Tasha Spillett

Tasha Spillett (she, her, hers) draws her strength from both her Nehiyaw and Trinidadian bloodlines. A celebrated educator, poet, and emerging scholar, Spillett is most heart-tied to contributing to community-led work that centres on land and water defence, and the protection of Indigenous women and girls. She is currently working on her PhD in Education through the University of Saskatchewan, where she holds a Vanier Canada Award.

Twitter: @TashaSpillett
Instagram: @tasha.spillett

Centering the strong hearts of Indigenous women and girls and shattering racist assumptions, Surviving the City is a beautiful, uncompromising honour song to those of us that not only survive the urban, but navigate through it with courage from our Ancestors.” — Leanne Betasamosake Simpson

FESTIVAL BOOK

Surviving the City

Miikwan and Dez are best friends. Miikwan is Anishinaabe; Dez is Inninew. Together, the teens navigate the challenges of growing up Indigenous in an urban landscape – they’re so close, they even completed their Berry Fast together. With the threat of a group home looming, Dez can’t bring herself to go home and disappears. Miikwan is devastated, and the wound of her missing mother resurfaces. Will Dez’s community find her before it’s too late? Will Miikwan be able to cope if they don’t?

DIVE DEEPER

Interview

“#WOTSauthorchat with Tasha Spillett & Natasha Donovan” — Word on the Street Blog

Video

“Existence as Resistance | Tasha Spillett” — TEDxUniversityofWinnipeg