SATURDAY NOVEMBER 18TH

Opening Plenary Panel

Ashok Mathur is the author of three books: Loveruage, a dance in three parts (prose-poetry); Once Upon and Elephant (novel); and The Short, Happy Life of Harry Kumar (novel). His current novel manuscript, "A Little Distillery in Nowgong" is part of a project to convert a text into a visual arts installation. He is currently the Canada Research Chair of Cultural and Artistic Inquiry at Thompson Rivers University ( Kamloops , BC ).

George J. Sefa Dei was born in Asokore-Koforidua, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. He received his undergraduate education at the University of Ghana . Legon (B.A Hons., 1978), and postgraduate studies at McMaster University , Hamilton , Ontario (M.A., 1980) and the University of Toronto, Canada (Ph.D. June, 1986). Currently, he is Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology and Equity Studies, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE/UT). Between 1996 and 2000 Dei served as the first Director of the Centre for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies at OISE/UT. His teaching and research interests are in the areas of Anti-Racism, Minority Schooling, International Development and Anti-Colonial Thought. His professional and academic work has led to many Canadian and international invitations in US, Europe and Africa . Dei has appeared in many radio and television shows speaking about his academic and research work as well as professional engagements.

Lee Maracle, Sto:Loh nation, grandmother of four, mother of four, was born in North Vancouver , B. C. and now resides in Innisfil , Ontario . Her works include: the novels, Ravensong, Bobbi Lee, Sundogs, short story collection, Sojourner's Truth, poetry collection, Bentbox, and non-fiction work I Am Woman. She is Co-editor of My Home As I Remember and Telling It: Woment And Language Across Cultures, editor of a number of poetry works, Gatherings journals and has published in dozens of anthologies in Canada and America . Ms. Maracle is a both an award winning author and teacher. She currently is Mentor For Aboriginal Students at University of Toronto where she also is a teacher and the Traditional Cultural Director for the Indigenous Theatre School , where she is a part-time cultural instructor.

Rozena Maart was born and raised in South Africa .  She was the winner of "The Journey Prize: Best Short Fiction in Canada , 1992."  In March this year her fictional book, Rosa's District Six made the weekly bestseller list in Canada and in April her book was chosen as a HOMEBRU title in South Africa .  HOMEBRU is a national South African competition which chooses the countrys best 25 books in one year, and these include poetty titles,  fiction, history, social science and biography. She has taught at the University of Guelph , but now spends most of her time writing fiction and doing talks, lectures and working as a visiting professor in many different parts of the world.  She has written a poetry book, a collection of short stories and also write non fiction in the areas of Black Consciousness, political philosophy and psychoanalysis.  She has also conducted anti-oppression and anti-racism workshops in Canada for the past 20 years.

Workshop A (Morning Session): Journey's in Writing with Shyam Selvadurai

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Shyam Selvadurai was born in 1965 and spent most of his adolescence in Sri Lanka . However, after the 1983 riots in Colombo , he and his family moved to Canada . This experience provided the historical and personal background for the novel Funny Boy. Selvadurai then went to York University and earned a B.F.A. in creative writing and magazine writing. He has won both the W.H. Smith/Books in Canada First Novel Award and the Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Men's Fiction.

This workshop provides a forum for those kinds of discussion, along with concerns facing writers wanting to write in patois/vernaculars from their respective background, sometimes with standard English, allowing both the expression and narration to flourish, on your terms, and the terms of your characters. In addition, we will also explore autobiographical writing, and merging autobiography with fiction.

Rozena Maart was born and raised in South Africa .  She was the winner of "The Journey Prize: Best Short Fiction in Canada , 1992."  In March this year her fictional book, Rosa's District Six made the weekly bestseller list in Canada and in April her book was chosen as a HOMEBRU title in South Africa .  HOMEBRU is a national South African competition which chooses the countrys best 25 books in one year, and these include poetty titles,  fiction, history, social science and biography. She has taught at the University of Guelph , but now spends most of her time writing fiction and doing talks, lectures and working as a visiting professor in many different parts of the world.  She has written a poetry book, a collection of short stories and also write non fiction in the areas of Black Consciousness, political philosophy and psychoanalysis.  She has also conducted anti-oppression and anti-racism workshops in Canada for the past 20 years.

