“Indigenous literature is on the rise”

Indigenous literature is popular. There is no doubt for Sandra Blouin, head of communications and public relations at Éditions Hannenorak. “Indigenous literature has been on the rise in recent years,” she says straight away.

First initiated by the popularity of pioneers like Michel Jean and Joséphine Bacon, interest in indigenous literature is now only increasing, believes Ms. Blouin. At the dawn of the First Nations Book Fair, the enthusiasm is taking hold even more among fans. “The public is interested and the supply increases because readers want more,” she explains.

By and for Indigenous people

Jean Sioui and Daniel Sioui founded the publishing house Hannenorak in 2010. First owners of the bookstore of the same name, literature enthusiasts quickly noticed certain flaws in the literary treatment of indigenous realities. The creation of Éditions Hannenorak presents itself as an alternative to offer a more complete portrait of indigenous identities.

“They did not recognize themselves in literature that addressed indigenous issues,” says Ms. Blouin. Often, the works were used to tell non-native people parts of history that were absent from schools. They wanted to show that indigenous cultures are not what they saw in books.”

Since then, the team has “specified the editorial line” to focus exclusively on indigenous authors. Éditions Hannenorak focuses in particular on the recruitment of new authors through a sustained presence in the communities. “We try to reach those who already have an idea or something written.” The organization then provides support to authors who are working on their first work.

“Even within Indigenous literature, we try to stand out,” notes Ms. Blouin. We tell ourselves that we are not just there to tell the story to Aboriginal people. It also allows us to discover that indigenous cultures are alive and still in the process of renewing themselves. You shouldn’t just think about what’s folkloric.”

In the spotlight

Éditions Hannenorak has established itself as a must-see at the First Nations Book Fair. The Wendake publishing house alone adds nine publications to the indigenous literary repertoire this year. Since its founding, almost fifteen years ago, some 87 books have been published under the Hannenorak banner.

The origins of the literary event are also inseparable from those of the Wendat enterprise. Co-director of the Hannenorak bookseller since its opening, Daniel Sioui founded the literary event Kwahiatonhk!, the First Nations Book Fair, in 2010. Now in the hands of Louis-Karl Picard-Sioui, the cultural event brings together dozens authors each year, some of whom are affiliated with Éditions Hannenorak.

For the publishing house’s communications and public relations manager, organizations such as the First Nations Book Fair, the Présence Autochtone festival in Montreal, and the I read indigenous! “contribute a lot to equipping the literary world and getting people talking about this literature.”

The First Nations Book Fair will be held from November 14 to 17. Activities are notably organized at the House of Literature, the Multi de Méduse room and the Morrin Center.