When I started writing Mary and her Metis Grandma, I wrote it for young people and then expanded it to include all ages. Some of the stories are emotionally difficult, so I have a character called Crow-Hawk. They tease each other and have interesting dialogue which gives readers a comedic break; this releases the readers from some of the intensity of the stories. When I’m in the throws of writing I’m always looking for interesting yet relevant pictures–low and behold the T-shirt.
Why Hawk is jeleous of a Crow Celebrity
The story goes that the Crow interrupted a crime by stealing a knife. Police gave chase to retrieve the weapon for evidence. The crow dropped the blade. Hawk not wanting to be outdone by a crow, took it upon himself to protect some back alley paintings. Hawk wanted to be a hero too, at least for his friend Lady Crow. For a more details click the button below for a PDF with a snippet from the book Mary and her Metis Grandma.
What Hawk did to attract Ms. Lady Crow’s attention
I came up with the idea of Hawk becoming the guardian of paintings after one of my video research projects. The research was conducted after bars had closed in the notorious Hastings Street back alley; this is where I interviewed a man, who was the only person in the community gurardian. I videotaped him with my video camera & he recorded me with his cel phone. Many people were in the back alley but no one dared enter the garden. I suspect this person might have been a little dangerous.
Back to the book. Hawk would dive-bomb anyone who looked like they might vandalize the paintings. Dive-bombing wasnt Lady Crow’s prefered activity but had to go along for the nose-dives because they were joined a long time ago. For a more details click the button below for a PDF with a snippet from the book Mary and her Metis Grandma.
I am Indigenous Cree/Metis. Main accomplishments:
1) Mary and her Metis Grandma: a coming-of-age story. Based on true stories, this is a gripping work of auto-fiction / biography and memoir that results in historical accountability.
Filled with wisdom, grit and honesty, this is the journey of a Métis teenager overcoming personal grief, family traumas, witnessing the pain of others, and experiencing the healing power of a Grandma’s love.
Instead of succumbing to self-pity, Mary rises above her presumed narrative with courage and love as her Grandma takes Mary under her wing to guide her into the mature woman she will become.
and
2) Moon Water: a documentary about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Moon Water was distributed primarily to educational institutions throughout N. America.
My childhood was spent in Jasper, Alberta, surrounded by nature. My amazing mother encouraged me to write stories and paint or draw pictures for her; she was my first teacher.
https://ritajasperart.com/
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