Workshop B (Morning Session): Indigenous Storytelling Through Performance with Jill Carter and Monique Mojica

Workshop information available soon

Jill Carter (Anishinaabe) is a performer, director, dramaturg, and instructor. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate at the Graduate Centre for Study of Drama at the University of Toronto . Apart from her studies, she has instructed Native Theatre History, Acting Shakespeare (First Folio), and Native Theatre II: Theory Meets Practice at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre and Composition at the Transitional Year Program ( U. of T. ). Currently, she instructs Indigenous Theatre in North America in the Aboriginal Studies Program at U. of T. And she serves as a resource facilitator for students in U. of T. 's Transitional Year Program who are enrolled in the Introduction to Aboriginal Studies course, the Arts & Humanities Tutor at First Nations House, and as a co-organizer of the Aboriginal Studies Program's Distinguished Lecture Series at U. of T.

Workshop B (Afternoon Session): Writing and Illustrating Children's Books with Rina Singh and Farida Zaman

Rina will walk you through her favourite strategies to dig up a "story idea", write a marketable story and target the right publishers. Interactive workshop. Farida will then talk about the whole process of illustrating a book from initial reading of the manuscript to finished art work and communicating with the client / publisher.  She will also show examples of various projects.

Rina Singh was born in India , and came to Canada in 1980. Rina's poems and short stories have appeared in several Canadian literary journals. Her short stories for children have appeared in Chickadee ( Canada ) and Kahani (U.S). Her poems were anthologized in The Court of Women (1995), published by Second Story Press. She has also published a volume of poetry translations Silences (1994) with Rupa/ Harper Collins. Rina worked at Faywood Arts School for ten years where she taught through visual arts, drama and creative movement. She is currently teaching art and drama and lives in Toronto with her restaurateur husband and two children, Amrita and Angad.

Farida Zaman trained at the London Chelsea School of Art and graduated from the Wimbledon School of Art. She is a member of the Society of Illustrators in New York and the Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators. After her studies in London she lived and worked in Geneva and the New York area. Through her children's book illustrations, Farida has given book readings at libraries and children's books stores, run workshops for school art classes for elementary and highschool students, and taught at enrichment programs to help her audience understand illustration as an integral part of storytelling.

Workshop C (Morning Session): Making a Living as an Artist with Leah Lakshmi Piepzna Samarasinha

Wanting to make the leap to writing full-time but don't know how? Sick of the 9-5 that pays the bills but doesn't leave you time or energy to write? If this is you, come to this workshop to hear writer and spoken word artist Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha (Consensual Genocide, We Don't Need Another Wave, Colonize This!) talk about concrete ways to make writing your life and pay the bills at the same time. Learn about grants, creating arts education programs, getting freelance writing and performance gigs and how much to charge. We'll envision what kind of writers we dream of being and make plans to get ourselves there

Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha is a queer Sri Lankan writer, spoken word artist and arts educator. The author of Consensual Genocide, (TSAR, 2006) her memoir, creative nonfiction and spoken word have been widely anthologized and performed thoughout the United States and Canada . After years of making a living as a feminist anti-violence counselor, housecleaner, landscaper and psychic tarot card reader, she quit her day job last year and now works full time as a performer, freelance writer and writing teacher. She firmly believes that writers of color without trust funds can figure out ways to bring our visions into the world and eat at the same time

Reading Panel C (Afternoon Session)  

Anosh Irani was born and raised in Bombay and moved to Vancouver in 1998. After completing the Creative Writing Program at UBC, he quickly established himself as a Canadian writer to watch. Anosh's first novel, The Cripple and His Talismans , has earned rave reviews. His first play, The Matka King , premiered last year at the Arts Club Theatre and Manja's Circus was commissioned by the National Arts Centre in Ottawa . His newest play, Bombay Black , had its world premiere in Toronto in January 2006. He is currently the Arts Club Theatre Company's playwright in residence.

