About Beatrice Culleton Mosionier

Early Life

Born in St. Boniface, Manitoba, in 1949, I was the youngest of four children. When I was three, my parents, Mary Clara (Pelletier) and Louise Mosionier lost us to the child welfare system. Children’s Aid Society of Winnipeg put us into different foster homes.

My Grief

In January 1964, Vivian committed suicide when she was in her early 20’s. Sixteen years later, in October 1980, Kathy the oldest of us, also committed suicide.

In my grief, questions came to me. Why did both of my sister commit suicide, why were my parents alcoholics, why did we have to grow up in foster homes, why had we encountered so much racism throughout our lives. I decided I needed to write a book.

At that time I had been working as a bookkeeper, with no thought or desire to ever be a writer. But I had to do this one thing for my family.

Pemmican Publication, the only Metis publishing house in Canada, not only accepted my manuscript, they hired me as well.

In Search of April Raintree was published in April 1983 and it was so successful with students that I revised the novel for use in high schools. April Raintree, was published in 1984, followed by Spirit of the White Bison, in 1985.

Twenty-five years after first being published, my first novel remained one of Canada’s most popular works of Aboriginal literature and in 2008, In Search of April Raintree, 25th Anniversary Edition launched the literacy initiative, On the Same Page: Manitoba Reads!

My first novel had launched me into an unintended writing career, and it also brought me back full circle to the beginning with Come Walk With Me, a Memoir.

Come Walk With Me, a Memoir has now been released. I’ve been fairly busy with local media, and because this is a memoir, I’ve had some interesting visits to my past. Wabanakwut Kinew of CBC TV interviewed me in the St. Norbert house where I grew up. I had last been in the house about 25 years ago, before my former foster parents sold it. Since then, it has been extensively renovated. The present owner was very generous with us – it helped that she was a great fan of CBC and of Wab Kinew!

In October, I attended the OGAMAS Writers Festival in Brandon. Afterward, Michael Kusugak, Jordon Wheeler and I toured The Pas, Flin Flon and Thompson for the THIN AIR Aboriginal Writers Tour.

Come Walk With Me, a Memoir was launched at McNally Robinson, and author, David A. Robertson generously shared his spotlight in launching The Life of Helen Betty Osborne, a Graphic Novel, with me at Aqua Books. Manito Ahbee, A Festival For All Nations, partnered with these bookstores in announcing the release of my memoir. So thank you all.

Meeting David and Michael and renewing friendships with Jordon and so many others at OGAMAS reminded me that our Aboriginal writing community has so many gifted individuals – not just with their writings and in their presentations - but as generous, compassionate people with great humour and lots of heart.

In December, I’ll be doing a few reading events in Winnipeg and in Dauphin. I’ll also be working on the revision of In the Shadow of Evil, as I have that ‘dreaded’ deadline.

Future Plans

In early spring, I’ll be attending the Northern Conference in The Pas, hosted by University College of the North, then on to Norway House and Thompson. Also in spring, Neechi Foods Co-op, an Aboriginal-run Winnipeg grocery store, plans to host a local Aboriginal authors’ book signing event, to launch its expanded book & crafts section at its new location.

Recent meetings with so many fabulously talented Aboriginal writers got me to thinking that perhaps I should have a page called MY COMMUNITY, where you could watch for news of our community activists and of events they hold. They have inspired me and I think they will inspire you, too.

To visit my photo gallery...

A note about my different author names:

Culleton was my married name at the time I wrote the first books. Later I wanted to use Mosionier, my maiden name, but Culleton had already gained recognition, especially with academics. Publishers were reluctant to drop it, thus the Beatrice Culleton Mosionier. Now I write only under Beatrice Mosionier.

Return from About Beatrice Culleton Mosionier to the Home Page