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The image is the cover of Katherena Vermettes most recent book called 'Real Ones' which is a book about two Michif sisters who must face their past trauma when their mother is called out for false claims to Indigenous identity.

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Misaabe’s Stories: A Story of Honesty published in 11/04/2011

North End Love Songs released in 03/12/2012

Kode’s Quest(ion): A Story of Respect published in 11/12/2014

The Just Right Gift: A Story of Love published in 11/20/2014

Amik Loves School: A Story of Wisdom published in 12/2014

Seven Teachings released in 2014 & 2015

What is Truth, Betsy? A Story of Truth published in 03/16/2015

Singing Sisters: A Story of Humility published in 11/20/2015

this river released in 2016

The First Day: A Story of Courage published in 01/14/2016

The Break published in 09/16/2016

Vol. 1, A Girl Called Echo: Pemmican Wars published in 11/30/2017

river woman published in 09/25/2018

The Girl and the Wolf released in 02/05/2019

Vol. 2, A Girl Called Echo: Red River Resistance published in 03/01/2019

Vol. 3, A Girl Called Echo: Northwest Resistance published in 02/2020

Vol. 4, A Girl Called Echo: Road Allowance Era published in 04/27/2021

The Strangers published in 2021

Historica Canada Minute: Pierre Falcon

The Circle published in 09/05/2023

Real Ones published in 09/03/2024

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Katherina was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on 29 January 1977.

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Grew Up In A Mostly Indigenous Neighbourhood.

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Grew Up In A Mostly Indigenous Neighbourhood.

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Kathrena Vermette grew up in a mostly indigenous Neighbourhood in the north end of Winnipeg with roughly 25% of the Indigenous peoples being primarily First Nations and Métis people. Vermette described her neighbourhood as being not "picturesque".

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Katherena Vermette is Michif (Red River Métis) from Treaty 1 territory, the heart of the Métis Nation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

The Picture I used is Katherena Vermette's River Woman, which explores themes of identity, connection, and resistance.

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Her parents are Sandra Vermette(Mother) and Dennis Vermette(Father). Unfortunately her brother Kerry Vermette sadly went missing and later was found dead in Winnipeg Manitoba back in 2011.

This photo depicts Kathrena Vermette's poem Mixtape, reflecting on her brother's disappearance and death, as well as the emotions and impact it had on them.

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Avermette, Katherena. "Home." Katherena Vermette, www.katherenavermette.com. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.

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Home About All Children's/Young Adult Novels Poetry Film All Events Announcements Press Contact katherena vermette (she/her/hers) is a Michif writer from Treaty 1 territory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

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The image is of Katherena Vermettes book called 'The strangers' which got two awards most recently. The Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize and Chapters Indigo's Book of the Year.

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In 2013, her book North End Love Songs won the Governor General’s Literary Award for Poetry and the Lina Chartrand Award for Activism in Poetry.

In 2017, her documentary This River won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Short Documentary.

In 2021, her book The Strangers won the Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize and was named Chapters Indigo's Book of the Year.

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The Break

Published in 09/16/2016 by House of Anansi
Winner of the Amazon.ca First Novel Award, Burt Award for First Nation, Inuit and Metis Literature, Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award, Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction, McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award

When Stella, a young Métis mother, looks out her window one evening and spots someone in trouble on the Break — a barren field on an isolated strip of land outside her house — she calls the police to alert them to a possible crime.

In a series of shifting narratives, people who are connected, both directly and indirectly, with the victim — police, family, and friends — tell their personal stories leading up to that fateful night. Lou, a social worker, grapples with the departure of her live-in boyfriend. Cheryl, an artist, mourns the premature death of her sister Rain. Paulina, a single mother, struggles to trust her new partner. Phoenix, a homeless teenager, is released from a youth detention centre. Officer Scott, a Métis policeman, feels caught between two worlds as he patrols the city. Through their various perspectives a larger, more comprehensive story about lives of the residents in Winnipeg’s North End is exposed.

A powerful intergenerational family saga, The Break showcases Vermette’s abundant writing talent and positions her as an exciting new voice in Canadian literature.

Reviews

Globe & Mail | National Post | Globe & Mail

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The BreakPublished in 09/16/2016 by House of AnansiWinner of the Amazon.ca First Novel Award, Burt Award for First Nation, Inuit and Metis Literature, Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award,

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Katherena Vermette | 50th Anniversary | The University of Winnipeg

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Creating distinctly Métis literature and knowledge

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Katherena Vermettes favourite genre is "poetry"

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Interviewed by Napatsi Folger Katherena Vermette is a Métis writer from Treaty One territory, the heart of the Métis nation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Her first book, North End Love Songs (The Mu…

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Katherena Had written a poem about her brother, who died whilst she was young. Above is an article that has extra information.

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A broken family: Katherena Vermette's life changed when her brother disappeared | CBC Radio Loaded

DNTO

He had fluffy black hair, liked hockey and lacrosse, and he wore tight jeans.In 1991, when poet Katherena Vermette was 14, her older brother Donovan disappeared a few months before his 19th birthday.&nbsp;Vermette recalled that he has been out with friends at a bar across the river. Close to closing time, his friends started walking home. But it was cold...

