Renowned indigenous author, Richard Wagamese, has died

KAMLOOPS – Storyteller, author and journalist Richard Wagamese, has died.

Family members confirm that Wagamese died at his home in Kamloops on Friday, March 10. He was 61 years old.

Wagamese leaves behind a legacy that includes multiple published works and several awards in fiction writing and journalism.

Parts of the film adaptation of Wagemese's novel Indian Horse were shot in Kamloops last year.

His most recent work, Embers: One Ojibway's Meditations, was published this year and was recently short-listed for a B.C. Book Prize.

Writer and member of the Manitoba legislature Wab Kinew considered Wagamese a mentor.

"To have a hero reach out and basically step into a mentoring role, I think that's a powerful example of how we should all be. We should all seek out people we can help the way that he did," Kinew says.

Wagamese was a regular speaker at schools and writing workshops. Kinew says he was known for helping young indigenous writers tell their stories.

"I think he was very generous and kind with others. As much as it is sad to see that he left us too soon, it's also very powerful to see the impact he had on so many people in life," he says.

Very sad to hear of the passing of Richard Wagamese. "Indian Horse" is one of my favourite books and taught me so much.#kamloops

— Terry Lake (@TerryLakeMLA) March 11, 2017

Great loss in the world of storytelling. Great author. Great teacher. He is now on a prolonged medicine walk. #RichardWagamese #healing https://t.co/vAqPT2dcQU

— Continual Threshold (@CTSelfHealing) March 11, 2017

It is truly a sad day … #RichardWagamese was indeed, a beautiful man and storyteller. https://t.co/vPmRFf0FAo https://t.co/Ei5J8InaWj

— Lynne Brown (@dlynnebrown) March 11, 2017

– This story was updated on Sunday, March 12, 2017 to include files from Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press.
– This story was updated on Sunday, March 12, 2017 to correct Wagamese's date of death from March 11 to March 10.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Kim Anderson or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.