Halfe Saskatchewan's new poet laureate

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Louise Halfe is a wife, mother and grandmother. She has a bachelor of social work from the University of Regina and has completed addictions training at the Nechi Training, Research and Health Promotions Institute. She is a respected writer with two books of poetry to her credit. Now she is adding another credit to her list of accomplishments, being named Saskatchewan's new poet laureate.

Halfe, whose Native name is Sky Dancer, was born in Two Hills, Alta. and raised on Saddle Lake First Nation, but has called Saskatoon home for the past 18 years. She was named poet laureate in January, becoming only the second person to hold the post. She takes over from Glen Sorestad, who served as Saskatchewan's poet laureate from December 2000 until the end of 2004. Halfe was chosen as Sorestad's successor by an independent committee comprised of representatives of the province's literary, academic and government communities.

Halfe said she was surprised when she was first approached about becoming poet laureate "because there are a lot of great poets and writers in this community. It's an honour."

Halfe's poetry was first published in 1990 in the anthology Writing the Circle: Native Women of Western Canada. She published her first book of poetry, Bear Bones and Feathers, in 1994. Her second, Blue Marrow, was published in 1997. Both efforts were well received. Bear Bones and Feathers was short-listed for the Spirit of Saskatchewan Award, the Saskatchewan First Book Award, the Gerald Lambert Award and the Pat Lowther First Book Award, and won the Milton Acorn Award. Blue Marrow was short-listed for the Governor General's Award and nominated in three Saskatchewan Book Awards categories-Saskatchewan Book of the Year, the Saskatoon Book Award and the Saskatchewan Poetry Award.

Halfe's relationship with the world of poetry began at a young age, but it took a while for her to determine if it was a relationship she wanted to nurture.

"I was led there when I was 16, and then I left it alone, not really contemplating that I was a writer," she said.

"And then I started writing again when my kids were little and I was spending a lot of time alone in the woods in Northern Saskatchewan. And just keeping a journal, you know, dear diary kind of stuff. And found that as I wrote daily for a number of years the writing turned to poetry. And that led to my first publication with NeWest Review, the book Writing the Circle, a Native women's anthology. And it took off from there."

Halfe said she finds inspiration for her writing from her experiences and the things around her every day.

"Life is your fuel. Every day. Like my name, Sky Dancer, is derived from the teachings of the universe every day. And when I was given that name I was told I would write from the pages of every day and what the universe has to offer. So I find myself doing that," she said.

"I look for my resources within the land when I'm walking. And then I allow my thoughts to wander whichever way they wish to wander and I record everything. And really, the recording is what determines what goes on paper for later material.

"And themes? I love history, and particularly I'm always researching Aboriginal history. And there's so little of our own, so sometimes I have to go to my dream place to ask the questions like 'What happened?' and 'What happened to you during this period of time?' And there's a bit of psychology that goes in it, and philosophy and spirituality. The questioning and the probing and trying to get to the heart of the answer in my own way."

As poet laureate, Halfe will be travelling around the province doing presentations and readings, and taking part in discussions about writing. One of her priorities, she said, will be reaching out to Aboriginal communities.

"I do speak my language, which is Cree. And I think that will open a lot of doors for the Aboriginal community as well as for me in terms of the understanding of being a pubished writer and what it can do to help somebody else."

Halfe's first official appearance as Saskatchewan's poet laureate will be on Feb. 24 at a tea at Government House hosted by Lt.-Gov. Lynda Haverstock.

Communities, non-profit organizations, service organizations and educational institutions in Saskatchewan interested in having Halfe participate in public readings or special events should contact the Saskatchewan Writers Guild at 791-7743 or by e-mail at amynelson.mile@sasktel.net. Applications can also be downloaded from the Web site at www.skwriter.com.