A Thousand Tiny Awakenings

Short-Fiction and Poetry
Pub Date : April 5, 2025
5.5 X 8.5 in | 80 pgs
Trade Paperback : 9781988989
e-pub: 9781988989

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A Thousand Tiny Awakenings is a collection of genuine and heartfelt expressions from young and marginalized creators who challenge the oppressive structures that shape our world. These narratives, poems, and artworks echo across Turtle Island, transcending borders to offer a stirring testament to resilience and hope. Discover 15 young writers, and 23 unique and powerful pieces that embody the spirit of resistance and resurgence; uplifting the upcoming generation in their pursuit to dismantle boundaries that define their bodies, lives, and futures. Through art and storytelling, these voices call for action and inspire revolution, reminding us that our words have the power to transform the world.

A Thousand Tiny Awakenings features contributions by:

Carson Bodhi                       Michelle Delorme                    Brennan Gregoire

Waed Hasan                           Tyler Hein                              Jesse June-Jack

Kay Kassirer                          Chimdinma Kingsley-Emereuwa             

Connor Lafortune                  Lindsay Mayhew                  Sydney Read

Nicole Robitaille                      Lisa Shen                             Blaine Thornton

Ra'anaa Yaminah                           

About the Editors

Connor Lafortune

Connor Lafortune is from Dokis First Nation on Robinson Huron Treaty territory of 1850 in Northeastern Ontario. He works primarily in Life Promotion, harm-reduction, mental health, and Indigenous education. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree at Nipissing University with a Double Honors Major in Indigenous Studies and Gender Equality and Social Justice. He is currently in the Masters in Indigenous Relations at Laurentian University. Connor is Anishinaabek, Queer, and Francophone; he uses his understanding of the world to shape his creations as a writer, spoken word poet, and musician. Connor often combines the written word with traditional Indigenous beadwork and sewing to recreate the stories of colonization, showcase resilience, and imagine a new future. He recently released a single in collaboration with Juno Award winner G.R. Gritt titled “Qui crie au loup? ft. Connor Lafortune.” Above all else, Connor is an activist, a shkaabewis (helper), and a compassionate human being.

Lindsay Mayhew

Lindsay Mayhew (she/her) is a spoken word poet and author from Sudbury, Ontario. She is a recent English Literature Master’s graduate from the University of Guelph. Lindsay is the multi-year champion of Wordstock Sudbury’s poetry slam, a runner up in the 2024 Womxn of the World poetry slam, and she has featured in events across Ontario, including the YWCA, JAYU Canada, Nuit Blanche, and Wordstock Literary Festival. Lindsay’s written work can be found in the Literary Review of Canada, Moria, and multiple editions of Sulphur. Her work combines art and theory to voice feminist futures and human rights advocacy. 

Praise for A Thousand Tiny Awakenings                 

"A cathartic, resonant anthology that conveys guts, emotion, and resilience. From unflinching reflections on contrived compassion to thoughts on God, righteous rage, love, and justice—this is a striking collection of powerful voices."
— Emily Austin, author of Gay Girl Prayers

"If the poets included in this collection are indicative of the future of Canadian poetry, then we are truly in good hands. A Thousand Tiny Awakenings—skillfully curated and edited by the talented Lafortune and Mayhew—is a beautiful example of the diverse and intersectional ways that oppression can live in and around us. Perhaps more importantly, it demands a revolution against these barriers. Cohesive and moving, this book is a must read."
— Fareh Malik, author of Streams That Leads Somewhere