Bad Banana

Writing is cathartic, says poet, who voices his trauma in new collection Tuesday, October 7th, 2025   Joseph Dandurand. Photo by Peter Arkell   By Shari Narine Windspeaker.com Books Feature Writer Joseph Dandurand’s latest collection of poetry, I Would Like to Say Thank You, is a raw look into a life that has been both hard and rewarding. The Kwantlen First Nation poet calls writing poetry cathartic even if he’s sharing something with the reader that he has kept to himself for years. “I think probably the emotion that I'm in in that moment when I'm creating something might allow me to put my guard down and allow trauma to be voiced in a way that is, unfortunately, soothing and traumatic at the same time,” said Dandurand. His process is such that he allows whatever is in his head to flow on to the paper...

  New poetry collection breaks free of limited Indigenous narratives At left the cover of the new book of poetry Teeth by Dallas Hunt (at right). Photo of Hunt by Conor McNally. Cover art by Michelle Sound and Dallas Hunt. By Odette Auger |  Windspeaker.com Dallas Hunt’s latest release is a book of poems exploring ideas of urban Indigeneity, decolonial theory and how First Nations find ways to create and continue to exist. Hunt, a member of Wapsewsipi (Swan River) First Nation, said his new collection Teeth sets out “to challenge the expectations and stereotypes placed on Indigenous writers.” Writing has always called to Hunt, he said, and he was encouraged by teachers and his family.  While his childhood had its tumultuous moments, his kôhkom (grandmother) and mom “really had a knack of finding a way when things were parti...