Tanya Talaga is one of the most essential storytellers and pre-eminent Indigenous voices in Canada today. We met and became friends nearly 30 years ago when Tanya was an education reporter for the Toronto Star and I was a communications officer for the former Toronto Board of Education. We continued to collaborate on education stories as she joined the Queen’s Park Press Gallery and I, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association.
It’s incredible to see how successful Tanya has become. Her award-winning and critically acclaimed books Seven Fallen Feathers and The Knowing are a testament to her impassioned advocacy. Tanya is a kind, fearless and empathetic soul. My portrait of her is an attempt to capture her humility, grace, and characteristic spirit.