"Indians have in the past been portrayed the bad guys, I write the positive image of my people, the Mi'kmaq."
Rita Joe a Mi'kmaq (Micmac) Indian was born in Whycocomagh in 1932. Daughter of Josie and Annie Bernard. She met Frank Joe in Boston and they moved to Eskasoni, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. They raised 8 of their children and adopted 2 boys.
Back in 1973, that is when Rita Joe started writing. In Cape Breton Island, there was a Newsletter called The Micmac News. She wrote to the Micmac News periodically. There was one section of the newsletter which had poems and stories. Little did Rita Joe know that her poems would get published in the future. The editor of the newsletter gave her some very good advice: "save your poems and don't throw them away". Over time she gathered and saved a lot of her poems.
Her first book Poems of Rita Joe was published
back in 1978. Her second book, Song of Eskasoni was publish- ed
in 1988. Several years later in 1991 she published her third book entitled
Lnu
And Indians We're Called. Rita Joe's fourth book Kelusultiek
meaning "we speak" was a compilation of poems and stories. This book had
several writers who were all Micmac (Mi'kmaq) women. The book Kelusultiekwas
published back in 1995. It included her poetry and a short autobiography
of herself. Her next book called Song of Rita Joe - Autobiography of
a Mi'kmaq Poet was published in 1996. The sixth book was called The
Mi'kmaq Anthology and this book was published in 1997.
She and Lesley Choyce were the co-writers of
this latest book.
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In 1993, she received a letter informing her that she was going to receive an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Rita Joe also received an Aboriginal Achievement Award in the category of Arts and Culture on February 14, 1997 which was broadcast nationally on CBC. That same year she received another award from the University College of Cape Breton: the Doctorate of Letters.
The latest award she received was an honourary degree from the University of Mount St. Vinc- ent: the Doctorate of Humane Letters. Rita Joe has accomplished a lot in her 67 years. In spite of her disability, Parkinson's Disease, Rita Joe still writes today. She is already writing her 7th book. She still travels to universities and schools nearby to speak to anyone who would listen.
Through her work Rita Joe gets to travel through out Canada, the United States, and overseas. At times, she has had to travel long, lonely trips but has met new friends along the way. She is a humble person who describes herself as a gentle warrior fighting for all minorities, voicing her opinions in her poems and in her speeches.
Speaking in front of audiences of thousands, she gave speeches to students, professors, and archeolo- gists. Rita Joe has learned that not too many people know about natives so she has learned to give speeches about our culture.
On her trip overseas she got the opportunity to meet the Queen of England. When meeting the Queen one must not speak unless being spoken to. Being in the same age group as the Queen, she ignored protocol and asked her "How are your grandchildren?" This made the Queen happy to talk about her grandchildren. She has also met all the members of the Parliament of Canada and has even met Ex-Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
"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."
CONTACT/PURCHASE INFO:
138 Shore Rd
Cape Breton, N.S.
B0A 1J0
Tel (902) 379-2263
