Picture a Canadian storyteller who weaves Anishinaabe culture into gripping tales of survival and resilience—meet Waubgeshig Rice! An acclaimed author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation, Rice has captivated readers with novels like Moon of the Crusted Snow, blending Indigenous perspectives with speculative fiction. His journey from a teenage correspondent to a literary voice for Indigenous experiences is as inspiring as his stories.
The Making of Waubgeshig Rice
Born in 1979, Waubgeshig Isaac Rice grew up in Wasauksing First Nation, an island community on Georgian Bay, Ontario. Raised in a time when his community was reclaiming Anishinaabe traditions, Rice was steeped in oral storytelling and cultural pride. At 17, he ventured to Germany as an exchange student, penning articles for Anishinabek News about his Indigenous identity abroad. This sparked his journalism career, leading to a degree from Ryerson University in 2002 and roles at CBC, where he hosted Up North and contributed to documentaries like 8th Fire.
Waubgeshig Rice’s Unforgettable Stories
Rice’s fiction is a vibrant tapestry of Anishinaabe culture, contemporary struggles, and speculative futures. His debut, Midnight Sweatlodge (2011), a short story collection, draws on his upbringing, earning an Independent Publishers Book Award in 2012. Legacy (2014), his first novel, explores Anishinaabe family dynamics and trauma, blending tradition with modern life. The breakout Moon of the Crusted Snow (2018) is a post-apocalyptic thriller set in a northern Anishinaabe community facing a power outage and societal collapse. Its sequel, Moon of the Turning Leaves (2023), continues this saga, delving into resilience and rebirth. Rice’s style is authentic, grounded in Anishinaabe oral traditions, with vivid characters and themes of community, identity, and survival.
His works resonate for their fresh take on dystopian fiction, reframing it through an Indigenous lens. Unlike typical apocalyptic tales, Rice’s stories emphasize cultural strength over despair, earning praise for their authenticity and emotional depth. His short stories, like “Limbs” in Never Whistle At Night (2023), showcase his versatility in Indigenous dark fiction.
Why Waubgeshig Rice Matters
Waubgeshig Rice is a trailblazer in Indigenous literature, amplifying Anishinaabe voices in a genre often dominated by non-Indigenous perspectives. His novels, celebrated with awards like the 2019 Evergreen Award, have inspired readers and writers alike, fostering a deeper understanding of Indigenous resilience and history. By leaving CBC in 2020 to focus on writing, Rice has sparked a new wave of Indigenous storytelling, mentoring emerging authors and speaking at literary festivals. His work challenges stereotypes, offering nuanced narratives that bridge cultural gaps and invite reflection on Canada’s colonial past and future possibilities.
- Born: 1979, Wasauksing First Nation, Ontario
- Key Works: Midnight Sweatlodge, Legacy, Moon of the Crusted Snow, Moon of the Turning Leaves
- Awards: 2012 Independent Publishers Book Award, 2019 Evergreen Award
- Notable Role: Former CBC journalist and host of Up North
Ready to dive into Waubgeshig Rice’s gripping world? Grab Moon of the Crusted Snow and discover why his Anishinaabe stories are reshaping Canadian literature!