WELCOME TO GROUP 6's WIKI PRESENTATION FOR LIBR 526

Putting aside Lynne Reid Banks' Indian in the Cupboard series for the purposes of this presentation, there is much to be admired and discussed about literature and other materials for and about Aboriginal young adults, particularly that which is homegrown in Canada. This presentation divides the sphere of Aboriginal literature and other materials for young adults in Canada along the following lines, each page representing a discussion of one important realm. It will be most useful to proceed through the four sections in the order in which they appear, but this is by no means necessary, as the navigation system allows the user to jump around at will in their exploration of this diverse and fascinating topic.

Contents:

Themes & Genres by Kimberley Davison & Alina Gherman

This section is an exploration of the different themes and genres running through the literature.  It also includes explanations and examples of the most prominent Aboriginal groups in the world of young adult literature.  Many of these motifs are especially relevant to the Aboriginal experience but young adult readers of any background will find scores of universal, relatable themes in the material.

Publishers by Michelle Cobban 

The "Publishers" page explores the development of Aboriginal publishing in Canada and discusses some of the unique issues faced by Aboriginal publishers in Canada. Publishing companies owned and operated by Aboriginals are still a relatively new phenomenon in Canada, as the first Aboriginal publishers were only established in 1980.  Today, there are a handful of Aboriginal publishers, most of which are quite small. The two oldest Aboriginal publishers are also the most successful in the general Canadian market, as well as the most likely to publish materials for young adults: Pemmican Publications and Theytus Books. This page also profiles other Canadian publishers that publish Aboriginal literature for young adults, including several non-Aboriginal publishers. 

Books & Authors by Sara Kuhn 

The "Books & Authors" page includes a "Booklist" of English language literary works with diverse content focusing on Canadian Aboriginal themes, characters and settings. The "Booklist" is mainly focused on readers aged 12-18 and houses young adult literature including--but not limited to--classics, crossover picture books, graphic novels and manga.  The author profiles (Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, Lee Maracle, Tomson Highway, Sylvia Olsen) highlight contemporary authors that continue to write material containing high young adult appeal and Aboriginal content.

Other Materials by Shannon LaBelle

The "Other Materials" page has a list of resources for Aboriginal young adults (ages 12-18) in Canada. These include websites; film, television and webcasts; music and other audio; and magazines and e-zines. Interestingly, these materials cover many of the same themes that appear in Aboriginal literature, notably health and healing; family and community; culture, spirituality and identity; and legends. A number of the resources were created by Aboriginal youth for Aboriginal youth (where youth is approximately ages 12-30), and they demonstrate tremendous creativity and community-mindedness. The list of resources on the "Other Materials" page attempts to highlight the appeal of these resources for Aboriginal teens even though most of the resources can be enjoyed by a much wider audience.

Conclusion by all authors

Next [Themes & Genres]

Note: When you are on another page and want to return to this main page, you can click "home" in the top left corner of the PBwiki window at any time. You will also find links to the "home page" toward the end of each wiki page in this presentation.