Joseph Boyden sorry 'for taking too much of the airtime' on Indigenous issues

Describing himself as "a white kid from Willowdale with Native roots," writer Joseph Boydenapologizedfor "taking too much of the airtime" in discussions about Indigenous issues.

The celebrated Ontarioauthor, who has built a reputation on writing about First Nations heritage and culture, spoke to Candy Palmaterof CBC Radioin Toronto Wednesday afternoon.

"A small part of me is Indigenous, but it's a big part of who I am," said Boyden,who reiteratedan earlier online statementthat he has European,NipmucandOjibwayroots.

A small part of me is Indigenous, but it's a big part of who I am.- Joseph Boyden

It was his first interview since a reporter for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Networkpublished an investigationin late December digging intoBoyden'sbackgroundand varying claims of Indigenous ancestry he's made over the years.

Joseph Boyden: 'I fear my ego has gotten too big for that'

8 years ago

Duration 0:42

Author Joseph Boyden talks to CBC Radio's Candy Palmater about the controversy over his ancestry.

"I fear that I've become a bit too big, one of the go-to people when it comes to Indigenous issues in this country,"BoydentoldPalmater, theMi'kmaqperformer andbroadcaster who is a friend of the author.

"I've become too much of a go-to guy. I should be allowing those with deeper roots in their communitiesto speak for their communities," he said, adding that he feels his "ego hasgotten a little too big."

• Canadian author JosephBoydenspeaks out after Indigenous roots probed byAPTN
• OPINION | Who gets to speak on behalf of the Indigenous community?

"Others need to speak andI do apologize for taking too much of the airtime," he said."It's time to jump off that train and pull back a bit."

The Giller Prize-winning novelist has been at the centre of controversy and broad discussion about misrepresentation, cultural identity, mixed heritage and whether he may have profited from opportunities targeted toIndigenous creators.

Boydenbristled at the suggestion that he had accepted prizes that might have gone to other Indigenous creators, and noted that he has only ever won one such award: the $5,000 McNally Robinson Aboriginal Book of the Year in 2005 for his debut novel Three Day Road.

"I went up on stage and said I would like to share this prize equally ... I've never won any other prize due to my Indigenous heritage," Boydensaid.

'This is me'

Acclaimed for novels such asThree Day Road,Through Black SpruceandTheOrenda,Boydenhas indeed become a prominent figure in Canada for literary or cultural discussions about Indigenous issues.His most recent work, released last fall, explores the story ofChanieWenjack, a boy who died in 1966 as he escapeda residential school.

Named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2015,Boydenalso served as an honorary witness at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

"I am proud of my kinship and my blood heritage," he said, rejecting allegations that he is "someone who has adopted a brown skin to make his way into the world.

"No. This is me," he said.

• THE CURRENT |Indigenous identity and the case of JosephBoyden
• AS IT HAPPENS |JosephBoydenmust take responsibility for misrepresenting heritage, says Indigenous writer

Still, the controversy has made Boyden think twice about being as public a voice.

"I don't want to be that go-to person for pan-Indigenous issues," he said."I'm not the spokesperson."

"The voices who come to me are the voices who come to me. I'm not one to say I'm not allowed to tell the stories they want me to tell," Boyden said.

Portions of Palmater's interview with Boydenwill air on CBC Radioq on Thursday morning.