In the middle of the continent, where waterways and rivers gather in immense lakes, many different peoples have met, lived, and thrived. Travel back through the millennia and forward to the present day to gain a dynamic picture of a territory interconnected through words, ideas, and experiences. From one page to the next, readers will discover writings from historically significant figures, literary works by well-known writers, nonfiction and political pieces by Indigenous leaders, contributions by storytellers and Knowledge Keepers from far-reaching Manitoba communities, as well as new and vibrant voices that express contemporary Indigenous experiences. Beginning with traditional writing systems, Manitowapow shares diverse Indigenous perspectives and histories, from the late 1700s through to the present day in what is now Manitoba. Created in the spirit of the Anishinaabe concept debwe ―to speak the truth―The Debwe Series is a collection of exceptional Indigenous writing from across Canada. Manitowapow, a one-of-a-kind anthology, is the first book in The Debwe Series. Rich with prose, poetry, and historical events, [this book would be] invaluable in Native studies, literature, and history courses, as well as for the general reader. ― Beatrice Mosionier Manitowapow is a must-read, not only for all of Manitobans, but for all Canadians. It brings to life the history and experiences of one of the most beautiful places in the world through images, words, and stories of people who draw their lives from the land and water here. Our home is a storied place. This book tells this story, completing a chapter of history rarely told in books and classrooms. ― Phil Fontaine These are voices that need to be heard and read. These are the foundations of our culture, foundations which have grown from generation to generation into the imagination and intellect of today. Of the today we will share. ― John Ralston Saul A rich, colourful, and diverse collection of works by Indigenous writers that together tell the story of Manitowapow, also known as Manitoba. Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair , PhD., (he/him/his) is Anishinaabe (St. Peter’s/Little Peguis) and an associate professor at the University of Manitoba. He regularly speaks and writes about Indigenous issues for national and international media outlets and his writing appears bi weekly in the Winnipeg Free Press. He has also published short stories in books like The Exile Edition of Native Canadian Fiction and Drama and graphic novels like This Place: 150 Years Retold . He is the 2018 recipient of a National Newspaper Award for best Canadian Columnist and also was named 2019 Peace Educator of the Year by the Peace and Justice Studies Association at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Niigaan is co-editor of the award-winning Manitowapow: Aboriginal Writings from the Land of Water and Centering Anishinaabeg Studies: Understanding the World Through Stories and the editorial director of The Debwe Series (published by HighWater Press). Warren Cariou is a writer and Associate Professor of English at the University of Manitoba. He received a BA(Hons) from the University of Saskatchewan and an MA and PhD from the University of Toronto (1998). In 1999 he published a book of short stories: The Exalted Company of Roadside Martyrs with Coteau Books. This was followed up in 2002 with his memoir Lake of the Prairies , which gained him a wider audience. It won the 2002 Drainie-Taylor Prize for Biography and was shortlisted for the Charles Taylor Prize. In 2005 he served on the jury for the prestigious Scotiabank Giller Prize. He is currently working on a novel titled Exhaust . www.warrencariou.com Born in St. Boniface, Manitoba, Beatrice Mosionier is a Métis writer best known for her novel In Search of April Raintree , first published in 1983. A school edition, April Raintree , followed in 1984. The youngest of four children, Beatrice was three years old when the Children’s Aid Society of Winnipeg took her from her family. Losing both of her sisters to suicide―Vivian in 1964 and Katherine in 1980―compelled Beatrice to use her experiences growing up in foster homes to write In Search of April Raintree . Since then, it has become a beloved classic, read by generations of Canadians. Most recently, she wrote the foreword for Overcome, Stories of Women Who Grew Up in the Child Welfare System , by Anne Mahon. She has written several other books, including a play and a short film, and she is the former publisher of Pemmican Publications. She now lives in Enderby, British Columbia.