THUNDER BAY – After a successful first chapter, the Thunder Bay Public Library’s Indigenous Author Series has returned for 2024.
This year’s lineup kicks off on Feb. 8 with Tanya Talaga doing a reading at the Brodie Resource Library’s Indigenous Knowledge Centre. Tickets for that event are sold out.
Craig Waboose, who is the First Nations, Métis and Inuit liaison with the Thunder Bay Public Library, said the author series is one step on the path to reconciliation.
“It’s really personal for me to make sure that Indigenous people are being seen and properly represented in spaces that were relatively non-Indigenous,” Waboose said.
“We’re doing that by having events, programs and workshops that reflect the diversity of our community, which the Thunder Bay Public Library serves.”
The first Indigenous Author Series events were held last year with Sandi Boucher and Vicky Reed among those who came to the Brodie branch.
With positive feedback from the library’s patrons and the support of a grant from the K.M. Hunter Charitable Foundation, the stage was set for the series to return in 2024.
“People really enjoyed having the authors come in as it gives them more of a personal experience. The authors really liked it because it allowed them to connect with their readers,” Waboose said.
“I know that some authors will do events like this over Zoom, but we didn’t want to go that route.”
Following Talaga’s visit on Feb. 8, the next event in the series will be on April 18 when Waubgeshig Rice will be at the Brodie Resource Library.
“I have some other authors who are interested in doing readings as well, but you’ll have to wait to find out about those ones,” Waboose said with a laugh.
For more information on the Indigenous Author Series, contact Waboose at (807) 345-8275 ext. 7252 or via e-mail.
