Arielle Twist

Arielle Twist made a powerful debut with the poetry collectionDisintegrate/Dissociatein 2019. The book depicts life for anIndigenoustranswoman, one dreaming for a hopeful future and a clear path for self-discovery. Twist has previously contributed to publications like CBC Arts, Them, the Fiddlehead, PRISM International and Canadian Art. Twist is a Nehiyaw, two-Spirit, trans woman originally from George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan. She now lives in Halifax.

CBC Books named Twist a writer to watch in 2019.

• Arielle Twist explores grief in her poetry and finds a home in the Indigenous arts community
• Why two-spirit, trans writer Arielle Twist is afraid of love
• 'All we have is each other': Fighting for love in dangerous times as an Indigenous trans woman
• 19 Canadian writers to watch in 2019

Books by Arielle Twist

Why Arielle Twist wroteDisintegrate/Dissociate

"I always felt poetry was for white people. I remember in high school learning some poetry and it was the same kind of white people from years and years and years ago and I just felt like it wasn't accessible. When I saw the poetics that resonated with me a place called No Homelandby Kai Cheng Thom,Passageby Gwen BenawayandNorth End Love Songsby Katherena Vermette I was just like,'Oh, I want to do that. It's beautiful.' There's something about sharing parts of yourself, buthiding so much in it that can't really be deciphered that iscool.

This whole collection is about grieving and the ways in which I am coping by disassociating or deconstructing or disintegrating or rebuilding.- Arielle Twist

"This whole collection is about grieving and the ways in which I am coping by disassociating or deconstructing or disintegrating or rebuilding."

Read more in her interview with CBC Books.

Interviews with Ariel Twist

Interviews with Arielle Twist