He had fluffy black hair, liked hockey and lacrosse, and he wore tight jeans.

In 1991, when poet Katherena Vermette was 14, her older brother Donovan disappeared a few months before his 19th birthday.

Vermette recalled that he has been out with friends at a bar across the river. Close to closing time, his friends started walking home. But it was cold outside so her brother decided to wait and try to catch a ride.

He ended up getting a lift partway, but because he didn't have any money to pitch in for gas, he had to cross a bridge to get the rest of the way home.

"My mother woke up the next day with an unsettling feeling because her son hadn't come home," Vermette explained.

After waiting almost 24 hours, Vermette's mom tried to file a missing person's report with police. They suggested she wait and said that he would probably come home on his own.

"They didn't understand, or for whatever reason, it wasn't relayed that he was a kid. My parents felt that my brother's disappearance wasn't taken seriously," she said.

The family posted posters, her brother's football teammates came to help, and search parties from his school scoured the riverbank looking for clues.

As time passed, Vermette's mother contacted police trying to get some assistance. "Whoever took her call said we should hold off," Vermette recalled. "[And said] What's likely happening is that my brother was off somewhere and maybe it was our fault that he wasn't coming home. Because maybe he was embarrassed by all of this stuff we were doing to try to get him to come home."

As time went by, the Vermette family was told that Donovan probably tried to cross the partially frozen river and fell in.

Six months later they received confirmation. "His body was found just north of Grand Beach so it had travelled very far away, up the current," Vermette said. "It was found by a gentleman walking his dog."

Vermette said during the process, her family got no reassurance from outside their community that the situation was real.

"We were broken. We never repaired from that fracture that happened. We had started the journey of my brother's disappearance with a lot of energy and a lot of anger and a lot of frustration. That really drove us for a long time, trying to find answers. And then they never came. He was a good kid. And he should have been treated like one."

Vermette's book, North End Love Songs, won the 2013 Governor General's Award for Poetry and a section in the book features poems about her brother.

by Katherena Vermette from North End Love Songs

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CBC Radio · Posted: May 09, 2014 12:00 AM ET | Last Updated: May 9, 2014

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A broken family: Katherena Vermette’s life changed when her brother disappeared | CBC Radio

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He had fluffy black hair, liked hockey and lacrosse, and he wore tight jeans.In 1991, when poet Katherena Vermette was 14, her older brother Donovan disappeared a few months before his 19th birthday. Vermette recalled that he has been out with friends at a bar across the river. Close to closing…

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katherena lives with her kids – fur and human

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katherena lives with her kids – fur and human

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she has two children named Fur and Human

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Home About All Children's/Young Adult Novels Poetry Film All Events Announcements Press Contact katherena vermette (she/her/hers) is a Michif writer from Treaty 1 territory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

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Katherna Vermette won many awards, one of them being:

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Katherna Vermette won many awards, one of them being:

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In 2013 Katherna won the Governor General Literary Award for Poetry.

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Katherena Vermette | 50th Anniversary | The University of Winnipeg

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Creating distinctly Métis literature and knowledge

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Katherena Vermette, Tomson Highway and Cherie Dimaline among winners at 2021 Writers’ Trust Awards | CBC Books

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Vermette took home the $60,000 fiction prize, Highway won the $60,000 nonfiction prize and Dimaline was honoured for her body of work.

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Katherena cites that her indigenous background played a large influence in writing The Break, stating that "I’ve always known my culture. It is who I am." -University of Winnipeg

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Katherena Vermette | 50th Anniversary | The University of Winnipeg

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Creating distinctly Métis literature and knowledge

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Katherena Vermette’s recent novel follows three generations of women of the Strangers, a Metis family living in Winnipeg.

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Katherena Vermette views The Break as "semi-autobiographical", and this is likely due to the similarity between her personal loss and the novel's themes of trauma and grief.

Vermette's brother passed away at an early age, and the apathetic reception to this tragedy fueled her desire to become an activist for change of treatment for indigenous people

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Book Review: The Break, Katherena Vermette

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The cover of The Break, Katherena Vermette’s masterful debut novel, features a portion of a painting by Métis and Mennonite artist Corinna Wollf. In the painting, a middle-aged woman stands directl…

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At 14 years old Vermette lost her 18 year old brother Donovan Vermette. Her brother had gone missing after a night out with friends and after inadequate help from the police was found dead near the river. Vermette was told that the cause of death was an accidental drowning after attempting to cross a partially frozen river.

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A broken family: Katherena Vermette's life changed when her brother disappeared | CBC Radio Loaded

DNTO

He had fluffy black hair, liked hockey and lacrosse, and he wore tight jeans.In 1991, when poet Katherena Vermette was 14, her older brother Donovan disappeared a few months before his 19th birthday.&nbsp;Vermette recalled that he has been out with friends at a bar across the river. Close to closing time, his friends started walking home. But it was cold...

