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Billy-Ray Belcourt

Billy-Ray Belcourt is a poet, author, and scholar from the Driftpile Cree Nation. He won the 2018 Griffin Poetry Prize for his debut collection, This Wound Is a World.
Poet Billy-Ray Belcourt in front of an orange background
December 2022 / Poetry

Autofiction

December 1, 2022 - by Billy-Ray Belcourt

Have I always been in the world? / No, I’ve been autumn in the middle of August.

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Portrait of poet Billy-Ray Belcourt
January/February 2021 / Poetry

The Tragedian

February 12, 2021February 12, 2021 - by Billy-Ray Belcourt

Why is it that love turns me into a tragedian?

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Black and white illustration of a hand holding a pen, drawing a golden squiggly line through a maze of grey dots. The background is black.
Books

How Do You Write about Joy in a State of Emergency?

August 27, 2020August 27, 2020 - by Billy-Ray Belcourt

Over an eight-month period, more than 100 people at Attawapiskat tried to end their lives. This is the legacy of colonial violence

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quote displayed on a blue background
Poetry

The Terrible Beauty of the Reserve

June 7, 2018March 24, 2022 - by Billy-Ray Belcourt

Everyone’s uncle thinks that they are the world’s most handsome NDN, and no one says otherwise.

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The Walrus is located within the bounds of Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit. This land is also the traditional territory of the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

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​​The Walrus is located within the bounds of Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit. This land is also the traditional territory of the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

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As the executive director, I am frequently asked this question. These days, I reply: “The Walrus was made for this moment.” From on-again, off-again trade news and negotiations to a new prime minister, we are committed to Canada’s conversations. We launched six regional bureaus earlier this year to ensure comprehensive coverage across this great country of ours. But we can’t do this alone. As a non-profit newsroom, this work isn’t possible without our readers’ support. If you believe in Canada’s stories, support our paywall-free journalism with a donation today.

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Thank you for your support.

Jennifer Hollett
Executive Director, The Walrus


How’s The Walrus?

As the executive director, I am frequently asked this question. These days, I reply: “The Walrus was made for this moment.” From on-again, off-again trade news and negotiations to a new prime minister, we are committed to Canada’s conversations. We launched six regional bureaus earlier this year to ensure comprehensive coverage across this great country of ours. But we can’t do this alone. As a non-profit newsroom, this work isn’t possible without our readers’ support. If you believe in Canada’s stories, support our paywall-free journalism with a donation today.

Our team is small, but our commitment is big; just like our country. Every story we publish is the result of writers, artists, and editors going the extra mile (well, kilometres) to bring Canada closer together through compelling, fact-checked, and regionally grounded reporting.

Thank you for your support.

Jennifer Hollett
Executive Director, The Walrus

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