Julie Flett
Julie Flett is an award winning Cree- Metis Canadian author and illustrator. She is also a strong advocate for women in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side.
Early life and education
She was born in Toronto[1] and currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.[2] She studied textiles at Alberta College of Art and Design [3] attended Concordia University in Montreal and Emily Carr University of Art + Design where she studied fine arts.[2] She incorporates photography, drawing, and painting into her work [4] and has an interest in indigenous textiles.[3] Flett also has a son.[5]
Works
Flett’s writing focuses on Canadian First Nations children’s literature,[2] while her illustrations differ depending on the source. In her books, Flett’s illustrations are aimed for children, while in her freelance work aims for a wider audience.[6] Flett cites her style as influenced by Cree and Inuit artists such as Meelia Kelly, Pitseolak Ashoona, Annie Pootoogook, and Christi Belcourt, as well as her own artistically-inclined parents. Flett also states that she explores her heritage through her art, allowing her Cree-Metis roots to influence her work as well.[1] She illustrates for works that are culturally relevant and present a unique worldview.[3]
For her illustrations, Flett uses mixed mediums, often incorporating texture and collage techniques into her illustrations. Flett says that her illustrations are influenced by "the warm, muted colours and tones and the simplicity"of children's books from other generations.[7]
Reception
| Book Title | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Dolphin SOS | ||
| We All Count | ||
| Pakwa Che Menisu / Wild Berries | First Nations Communities READ | Won |
| Little You | 2016 American Indian Youth Literature Award | Won |
| Lii Yuboo Nayaapiwak Swer (L’Alfabet De Michif) / Owls See Clearly at Night (A Michif Alphabet) | Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature[8] | Nominated |
| Children’s Literature - Illustratiol[8] | Nominated | |
| 2011 Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award Shortlist[8] | Honorable Mention | |
| Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize[8] | Won | |
| 2010 Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award[8] | Won | |
| BC Book Prizes[8] | Won | |
| Alcuin Society Book Design Awards Honor Book[8] | Won | |
| Zoe and Fawn (Illustrator) | Multicultural Picture Book in the 2007 Moonbeam Children’s Books Awards (Medal)[8] | Won |
| The Moccasins (Illustrator) | Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize[8] | Nominated |
| 1993 Canadian Native Arts Foundation Visual Arts Acquisition Program[8] | Won | |
| Collective Works | 2014 Aboriginal Literature Award[9] | Won |
Flett’s work has been received well among Canadian populations. Flett’s illustrative work has been called “gorgeous” and her work towards preserving the Cree language has been praised as de-colonizing and re-Indigenizing perceptions of language within Cree culture.[10] Her books Wild Berries/Pakwa Che Menisu, Lii Yuboo Nayaapiwak Swer (L’Alfabet De Michif)/Owls See Clearly at Night (A Michif Alphabet), and We All Count make specific advances towards preserving language through teaching young children the language with captivating illustrations and bilingual text. These books are reindigenizing the way that literacy is taught in schools that have First Nations populations; allowing First Nations students to learn basic literacy skills in both English and a language of a First Nations group.[7]
Advocacy Works
After graduating from Concordia, Flett returned to Vancouver and took on the role of visual communication program coordinator for First Nations. Flett also became involved with advocacy work for women on Vancouver’s Downtown East Side.[8] She worked for the Positive Women’s Network as an outreach worker for a period of time and discovered that she loved educating through her art.[5]
Through her writing, Flett is constantly working to keep the Cree language alive, and approaches this through a lens of education.[9] She not only does this through releasing books that have underlying messages about Indigenous teaching and ways of knowing, but also through putting those books in the hands of children. Flett has worked with librarians to work towards getting her books into the hands of children who will benefit from the literature. For example, the book "The Moccasins", illustrated by Flett made its way into the hands of an Aboriginal Foster Child and the book is about an Aboriginal Foster Child.[11] Helping children to find ways to keep in touch with the Indigenous community even in adverse circumstances is a type of advocacy that Flett captures in her children's books.
References
- 1 2 "Featured Artists: Julie Flett". papertigers.org. Paper Tigers: Book + Water. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- 1 2 3 Flett, Julie. "about - julieflett". julieflett.com. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- 1 2 3 Clare, Kerry (2014-11-26). "Julie Flett on Illustration and First Nations Children's Literature". 49th Shelf. 49th Shelf. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
- ↑ "Authors". Simply Read Books. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
- 1 2 "ANNUAL REPORT 2012-2013: Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society" (PDF). Access Futures. Access Building Futures Today. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ↑ Flett, Julie. "illustration - julieflett". julieflett.com. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- 1 2 "Julie Flett's picture books honour her Aboriginal heritage". Quill & Quire. Quill & Quire. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Wild Berries: Julie Flett, Earl N. Cook". Amazon.ca. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- 1 2 ahnationtalk. "Julie Flett Scores First Nation Communities READ 2014-2015 Honour and $5,000 Aboriginal Literature Award". Nation Talk: Powered by You!. Nation Talk. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ↑ Reese, D. "4 Mistakes in Children's Literature About Natives, and Books that Fix Them". Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ↑ Strauss, Rochelle. "Spotlight Part One: Canadian Aboriginal Children's Authors and Illustrators". TVO Parents. Retrieved 14 December 2014.