Bernard Assiniwi
Bernard Assiniwi was a writer of French-Canadian and Cree/Algonquin people extraction. In addition to that he was a researcher in Aboriginal History, a producer, and an actor. One of his best known works is La Saga des Béothuks or The Beothuk Saga in the English translation by Wayne Grady.
Biography
Bernard Assiniwi was born in July 31, 1935 and died the 2 September 2000. Son of Églantine Bleau and Joseph-Leonidas Zephirin Lapierre, from Algonquin, Cree and Quebecois heritage. As a child he spoke Cree but French was the language of his schooling.He graduated from the University of Guelph, obtaining a BScA in animal science.
He went on to follow a variety of careers. He was involved with the beginning of the cultural section of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development from 1965 to 1968. In 1965, he also appeared in the film "La vie heureuse de Léopold Z". Other film appearances were "Les smattes" and "Les forges de Saint-Maurice". He also served as curator of the Easter Subarctic Cultural area of the Canadian Museum of Civilization until his death in 2000.
From 1968, Assiniwi published over 30 books, as well as writing journal articles, and writing and producing radio programs. He is considered an important contributor to Canadian Literature from a French Canadian Indigenous perspective, paving the way for other Indigenous authors to follow. In 1971, he was one of the first Indigenous authors to write a French language work that was largely read throughout Québec, For this book, he received a mention in the :fr:Grand prix du livre de Montréal|Prix littéraire de la Ville de Montréal. Assiniwi went to work for Leméac, from 1972 à 1976, as a director. In 1999, The University of Québec and Trois-Rivières bestowed upon Bernard Assiniwi an honorary doctorate for his literary contributions.
Bernard Assiniwi married Marina Assiniwi and they had three sons : Marc-André Assiniwi, Christian Assiniwi and Jean-Yves Assiniwi.
Benard Assiniwi died at age 65, from a heart attack following heart surgery.
In 2001 Land Insights created the prix Dr. Bernard-Chagnan-Assiniwi, awarded for the first time in 2001 to Indigenous artists or creators whose work had contributes to their original culture.
Awards
He won the :fr:Prix Jean-Hamelin|Jean-Hamelin literature prize for French and Quebecois authors in 1997. He as also shortlisted for the Governor General prize of Canada in the same year.Published works
| Year | Title | Publisher |
| 1972 | Recettes Typiques des Indiens | Éditions Leméac |
| 1972 | Survie en Forêt | Éditions Leméac |
| 1972 | Survival in the Bush | Copp-Clark |
| 1971 | Anish-Nah-Be: Contes Adultes du Pays Algonkin | Éditions Leméac |
| 1972 | Indian Recipes | |
| 1972 | A l'Indienne | Éditions Leméac |
| 1973 | L'Histoire des Indiens de Haut et Bas Canada | Éditions Leméac |
| 1973 | Lexique Des Noms Indiens En Amerique: Tome 1 Noms Geographiques | Éditions Leméac |
| 1973 | Lexique Des Noms Indiens En Amerique: Tome 2 ? | Éditions Leméac |
| 1973 | Makwa, Le Petit Algonquin | Éditions Leméac |
| 1979 | Les Cris des Marais | Éditions Leméac |
| 1979 | Les Montagnais et les Naskapi | Éditions Leméac |
| 1979 | Le Guerrier aux Pieds Agiles | Éditions Leméac |
| 1983 | Il n'y a Plus d'Indiens | Éditions Leméac |
| 1985 | Contes Adultes des Territoires Algonkins | Éditions Leméac |
| 1987, 1994 | Faites Votre Vin Vous-même | Éditions Leméac, Bibliothèque Québécoise |
| 1994 | Odawa Pontiac | Éditions XYZ |
| 1996 | Lexique des Noms Indiens de Canada: Les Noms Géographiques | Éditions Leméac |
| 1997 | La Saga des Béothuks | Éditions Leméac |
| 1998 | Ikwé, la Femme Algonquienne | Vents d'Ouest |
| 1998 | Windigo et la Naissance du Monde | Vents d'Ouest |
| 2000 | The Beothuk Saga | McClelland & Stewart |
| 2008 | Le Bras Coupé | Bibliothèque Québécoise |