Joanne Arnott is a Metis writer, originally from Manitoba . Joanne is the author of five published books, with a sixth expected out in the fall of 2006. Her most recent book, Steepy Mountain: love poetry (Kegedonce Press, Cape Croker, 2004), a poetic response to the rekindling of a love affair and a marriage taking place almost twenty years after it was first proposed, has been described as "a Love Destination... an honest and powerful testament of time and courage." (Redwire Magazine, NDN Reviews). Joanne lives with her husband and children in Richmond , B.C.

Gregory Scofield is a mixed-blood writer of Cree, Scottish, English and French ancestry who can trace his family back to the Red River Settlement in Manitoba . He is the author of four books of poetry, including I Knew Two Métis Women . He is the winner of the Canadian Authors Association Air Canada Award for the most promising young writer of 1996 and the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. Born in Maple Ridge , British Columbia , he spent much of his childhood in the bush in northern Saskatchewan , northern Manitoba and the Yukon . A former street youth outreach worker in Vancouver , he has now returned to Maple Ridge.

Reading Panel D (Morning Session):

Madeleine Thien is the Canadian-born daughter of Malaysian-Chinese immigrants. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia . Her short stories have been published in the Journey Prize Anthology and Best Canadian Stories. She is from Vancouver . Some of her publications include: Certainty , McClelland and Stewart (2006); Simple Recipes, McClelland and Stewart (2001) and Chinese Violin, Whitecap Books (2001)

Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm is an Anishnaabe spoken word artist/writer/publisher/collaborator/Indigenous arts advocate, & communications consultant of mixed ancestry from the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation in southwestern Ontario . In 2005-2006 she was a featured poet on the tv series, “Heart of a Poet” which aired nationally in Canada on BookTV (November 2005), The Canadian Learning Channel (October 2005), & Bravo!TV (May 2006). In 2005, she was selected to compete in the Ottawa CBC Radio Poetry Face Off, a national slam-type poetry event. Recently, she completed a collection of short stories & a collection of poetry. She is now finishing work on a multidisciplinary performance project with acclaimed Mohawk choreographer Santee Smith & award-winning Maori hip hop artist Te Kupu, which will debut in Toronto in March 2007. She is happiest & most creative when she is involved in a variety of arts projects, both solo and collaborative.

Workshop D (Afternoon Session): How to Approach a Literary Agent with Anar Ali

Workshop information available soon

Anar Ali was born in Tanzania and grew up in Kenya before moving with her family to Red Deer , Alberta . In an effort to trace her family roots, she has traveled extensively through India , East Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and lived for a short period in London , England . After completing her first degree, a bachelor's of commerce from the University of Calgary, she worked in the business world until returning to school to where she graduated from the MFA Creative Writing Program at the University of British Columbia. She now writes full-time and is the author of Baby Khaki's Wings , a collection of stories. She is currently working on a novel.

Workshop E (Morning Session): Individual Manuscript Review, Beginners with Hiromi Goto

Have you just started writing and dream of being published one day but are unsure of what direction you should take your writing to make this wish a reality? Then you're a prime candidate for Written in Colour's editing workshop and individual manuscript review with Hiromi Goto. With the experience of a published author, Hiromi will review your manuscript and provide feedback in the workshop.

*THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL

Hiromi Goto was born in Japan in 1966. Her family moved to British Columbia in 1969 and settled in southern Alberta . She earned a B.A. in English from the University of Calgary in 1989. Her fiction has been widely anthologized. She was the writer-in-residence at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver in 2003-4. Hiromi writes and teaches in B.C. Some of her publications include: Hopeful Monsters: Stories . Vancouver : Arsenal Pulp Press (2004), The Kappa Child. Calgary : Red Deer Press (2001), Chorus of Mushrooms. Edmonton : NeWest, ( 1994 ) and The Water of Possibility. Regina , Sask. : Coteau Books (2001

Workshop E (Afternoon Session): Individual Manuscript Review Advanced with Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm

This workshop is designed for people who already have some experience writing and have work that they feel is ready to be published but would welcome some constructive feedback. Participants may submit a short piece of work (no more than five pages), which will be reviewed by kateri akiwenzie-damm, a published author and the managing editor of Kegedonce Press. kateri will provide a brief analysis of your manuscript but the bulk of the work will be done in the workshop itself. At the workshop, you will be expected to bring either a small piece of the work that you submitted to be reviewed that you feel requires work, or you may bring in an abstract of the work. Each participant will present his or her piece with the purpose of gaining and giving feedback.

