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    • MN Native News
    • Native Lights
      • Biidaapi
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    • DeCoded: Native Veterans Who Helped Win World War II
    • A Mile in My Moccasins
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    • Native Lights
      • Biidaapi
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      • COVID-19
      • Helpful Links about COVID19 in Minnesota
    • DeCoded: Native Veterans Who Helped Win World War II
    • A Mile in My Moccasins
  • About Us

Creating Representation: Nicholas DeShaw’s Path in Fiction and Storytelling

Native Lights October 17, 2024

Nicholas DeShaw

In this episode, we sit down with Nicholas Bimibatoo Mishtadim DeShaw, an Ojibwe author, father, and educator. Nicholas masterfully blends his Indigenous heritage with imaginative fiction across a wide range of genres, from sci-fi and horror to children’s picture books. He shares his journey as a writer, discussing his latest projects, including a new graphic novel and his first children’s book, Loaf the Cat Goes to the Powwow.

We explore Nicholas’s creative process, how he balances writing and reading, and the cultural layers that inspire his storytelling. From the early stages of his journey as a writer to getting his work published, he reflects on the peaks and valleys along the way. Nicholas also offers invaluable advice for aspiring writers and creatives looking to pursue their own dreams.

Tune in for engaging conversation with one of today’s most vibrant, Indigenous voices in literature!

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More from Native Lights

  • Dan Ninham: Honoring Athletes and Indigenous Sports Traditions
    In this episode, we speak with Dan Ninham, PhD, a retired physical education teacher and coach, co-founder of the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame and prolific freelance writer.
  • BearPaw Shields: Leaving a Legacy for Future Generations
    In this episode, we speak with BearPaw Shields from the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes. She is a Saint Cloud State University alumna and is currently the Indigenous Learning Community Program Coordinator at the University’s American Indian Center. In her forties, she decided to go to college and get a degree so that she could make the change she wanted to see in the world. She does that now through her work at St. Cloud State’s American Indian Center, helping Native students to succeed in school and connect with their culture through language, field trips and other experiences. As a board member with the Friends of the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, she had been instrumental in teaching park staff and visitors about the land’s Native history. Last year, that included the opening of an amphitheater with art provided by Indigenous artists and the names of park animals provided in Dakota and Ojibwemowin. BearPaw Shields lives in Zimmerman where she likes to go on hikes and find her serenity at the nearby Refuge.
  • Allison Waukau: Empowering Native Stories Through Community Service and Podcasting
    In this episode, we speak with Allison Waukau (Menominee/Navajo), who serves as the Tribal Liaison and Native Relations Coordinator at the Metropolitan Council. She previously worked at the Hennepin County Library and the Roseville School District as American Indian Community Liaison. Last year, she started a new podcast with Odia Wood-Krueger. Through “Books Are Good Medicine,” the co-hosts explore Native literature with the aim of increasing the knowledge of educators and libraries about Native American books and materials. Allison Waukau lives in Minneapolis with her family, including a young son, and had a dream come true recently when she was selected to participate in Cohort 14 of the Native Governance Center’s Rebuilder Program. Allison’s podcast with Odia Wood-Krueger can be found at Books Are Good Medicine.
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