Armand Garnet Ruffo, Canada

(c) Pearl Pirie

Armand Garnet Ruffo, born 1955 in Chapleau, Ontario, grew up in the Oji Cree Territory in the north of Canada and is a member of the Chapleau Fox Lake Cree First Nation. He is primarily recognised as a poet who represents contemporary indigenous literature. Armand Garnet Ruffo is the author of numerous works of poetry such as Man Changing Into Thunderbird (2015) and Treaty # (2019). In the latter he explores the broader meaning of the word in the title, looks at personal relationships and connections at macro level, such as the First Nations Treaties. In 2016 Armand Garnet Ruffo was awarded the Lifetime Membership Award of the National Council of the League of Canadian Poets for his lifetime’s work.

Publications:
Grey Owl: the mystery of Archie Belaney. Coteau Books, 1997
At Geronimo’s grave. Coteau Books, 2001
Norval Morrisseau: Man Changing Into Thunderbird. Douglas & McIntyre, 2015
The Thunderbird Poems. Harbour Publishing, 2015
TREATY#. Wolsak and Wynn, 2019

Prices:
2000: Canadian Authors’ Association Prize for Poetry
2002: Archibald Lampman Award for poetry
2015: Governor General’s Literary Award for Creative Non-Fiction, Finalist
2016: Lifetime Membership Award des National Council der League of Canadian Poets
2019: Governor General’s Literary Award for Poetry, Finalist

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