Voices of the Sturgeon and the Marten
Aaniin, biindigen, welcome!
Simone’s and Zhaawano's poems and short stories are a genre in themselves. Shined upon by the blessing light of the Fisher Star constellation that sparkles in the northern night sky their writings, while breathing the ancient worldview of their Anishinaabe ancestors, are explicitly placed in the present, their subject matter always profoundly personal.
Zhaawano's stories show his deeply rooted love for the culture and language of his ancestors. His poetry celebrates life. His voice is like the voice of a Marten; his writing-style simple, bold, and fierce, vigorous but always gentle, reflecting a transcedental and metaphorical nature.
Simone's poems and the observations that she expresses through her stories are often cheerful with a sad or bittersweet undertone. Her writings voice her heart and soul in a unique way, soft-spoken yet intense, like that of the Sturgeon. Sometimes filled with doubt and sometimes filled with longing, but always with such eagerness and lust for life that each poem or story seems an unfiltered snapshot in time, the very essence of what she goes through in the here and now. In her hands, words become blistering, powerful sturgeons that rise out of the deep waters of the lake. They become eagle spirits climbing swiftly and powerfully, causing the reader to become swept away in a swirling dream. Click the top Gallery buttons and enter the poetic dream world of Simone and Zhaawano. Hear their voices...
