Indigenous authors celebrated as readership skyrockets across Canada

Tahltanauthor Cole Pauls has been creating graphic novels for 15 years, but he never dreamed he would see hiswork alongside that of some of his favourite artists and writers.

"It's really humbling," said Pauls, wholives in Vancouver but is originally from Haines Junction, Yukon.

Pauls, whose workaimsin part to revitalize theSouthern Tutchone language he grew up with, is one of many authors featured at the Vancouver Public Library's new Indigenous collection at the CentralBranch.

The collection includesfiction and non-fiction books, films and musicfrom Indigenous authors, and about Indigenous issues. Most of the books previously existed at the library, but they're now featuredin a prominent section near the front entrance of the downtown branch.

The library says it began to introduceIndigenous collections at its smaller branches in 2018as a contribution toward reconciliation.

"It's a collection, but in truth what it really is is a space," said InnessCampbell, manager of collections and technical services at the Vancouver Public Library.

"It's a place for that reconciliation to start to happen, or certainly the learning that you might need tohave that reconciliation."

The launch of the collection comes at a time when Canadian readers have shown a voracious appetite forIndigenous authors and issues.

Campbell says circulation ofthecollectiontripled between 2018 and 2019. Libraries and publishers across Canada say they have seen a similar rise in readership on the subject.

Top books

At the Toronto Public Library, collections manager Michele Melady saysshe has noticed a spike in interest forbooks likeThe Marrow Thieves by Mtis author Cherie DimalineandSeven Fallen Feathersby Anishinaabe writer Tanya Talaga.

Anna Comfort O'Keeffe, publisher at Douglas & McIntyre, says eight of her company'stop 10 books are written by Indigenous authors like Richard Wagamese.

"That's what people want to read right now," she said.

O'Keeffe says there has been such a proliferation of Indigenous writing that BookNet Canada, which serves the book industry, is revising international standards to include new classifications like Indigenous poetry.

'Building up on each other'

The demand for Indigenous authors isno surprise to graphic novelist Pauls. He says news and current events have covered a lot of Indigenous issues lately, and he thinks people are hungry for authentic voices.

"With a story coming from a true voice, that makes it way more interesting and way more sincere," he said.

When Pauls started drawing comics 15 years ago, he created work he thought he would have enjoyed as a kid. He says it's reassuring to see that his work resonates with so many people.

It's also reasssuring for Pauls to see his booksplaced alongside other Indigenous authors who have chosen to share their culture.

"We're kind of like building up on each other," Paulssaid.