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Tasha Spillett-Sumner
Born
Tasha Spillett
EducationUniversity of Saskatchewan
Notable workSurviving the City
Websitetashaspillett.com

Tasha Spillett-Sumner (née Spillett) is a Canadian author and educator. She is best known for her young adult graphic novel series Surviving the City, volume 1 of which won the Best Work in an Alternative Format at the 2019 Indigenous Voices Awards.

Career

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Spillett-Sumner competed in the 2014 Miss Indian World pageant.[1] She was chosen as Miss Congeniality.[2] Spillett-Sumner was a board member of Manito Ahbee and served as the chair of the Miss Manito Ahbee Youth Ambassador gathering, which honoured of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.[3] Spillett-Sumner also mentored young Indigenous people in Winnipeg through Sister Circle.[2] Spillett-Sumner has taught both high school social studies and English in addition to land-based knowledge workshops and programs.[4]

In 2018, Spillett-Sumner's debut graphic novel, Surviving the City, vol. 1, was published by Highwater Press. The book was illustrated by Natasha Donovan and depicts two young Indigenous women, Miikwan, who is Anishinaabe, and Dez, who is Inninew.[5][6] The second volume of Surviving the City, "From the Roots Up" was released in October 2020.[7]

In April 2021, Spillett-Sumner released the picture book I Sang You Down from the Stars, illustrated by Michaela Goade. I Sang You Down from the Stars debuted at number 3 on the New York Times Best Seller List and remained there for a week.[8][9] Spillett-Sumner began writing the book while pregnant with her daughter, Isabella.[10] Spillett-Sumner's second picture book, Beautiful You, Beautiful Me, was published in 2022. It was defended by Janaye as part of the 2023 CBC Kids Reads.[11]

Personal life

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Spillett-Sumner is of Nehiyaw and Trinidadian descent.[12] She has a master's degree in land-based Indigenous education from the University of Saskatchewan.[13] Spillett also is completing her PhD in education there.[14][10] She received the Queen Elizabeth II Centennial Aboriginal Scholarship to pursue her PhD.[15]

Spillett-Sumner is married to singer-songwriter Leonard Sumner. She gave birth to their daughter, Isabella, in March 2020.[10]

Awards

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In 2019, "Surviving the City" was awarded Best Work in an Alternative Format at the Indigenous Voices Awards.[6] At the American Library Association's 2020 Youth Media Awards, Spillett-Sumner's "Surviving the City" was awarded a Young Adult Book Honor.[16] I Sang You Down from the Stars was award the McNally Robinson Book for Young People award at the 2022 Manitoba Book Awards.[17]

Works

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  • Surviving the City
    • Volume 1: "Surviving the City" - illustrated by Natasha Donovan (2018), as Tasha Spillett[18]
    • Volume 2: "From the Roots Up" - illustrated by Natasha Donovan (2020)[12]
  • I Sang You Down from the Stars - illustrated by Michaela Goade (2021)[19]
  • Beautiful You, Beautiful Me - illustrated by Salini Perera (2022)[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Winnipeg women to compete in 2014 Miss Indian World Pageant". CBC. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "5 indigenous youth who made a difference in 2015". CBC. December 8, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "11 Future 40 finalists unveiled". CBC. March 16, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  4. ^ Smith, Carrie (June 29, 2020). "This Moment in Comics". American Libraries Magazine. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  5. ^ Chiu-Tabet, Christopher (June 6, 2019). ""Surviving the City" Wins the Indigenous Voices Award for Work in an Alternative Format". Multiversity Comics. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  6. ^ a b van Koeverden, Jane (June 5, 2019). "Tanya Tagaq, recognized for debut novel Split Tooth, among Indigenous Voices Award winners". CBC. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  7. ^ "Learn history from comic books". Chatelaine. Vol. 93, no. 3. 2020. p. 11 – via ProQuest.
  8. ^ Samson, Sam (April 15, 2021). "Manitoba author's picture book about motherhood, Indigenous tradition makes New York Times bestsellers list". CBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  9. ^ Sound, Donna (April 23, 2021). "Manitoba author's children's book about Indigenous traditions of motherhood a bestseller". CTVNews. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Sigurdson, Ben (May 12, 2021). "Children's author uses writing to pass down Indigenous teachings". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "Stars of CBC Kids to celebrate 6 Canadian picture books for CBC Kids Reads". CBC. March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "17 works of Canadian YA fiction coming out in fall 2020". CBC. September 10, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  13. ^ "Indigenous educator uses land as text in outdoor university course". CBC. August 12, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  14. ^ Monkman, Leonard (December 1, 2017). "What is Indigenous feminism?". CBC. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  15. ^ Daniels, Calvin (May 24, 2017). "Stephanie Ortynsky earns major scholarship". Yorkton This Week. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  16. ^ "2020 Youth Media Award Winners". American Libraries Magazine. January 27, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  17. ^ "David Bergen and Rowan McCandless among this year's Manitoba Book Award winners". CBC. July 13, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  18. ^ "The best Canadian comics of 2018". CBC. December 17, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  19. ^ Deziel, Shanda (January 18, 2021). "2021 Spring Preview: Kids' books". Quill and Quire. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  20. ^ Mills, Allison (November 21, 2022). "Beautiful You, Beautiful Me - Review". Quill and Quire. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
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