shalan joudry is a

Mi'kmaw The Mi'kmaq (also ''Mi'gmaq'', ''Lnu'', ''Miꞌkmaw'' or ''Miꞌgmaw''; ; ) are a First Nations people of the Northeastern Woodlands, indigenous to the areas of Canada's Atlantic Provinces and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec as well as the north ...

writer, storyteller, and ecologist. She is known for her poetry collections, including the multi-award nominated ''Waking Ground''.

Career

Joudry's first book, a collection of poems titled, ''Generations Re-merging,'' was published by

Gaspereau Press Gaspereau Press is a Canadian book publishing company, based in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Established in 1997 by Andrew Steeves and Gary Dunfield, the company's philosophy emphasizes "making books that reinstate the importance of the book as a ph ...

in 2014. Her poetry had previously appeared in "The Nashwaak Review" and "Mi'kmaq Anthology II". In August 2018, joudry's play ''Elapultiek'' premiered with Two Planks and a Passion Theatre in

Kings County, Nova Scotia Kings County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. With a population of 62,914 in the 2021 Census, Kings County is the third most populous county in the province. It is located in central Nova Scotia on the shore of the Bay of Fundy ...

at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts. Joudry played Nat opposite Matthew Lumley's Bill. The production subsequently toured four Indigenous communities in Nova Scotia. A second tour was carried out in the fall of 2019. Joudry managed programs for species at risk and ecology for more than ten years. Joudry's artistic work often weaves in ecological and Indigenous teachings. Her second published poetry collection was ''Waking Ground'', which was released in 2020 also by Gaspereau Press. In 2021, it was selected by the

Writers' Trust of Canada The Writers' Trust of Canada (french: La Société d'encouragement aux écrivains du Canada) is a registered charity which provides financial support to Canadian writers. Founded by Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Graeme Gibson, Margaret Laur ...

as one of 25 books for the WT Amplified Voices program, which aims to amplify

BIPOC The term "person of color" ( : people of color or persons of color; abbreviated POC) is primarily used to describe any person who is not considered "white". In its current meaning, the term originated in, and is primarily associated with, the U ...

voices in Canadian writing and promote works of BIPOC writers created during the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified ...

. In 2021, Joudry's play ''Koqm'', premiered at the King's Theatre in

Annapolis Royal Annapolis Royal, formerly known as Port Royal, is a town located in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Today's Annapolis Royal is the second French settlement known by the same name and should not be confused with the n ...

, starring joudry as all six characters. ''Koqm'' tells the 400-year story of Nova Scotia through the lives of L'nu (Mi'kmaw) women. It was subsequently staged by Neptune Theatre in Halifax and

Ship's Company Theatre The Ship's Company Theatre is a professional theatre company based in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. Founded in 1984 by Michael Fuller and Mary Vingoe, the Ship's Company Theatre features productions of Canadian works, with an emphasis on new works from ...

in Parrsborro. ''Koqm'' won Best New Nova Scotian Play at the 2023

Robert Merritt Awards The Robert Merritt Awards, commonly known as The Merritt Awards, were started in 2002 and are administered by Theatre Nova Scotia. The Merritts honour excellence in theatre throughout the province of Nova Scotia. They are named for Robert Merritt, w ...

Works

Poetry

* ''Generations Re-merging'' (

, 2014) * ''Waking Ground'' (Gaspereau Press, 2020)

Plays

* ''Elapultiek (We Are Looking Towards)'' (Pottersfield Press, 2019) * ''Mi'kmaq Stories: Past and Present'' (2020, co-created with

Catherine Martin Catherine Martin may refer to: * Cathie Martin (born 1955), professor of plant sciences at the University of East Anglia * Catherine Martin (designer) (born 1965), Australian costume designer, production designer, set designer and film producer * Ca ...

and

Trevor Gould Trevor Gould (born 1951, Johannesburg) is a Canadian contemporary artist known for his sculptural and conceptual artworks. Life Trevor Gould was born in 1951 Johannesburg, South Africa. He studied at the University of South Africa and the Jo ...

) * ''Koqm'' (2021)

Awards

Personal life

Joudry is from L’sɨtkuk (Bear River First Nation). She has two children, one of which is named Malaika Joudry-Martel. She lives in Kespukwitk (southwest Nova Scotia) with her partner Frank Meuse.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Joudry, Shalan Canadian women dramatists and playwrights Canadian women poets 21st-century Canadian poets Mi'kmaq people 1979 births Living people Bear River First Nation