Last week, we got the news that A Two-Spirit Journey, by Ma-Nee Chacaby and Mary Louisa Plummer, was recognized for two awards.
First, it was the Oral History Association, based in Atlanta, Georgia, letting us know that A Two-Spirit Journey had won the OHA Book Prize. Continuing a tradition established in 1994, the Oral History Association recognizes exemplary oral history work with their annual awards.
Here are the judges’ comments:
“Amidst many strong entries, your book stood out as a remarkable, intensive collaborative effort that, in the words of one committee member, ‘offers a story that is both devastating and hopeful. It is a book where the concept of intersectionality leaps off the page— sex, gender, sexuality, culture, socio-economic class, and so many other complex factors describe Chacaby,’ adding that ‘it’s an excellent example of a collaboration between folks from two different cultures and how together they can respectfully and carefully craft an oral life story into a manuscript.’ The committee was also impressed with the level of openness and honesty about difficult experiences and topics that you as author/collaborators were able to achieve, particularly on issues little-discussed in print that are of urgent significance to Indigenous peoples of Canada and the United States.”
Ma-Nee and Mary Louisa will be travelling to the OHA annual conference in October in Minneapolis to accept the award.
Next, it was Fierté Simcoe Pride (FSP), announcing the recipients of the third annual Simcoe County LGBT Community Awards, presented during the sixth annual Fierté Simcoe Pride (July 31 – August 13) at the Awards Gala held at the Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre.
Ma-Nee Chacaby and S. Bear Bergman received the Honourary Award for Literature. This award recognizes and encourages the achievements of Ontario-based LGBT writers who are founding careers in literature while engaging with the community. Writers may be in lyricists, playwrights, novelists, and poets.
Ma-Nee was able to travel to Simcoe to pick up her award.
Congrats to all the nominees and winners!
