Katherena Vermette

Katherena Vermette (she/her/hers) is a Red River Métis (Michif) writer from Treaty 1 territory, the heart of the Métis Nation. She has worked in poetry, novels, children’s literature, and film.

In 2013, her first book, North End Love Songs (Muses’ Company) won the Governor General’s Literary Award for Poetry. Since then, her work has garnered awards and critical accolades across genres. Her novels The Break (House of Anansi), The Strangers, The Circle and most recently, real ones (Hamish Hamilton) have all been national best sellers and won multiple literary awards. Her work for children and young adults includes the picture book, The Girl and The Wolf (Theytus) and graphic novel series, A Girl Called Echo (Highwater). She also co-wrote and co-directed This River, which won the 2017 Canadian Screen Award for Best Short Documentary.

Her third book of poetry, procession (House of Anansi) will be out Sep 20/25.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, her father’s roots run deep in St. Boniface, St. Norbert and beyond, dating back over two centuries. Her mother’s side is Mennonite from the Altona and Rosenfeld area (Treaty 1).

She holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia, and an honourary Doctor of Letters from the University of Manitoba.

Katherena lives with her family in a cranky old house within skipping distance of the temperamental Red River.