literacy. The winners are chosen by a jury of Indigenous librarians from across Ontario, and recognize the best of Indigenous literature.

Read more (cbc.ca)

First Nations Communities READ logo

My Indian Summer selected as the Young Adult/Adult title for First Nations Communities Read

October 2023

My Indian Summer is the selected title in the Young Adult/Adult category for the 2023/24 First Nations Communities Read. The selected titles will be recognized online during First Nation Public Library Week on October 5, 2023.

Read more (fncr.ca)

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Author talk at Burnaby Public Library

September 2023

Join Joseph on Tuesday, September 26 for a conversation at Burnaby Public Library discussing his writing process and book "My Indian Summer". The discussion will be followed by a Q&A.

Details & registration information (bpl.bc.ca)

Hunter Vs. Fox

Escape Planning

July 2023

Mobólúwajídìde D. Joseph reviews My Indian Summer in the Literary Review of Canada.

Read it here (reviewcanada.ca)

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Joseph on writing My Indian Summer

February 2023

Joseph spoke with CBC Books about the process of writing and publishing his first novel.

Read it here (cbc.ca)

Top Grade: CanLit for the Classroom - Winter 2023 Young Adult Selections

My Indian Summer selected as one of Top Grade's Winter 2023 Young Adults books

February 2023

My Indian Summer has been selected by Top Grade: CanLit for the Classroom as one of the Winter 2023 Young Adult books recommended for use in Canadian classrooms.

Learn more (kids.49thshelf.com) and watch the video review (YouTube)

In conversation with My Indian summer author Joseph Kakinokanasum

In conversation with Teacher Magazine

January 2023

Read Joseph's interview in the January/February 2023 edition of Teacher Magazine.

Read it here (issuu.com/teachernewsmag).