Indian Residential School History & Dialogue Centre
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Loyie Brissenden Collection

The IRSHDC is proud to be in the process of acquiring Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden's archives and look forward to making these records widely available to users.

Award-winning Cree author Larry Loyie was determined to inform the world about Indigenous history, culture, and traditions through his writing. He went back to school in his mid-fifties to study grammar and learn to type in order to fulfill a childhood dream of becoming a writer. His plays, children’s books, and national history, Residential Schools, With the Words and Images of Survivors, confirmed his important legacy of “books by us, and about us.” Larry Loyie was a mentor to many, and always generous with his encouragement of others. He passed away on April 18, 2016 at the age of 82 years.

Constance Brissenden was Larry Loyie’s partner, co-author, and editor for 24 years. They met in a free creative writing class in 1993, and soon launched Living Traditions Writers Group to encourage writing in Indigenous communities. The couple were committed to education, and gave more than 1,600 talks and writing workshops together. A prolific author and editor, Constance continues to share Larry’s legacy by encouraging emerging writers, and by assisting with book projects in Indigenous communities.

Portrait of Constance Brissenden and Larry Loyie
Larry Loyie interview — August 18, 2011
Welcome to the circle cover
The moon speaks Cree cover
When the spirits dance cover
Two plays about residential school cover
The gathering tree cover
Cover of the 2nd printing
Goodbye Buffalo Bay
As long as the rivers flow : a last summer before residential school
A National Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support to former students.
This 24-Hour Crisis Line can be accessed at: 1-866-925-4419.
Vancouver Campus
1985 Learner's Walk
Vancouver, BC, Canada
V6T 1Z1
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