Kateri Akiwenzie-Dammn is a n Anishnaabe spoken word artist/writer/publisher/collaborator/Indigenous arts advocate, & communications consultant of mixed ancestry from the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation in southwestern Ontario . In 2005-2006 she was a featured poet on the tv series, “Heart of a Poet” which aired nationally in Canada on BookTV (November 2005), The Canadian Learning Channel (October 2005), & Bravo!TV (May 2006). In 2005, she was selected to compete in the Ottawa CBC Radio Poetry Face Off, a national slam-type poetry event. Recently, kateri completed a collection of short stories & a collection of poetry. She is now finishing work on a multidisciplinary performance project with acclaimed Mohawk choreographer Santee Smith & award-winning Maori hip hop artist Te Kupu, which will debut in Toronto in March 2007. kateri is happiest & most creative when she is involved in a variety of arts projects, both solo and collaborative.

Workshop F (Morning Session): Getting your Creative Juices Flowing, Creative Writing 101 with Richard Van Camp

Workshop Information Available Soon

Richard Van Camp is a member of the Dogrib Nation from Fort Smith , NWT, Canada. His novel, The Lesser Blessed (Douglas & McIntyre), was translated into German by Ulrich Plenzdorf and published by Ravensburger. He is also the author of two children's books: A Man Called Raven and What's The Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses? (Childrens Book Press) illustrated by Cree artist, George Littlechild. Richard teaches Creative Writing for Aboriginal Students at the University of British Columbia, where he received his Master's Degree in Creative Writing, and he is also CBC Radio's “Writer in Residence” for the North by Northwest Program.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19 th

Workshop A (Morning Session): Spoken Word/Dub Poetry with Naila Keleta Mae

This workshop aims to introduce writers, storytellers and their materials to some of the roots, aesthetics and business practices of a cappella spoken word and dub poetry performance.  Participants are strongly encouraged to bring in existing text or an idea as we will also discuss some genre-specific editing and performance techniques.

Naila Keleta Mae is a literary, theatre, music and film artist who creates, develops and performs content that is captivating, versatile and relevant in its interrogation of cultures of domination.  She is a brilliant artist and emerging scholar who makes words come alive.  Naila Keleta Mae holds a Magisteriate of Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Arts with distinction and has worked as an artist in Brazil, Canada, France, South Africa and the US.  Her
debut album Free Dome won a Canadian Urban Music Award for Best Spoken Word
Recording.

Workshop A (Afternoon Session): Cuban Feminist Writing with Clelia Rodrigues

Workshop information available soon
Biographical Information available soon

Workshop B (Morning Session): Journaling, a Guide to Academic Publishing with Daniel Heath Justice

Workshop information available soon.

Daniel Heath Justice (Cherokee Nation) teaches Aboriginal literatures and Aboriginal Studies at the University of Toronto .  He is the author of a scholarly study of the Cherokee literary tradition--Our Fire Survives the Storm: A Cherokee Literary History (University of Minnesota Press, 2006)--as well as The Way of Thorn and Thunder, an Indigenous fantasy trilogy from Kegedonce Press, with book one, Kynship, published in 2005, and the second volume, Wyrwood, appearing in fall 2006.

Reading Panel B (Afternoon Session):

Kerri Sakamoto is a graduate of the University of Toronto and she also earned an M.A. in English from New York University . Both of her works of fiction have been published in translation internationally. She has published short stories, written scripts for independent films, and has written extensively on Asian North American art. Sakamoto is a member of the Gendai Gallery that opened September 30, 2000 at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto , where she currently resides.