He had fluffy black hair, liked hockey and lacrosse, and he wore tight jeans.

In 1991, when poet Katherena Vermette was 14, her older brother Donovan disappeared a few months before his 19th birthday.

Vermette recalled that he has been out with friends at a bar across the river. Close to closing time, his friends started walking home. But it was cold outside so her brother decided to wait and try to catch a ride.

He ended up getting a lift partway, but because he didn't have any money to pitch in for gas, he had to cross a bridge to get the rest of the way home.

"My mother woke up the next day with an unsettling feeling because her son hadn't come home," Vermette explained.

After waiting almost 24 hours, Vermette's mom tried to file a missing person's report with police. They suggested she wait and said that he would probably come home on his own.

"They didn't understand, or for whatever reason, it wasn't relayed that he was a kid. My parents felt that my brother's disappearance wasn't taken seriously," she said.

The family posted posters, her brother's football teammates came to help, and search parties from his school scoured the riverbank looking for clues.

As time passed, Vermette's mother contacted police trying to get some assistance. "Whoever took her call said we should hold off," Vermette recalled. "[And said] What's likely happening is that my brother was off somewhere and maybe it was our fault that he wasn't coming home. Because maybe he was embarrassed by all of this stuff we were doing to try to get him to come home."

As time went by, the Vermette family was told that Donovan probably tried to cross the partially frozen river and fell in.

Six months later they received confirmation. "His body was found just north of Grand Beach so it had travelled very far away, up the current," Vermette said. "It was found by a gentleman walking his dog."

Vermette said during the process, her family got no reassurance from outside their community that the situation was real.

"We were broken. We never repaired from that fracture that happened. We had started the journey of my brother's disappearance with a lot of energy and a lot of anger and a lot of frustration. That really drove us for a long time, trying to find answers. And then they never came. He was a good kid. And he should have been treated like one."

Vermette's book, North End Love Songs, won the 2013 Governor General's Award for Poetry and a section in the book features poems about her brother.

by Katherena Vermette from North End Love Songs

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CBC Radio · Posted: May 09, 2014 12:00 AM ET | Last Updated: May 9, 2014

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A broken family: Katherena Vermette’s life changed when her brother disappeared | CBC Radio

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He had fluffy black hair, liked hockey and lacrosse, and he wore tight jeans.In 1991, when poet Katherena Vermette was 14, her older brother Donovan disappeared a few months before his 19th birthday. Vermette recalled that he has been out with friends at a bar across the river. Close to closing…

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Katherena Vermette is a known advocate for those who feel marginalized because of their circumstances. This played a role in her writing of the break, which includes themes of people feeling ostracized because of their status

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Kathrena Vermette has worked on poetry, novels, children's literature, and film.

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Vermette's family always lended a supportive hand, with her stating that she "[has] a strong partner, Reuben, who really saw me through a lot of this stuff." and has "a beautiful circle of trust, of women, my mother, my best friends, my daughters who always teach me something."

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Christine Fischer Guy Interviews Katherena Vermette — Hamilton Review of Books

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Katherena Vermette’s debut poetry collection, North End Love Songs, won the 2013 Governor General’s Award for poetry. Her debut novel opens in a place locally known as The Break, a barren strip of hydro land in that same Winnipeg neighbourhood, as the sole witness to a violent crime recounts what she saw to police. As police piece together the events that led to the sexual assault of a 13-­year-­old Métis girl, the community makes a reckoning of its own. Through the voices of Emily’s friends, relatives and one of the investigating police officers, Vermette poses questions about the cycle of violence, the meaning of survival and the weight of history.

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Christine Fischer Guy Interviews Katherena Vermette — Hamilton Review of Books

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Katherena Vermette’s debut poetry collection, North End Love Songs, won the 2013 Governor General’s Award for poetry. Her debut novel opens in a place locally known as The Break, a barren strip of hydro land in that same Winnipeg neighbourhood, as the sole witness to a violent crime recounts what she saw to police. As police piece together the events that led to the sexual assault of a 13-­year-­old Métis girl, the community makes a reckoning of its own. Through the voices of Emily’s friends, relatives and one of the investigating police officers, Vermette poses questions about the cycle of violence, the meaning of survival and the weight of history.

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Katherena Vermette's writing is a form of her activism, which stems from "the general apathy shown by the people of her community and the media surrounding her brother's disappearance..."

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Vermette winning the $60,000 fiction prize at the Writers' Trust Awards.

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Vermette has won many awards in her life such as her first award which was the Governor General’s Literary Award for English-language poetry for her first collection, North End Love Songs. She also won the Amazon.ca First Novel Award for her novel The Break.

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In Conversation with Katherena Vermette - ROOM Magazine

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Katherena Vermette is a Métis writer from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her collection of poetry, North End Love Songs, won the 2013 Governor General’s Award for Poetry, and her debut novel The Break has won numerous awards and was a Canada Reads 2017 finalist. Most recently, she won the 2017 Canadian Screen Award for her documentary This […]