Hi Folks, 

 

I'm Sadie Sawyer. Sawyer is actually my mother’s last name, and her Grandpa on the Sawyer side was born to Akwesasne parents- he was the first ancestor on this side to not to be born on the St. Regis Reservation in New York. 

 

I am a teacher, learner, and mother living on Treaty 6 Territory. I am originally from a small community in Alberta, Canada, and I am now living near Edmonton (ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ, Amiskwacîwâskahikan). I often reflect on my own heritage, privileges, and relationship to where I live and how we got here. I recognize that no one has influence over where they are born, and who they are born to, yet this is such a profound determinant of one’s opportunities and quality of life. 

 

I have an English Degree and Education Degree from the University of Lethbridge, as well as a Graduate Certificate from the University of Alberta. In 2014 and 2015 I participated in “Agora” at Red Deer College where pieces of my writing were published. I also did an interview (about the experience referenced for this month’s challenge) for The Melorist, the University of Lethbridge’s magazine in 2017. Since graduating University in 2018 I have only written papers for Graduate level Education courses or my own pieces of creative writing (poetry, fiction, and non-fiction) that I’ve typically kept private.

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Thank you for this opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone and connect with readers, creatives, and other "wordworkers" in this literary community. This experience, regardless of the results, has reminded me of how healing writing is and that I need to continue to take risks. 

 

Truly (& fictionally), 

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Sadie

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