Q&A with Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley

  

Photo by Jake Kimble

 

Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley is the illustrator of the new children's picture book Canada: We Are the Story, which is based on a poem by the late Richard Wagamese (1955-2017). Pawis-Steckley's other books include Boozhoo!/Hello!. He is an Anishinaabe artist and a member of Wasauksing First Nation. 

 

Q: How did you come to illustrate this picture book focused on Richard Wagemese’s poem?

 

A: I believe this opportunity was made for me. I was searching for my next book deal and asked my agent, Jackie Kaiser, to put out any feelers. She came back a while later and said she had something in the works but couldn’t give me any details at the time. So there was a few months of anticipated waiting. What she came to me with was beyond anything I could have imagined.

 

As an indigenous person I have difficulty describing myself as Canadian because of the legacy of colonization. I personally never imagined myself illustrating a book titled CANADA. The word carries a lot of pain for indigenous people. There were a lot of conflicting emotions at first, but I felt this was a chance for me to reflect and ask myself why? Why did this opportunity come to me? What could I learn from this?

 

The fact that these were Richard Wagamese’s words meant something important to me. I am a spiritual person. I am a believer in synchronicity. When this manuscript came to me, I felt like it came to me for a reason. I couldn’t turn this opportunity away.

 

Q: Can you describe your illustration process?

 

A: I start with thumbnails. I consider the composition and framing, the pacing of the story. I start planning out which moments really need to be shared.

 

With this particular book, it's a story that speaks directly to the reader. I had some ideas I wanted to share along with it, and for that, I had to develop a central character to build the story around. I began developing concept art, character designs and settings. Then, after everything was mapped out I finished the rough illustrations.

 

When I receive the feedback for the roughs I begin making edits and finalizing the illustrations. This is where I clean up the line work and work out the colour palette for the book.

 

Q: What do you see as Richard Wagamese’s legacy?

 

A: Richard has always been a voice of truth. He wants there to be healing even when it is difficult, especially for indigenous people. He has a masterful way of telling the indigenous perspective with the vulnerability and care that it needs.

 

When indigenous people read his stories, we can see ourselves in them. He lays it all on the table – the trauma, the hardships, the potential we have – and says “Here, this is what we are, what are we going to do with it?”

 

He wants us to heal, he wants us to love ourselves and be all that we can be. He wants us all to live on this land together peacefully, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from. He was someone who could see beneath the surface and could see the truth. His legacy is showing us the truth.

 

Q: What impact did it have on you to illustrate this book, and what do you hope readers take away from it?

 

A: Well this is a story about the spirit. It tells us that we are all connected and a part of something bigger. It follows the perspective of an indigenous girl living in so-called Canada. She is in school and gets a project asking what makes you proud to be Canadian? This makes her feel uncomfortable, uneased. She is conflicted. Why should she feel proud of a country that has taken so much from her and her ancestors?

 

With Richard’s writing, she is taken on a journey of discovery. As she is thinking over this question she is confronted by spirits. Spirits of her ancestors, spirits of all the beings who’ve lived on this land. They take her to witness this grand tapestry of everything and all who are creating this life together. It’s profound really.

 

When all is said and done she receives a message from one of her closest ancestors. Which states “we belong to the land.” This is something that moves her. She realizes there is no Canada. This land can’t be owned. We belong to the land, it doesn’t belong to us. Indigenous people have known this since time immemorial.

 

Illustrating this book made me realize there’s so much more to this country than its governing body. For me, this story is not about Canada. It’s about us, the individuals, the people who live on and care for this land. It’s a celebration of all the living beings (and spirits) who make or have made this land what it is today. We are all connected.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m in the middle of illustrating a graphic novel based on George Kenny’s experience in residential school,  his son Mike Auksi’s life, and their shared love for hockey. The story was written by Duncan McCue who had the opportunity to interview George and Mike and transcribe their words into the graphic novel format. It’s a beautiful story and coincidently has a lot of parallels to Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Something special about this book are the spirits; in the final spread there are even some recognizable ones. One is Richard Wagamese. Another is Dave Robertson’s father. I also included my Nan and a close friend, Taran, who recently passed as a way to honour them.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb