1BUW Keynote Address: David A. Robertson, "Truth, Representation, and Reconciliation in Comics"

Sponsored by the Weweni Indigenous Scholars Speakers Series. November 29th, 2019 in Eckhardt Gramatté Hall. David Alexander Robertson is a nationally bestselling author of children’s books, graphic novels, and novels. His books include When We Were Alone (Governor General’s Literary Award winner, McNally Robinson Best Book for Young People winner, TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award finalist), Will I See? (Manuela Dias Book Design and Illustration Award, Graphic Novel Category), and the YA novel Strangers (Michael Van Rooy Award for Genre Fiction, Best Indigenous Writer at the High Plains Book Awards). David educates as well as entertains through his writings about Indigenous Peoples, reflecting their cultures, histories, communities, as well as illuminating many contemporary issues. David is a member of Norway House Cree Nation. He lives in Winnipeg. In this talk, David shares personal stories about growing up as a Cree kid in small town Manitoba, where he experienced racism and bullying. He explains how popular culture images, such as those in comics, contributed to his need for a stronger sense of Indigenous identity, ultimately leading him to create stories in his own voice, such as "Peggy" in This Place: 150 Years Retold.