Rita Joe
Encyclopedia
Rita Joe, was a Mi'kmaq-Canadian
poet and song writer, called the Poet Laureate of the Mi'kmaq people.
Born Rita Bernard in Whycocomagh, Cape Breton Island
, Nova Scotia
, she was the daughter of Joseph and Annie Bernard. In 1942, she was orphaned.
In 1978, her first book, The Poems of Rita Joe was published. Over her lifetime she had six more books published.
In 1992, she was called to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
, one of the few non-politicians ever appointed.
She married Frank Joe in 1954. They had eight children and adopted two boys. During her later years, Joe suffered from Parkinson's disease
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
poet and song writer, called the Poet Laureate of the Mi'kmaq people.
Born Rita Bernard in Whycocomagh, Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, she was the daughter of Joseph and Annie Bernard. In 1942, she was orphaned.
In 1978, her first book, The Poems of Rita Joe was published. Over her lifetime she had six more books published.
In 1992, she was called to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, one of the few non-politicians ever appointed.
She married Frank Joe in 1954. They had eight children and adopted two boys. During her later years, Joe suffered from Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
.
Works
- Poems of Rita Joe (1978)
- Song of Eskasoni (1988)
- Lnu And Indians We're Called (1991, ISBN 0-9215-5622-5)
- Kelusultiek (1995)
- Song of Rita Joe: Autobiography of a Mi'kmaq Poet (1996, ISBN 0-8032-7594-3)
- The Mi'kmaq Anthology (1997)
- We are the dreamers: recent and early poetry (1999, ISBN 1-8994-1546-2)
Honours
- In 1989 she was made a Member of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. - In 1992 she was made a Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.
- In 1993 she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from Dalhousie UniversityDalhousie UniversityDalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
. - In 1997 she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University College of Cape Breton (now Cape Breton UniversityCape Breton UniversityCape Breton University , formerly the "University College of Cape Breton" , is a Canadian university in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
). - In 1997 she received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award.
- In 1998 she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Mount Saint Vincent UniversityMount Saint Vincent UniversityMount Saint Vincent University is a university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was established in 1873 and is locally referred to as The Mount.-History:...
.
Quotes
- "Indians have in the past been portrayed as the bad guys, I write the positive image of my people, the Mi'kmaq."
- "When I started the first time writing, I was trying to inspire all minorities with my work. To make others happy with my work is what I wanted to do."