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On August 26th, join The Blasted Tree and Shelf Life Books for the virtual launch of Barcode Poetry, the debut visual poetry collection by Kyle Flemmer! Accompanying Kyle for a reading, round table discussion, and visual poetry showcase are local poets Katie O'Brien and Kevin Stebner. While we wish we could celebrate in person, the virtual format affords us the unique opportunity to share visual poetry at a live event. Afterwards, the poets will discuss their creative work and field questions from participants.
 

Barcode Poetry is one of two new books published by The Blasted Tree, a local small press run by Flemmer for the last seven years. These are The Blasted Tree's first two full-length collections, and so they have organized a pre-sale and fundraiser to help build excitement for the books and help cover some of the production costs associated with making art books. Both titles are available for pre-order via their Indiegogo campaign, please consider supporting the fundraising initiative in the leadup to this event: https://igg.me/at/flemmer-robinson-presale

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Kyle Flemmer is an author, editor, and publisher from Mohkinstsis in Treaty 7 territory. He founded The Blasted Tree Publishing Co. in 2014 and studies digital poetics at the University of Calgary. Kyle is also one of Shelf Life Book's event coordinators.

Kevin Stebner is an artist, poet and musician from Calgary, Alberta. He produces installation art using old videogame gear, creates concrete pieces with his typewriter and is active in various music projects (GreyScreen, Fulfilment, Cold Water, No False Suns).  He is also the proprietor of Calgary's best bookstore that's in a shed, Shed Books.

katie o’brien is a poet, community worker, queer activist, and Netflix enthusiast originally from St. John’s, Ktaqamkuk, on unceded Beothuk land. They currently live in Mohkinstsis, on Treaty 7 territory, and recently founded blood orange, and experimental poetry tarot. katie dislikes lying, sings a lot, and doesn’t kill bugs.

Join us for the virtual launch of Stories of Métis Women - Tales My Kookum Told Me, edited by Bailey Oster & Marilyn Lizee.

This event will take place on Zoom. You can register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMsd--tqjMqE93ynTZ5gDvATNyitjUVuoZK

This book, and accompanying Vimeo documentary link (DVD available on request), is a collection of stories about culture, history, and nationhood as told by Métis women. The Métis are known by many names — Otipemisiwak, “the people who own ourselves;” Bois Brules, “Burnt Wood;” Apeetogosan, “half brother” by the Cree; “half-breed,” historically; and are also known as “rebels” and “traitors to Canada.” They are also known as the “Forgotten People.” Few really know their story. Many people may also think that Métis simply means “mixed,” but it does not. They are a people with a unique and proud history and Nation. In this era of reconciliation, Stories of Métis Women explains the story of the Métis Nation from the women’s own perspective. The UN has declared this “The Decade of Indigenous Languages” and Stories of Métis Women is one of the few books available in English and Michif, which is an endangered language.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/EDITORS

Bailey Oster, Editor
Bailey Oster is a Métis woman with roots in the Red River Settlement and St. Paul des Métis. Bailey received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a research focus in restorative justice. She currently works as a manager within the Youth Programs and Services Department at the Métis Nation of Alberta. She was elected as the youngest ever Vice President of New Dawn, the Métis Women’s Organization within Alberta at 19 years old and still currently holds the position.

Marilyn Lizee, Editor
As a consultant for the Métis Nation of Alberta, Marilyn Lizee has created unique cultural training programs for the general public as well as for the Métis Nation. She has also developed a Métis Elder’s Abuse training program for both Elders and Seniors, as well as their caregivers, which she has implemented right across the province both in Métis and First Nation Communities.