The Indigenous Speakers Series is proud to present award-winning graphic novelist and writer David A. Robertson on Wednesday, March 13. He will speak about his work to educate and entertain through the form of the graphic novel and other multi-media artistic collaborations.
Image detail from David Robertson's graphic novel series 7 Generations.
Robertson writes about Indigenous peoples, reflecting their cultures, histories, communities, as well as illuminating many contemporary issues. “I've dedicated my writing career to educating people about First Nations cultures," he says. "It should be no surprise that, since I read them so much as a kid, I've chosen to do this work primarily through comics.”
In a CBC Manitoba opinion piece, Robertson wrote, “we need to do better. I'm using the word 'we' here because we are in this together. Reconciliation is an all hands on deck thing.
"The act of reconciliation is an act of understanding, of working to educate ourselves in order to heal broken relationships. It's you sitting across from me and not seeing the stereotype, but rather, looking past it and connecting with me on a human level… Ask me questions. Listen. Learn. It is not a complex process."
Cover detail from David Robertson's collaborative graphic novel, Will I See?, which illuminates the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
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 novel Strangers (Michael Van Rooy Award for Genre Fiction, Best Indigenous Writer at the High Plains Book Awards).
David Robertson is a member of Norway House Cree Nation of northern Manitoba. He lives in Winnipeg.
Please join us Wednesday March 13 from 2:30 – 4:00 pm in the Theatre of the Arts to welcome David to the University of Waterloo.