Richard Van Camp is a member of the Dogrib Nation from Fort Smith , NWT, Canada. His novel, The Lesser Blessed (Douglas & McIntyre), was translated into German by Ulrich Plenzdorf and published by Ravensburger. He is also the author of two children's books: A Man Called Raven and What's The Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses? (Childrens Book Press) illustrated by Cree artist, George Littlechild. Richard teaches Creative Writing for Aboriginal Students at the University of British Columbia, where he received his Master's Degree in Creative Writing, and he is also CBC Radio's “Writer in Residence” for the North by Northwest Program.

Hiromi Goto was born in Japan in 1966. Her family moved to British Columbia in 1969 and settled in southern Alberta . She earned a B.A. in English from the University of Calgary in 1989. Her fiction has been widely anthologized. She was the writer-in-residence at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver in 2003-4. Hiromi writes and teaches in B.C. Some of her publications include: Hopeful Monsters: Stories . Vancouver : Arsenal Pulp Press (2004), The Kappa Child. Calgary : Red Deer Press (2001), Chorus of Mushrooms. Edmonton : NeWest, ( 1994 ) and The Water of Possibility. Regina , Sask. : Coteau Books (2001

Workshop C (Morning Session): Writing From Life for People of Colour and Aboriginal People

This workshop is geared towards beginning and emerging writers who want to write stories about their lives but worry that their writing might be too personal, not legitimate or won't be of interest to anyone but themselves. Through individual writing exercises, group activities and discussions we will begin to learn how to write about our lives without feeling overexposed, feel more confident about personal/autobiographical writing and find out about places to share/publish our work.

* This workshop is only for people who identify as people of Colour and Indigenous people.

Dianah Smith was born in Jamaica and raised by her grandmother and extended family. As a child she immigrated to Canada with her sister to join their parents. Dianah is the founder of A is for Orange : A Reading Series for Queer Caribbean Emerging Writers. In 2005, she was a recipient of an Emerging Writers grant from the Toronto Arts Council. She is currently working on a series of semi-autobiographical short stories entitled Laurel Street and Other Stories. She says 'writing is the way I retrieve/grieve the past, make sense of the present and ensure a legacy for the future.'

Workshop C (Afternoon Session): Publishing with Small Presses with Harmony Rice

Workshop information available soon

Biographical Information available soon

Workshop D (Morning Session): Getting Grants and Writer's Residencies with Kerri Sakamoto

Workshop information available soon

Workshop D (Afternoon Session): Introduction to Graphic Novels/Writing with Pictures with Dominique Hui

This workshop will introduce participants to the exciting world of graphic novels.  We'll take a look at different styles of graphic novels, talk about our favourite artists and novels, and create our very own graphic art!  No prior experience with illustration is necessary.  Please bring your own sketchbook or paper and pencils/pens.

Introduction to Graphic Novels
·   What is a Graphic Novel? Share your interests and favourite artists.
· A look at the varied aesthetics of Western and Eastern-style graphic novels.
· Examples of different graphic novels and an exploration of the genre, historical and cultural meanings and themes. We will discuss and share some of our favourite graphic novels.
· Video presentation. A graphic novelist is comparable to a film director and a cinematographer and film editor.
· How to work from a script to pictures.

Dominique Hui is an illustrator, painter and video-maker. She graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design in Filmmaking and Drawing and painting. Her interest in graphic novels relates to her filmmaking background and her interest in "sequential art" or cartoons that depict the human behaviour, consciousness and stories without the barrier of language. Currently, Dominique is working on her new paintings and preparing for a
solo exhibition next year. Contact Dominique at: nikihui@hotmail.com or
visit www.dominiquehui.com

Workshop E (Morning Session): “I do not like poetry” with Souvankham Thammavongsa

“I do not like poetry,” is a poetry-writing workshop. Souvankham Thammavongsa will begin the workshop with a slideshow of why she does not like poetry. She will also bring in things for you to stare at for a very long time. And, maybe, if you feel like it, you can write something.

Workshop E (Afternoon Session): Two Mouthed Madonna's with Joanne Arnott

Workshop Information Available Soon