Auto/biography in Canada: Critical Directions

Introduction—Widening the Field: Auto/biography Theory and Criticism in Canada

Cultural Studies Series Cultural Studies is the multi- and interdisciplinary study of culture, defined anthropologically as a “way of life,” performatively as symbolic practice, and ideologically as the collective product of media and cultural industries. The Cultural Studies series includes topics such as construction of identities; regionalism/nationalism; cultural citizenship; migration; popular culture; consumer cultures;media and film; the body; postcolonial criticism; cultural policy; sexualities ; cultural theory; youth culture; class relations; and gender. For further information, please contact the Series Editor: Jodey Castricano Department of English Wilfrid Laurier University Press 75 University Avenue West Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5 Life Writing Series In the Life Writing Series, Wilfrid Laurier University Press publishes life writing and new life-writing criticism in order to promote autobiographical accounts, diaries, letters, and testimonials written and/or told by women and men whose political, literary, or philosophical purposes are central to their lives. Life Writing will also publish original theoretical investigations about life writing, as long as they are not limited to one author or text. Series Editor Marlene Kadar Humanities Division, York University Manuscripts to be sent to Brian Henderson, Director Wilfrid Laurier University Press 75 University Avenue West Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3C5 JULIE RAK, editor Auto/biography in Canada ��� Critical Directions This book has been published with the help of a grant from the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, through the Aid to Scholarly Publications Programme, using funds provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program for our publishing activities. We acknowledge theGovernment of Ontario through the Ontario Media Development Corporation’s Ontario Book Initiative. Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Auto/biography in Canada : critical directions / Julie Rak, editor. (Life writing series) (Cultural studies series) Includes bibliographical references. isbn 0-88920-478-0 1. Canada — Biography— History and criticism. 2. Biography as a literary form. 3.Autobiography. i. Rak, Julie, 1966– ii. Series. iii. Series: Cultural studies series (Waterloo, Ont.). ps8119.a87 2005 920'.00971 c2005-902600-6© 2005 Wilfrid Laurier University Press Waterloo, Ontario, Canada www.wlupress.wlu.ca Cover image: Michael Snow, Authorization (detail), 1969. Instant silver prints (Polaroid 55) and adhesive tape on mirror in metal frame. 55.6 ⫻ 44.4 ⫻ 1.4 cm with integral frame. © National Gallery of Canada. Image used with permission of the artist. Cover and interior design by P.J. Woodland. Every reasonable effort has been made to acquire permission for copyright material used in this text, and to acknowledge all such indebtedness accurately. Any errors and omissions called to the publisher’s attention will be corrected in future printings. ● ∞ Printed in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher or a licence from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For an Access Copyright licence, visit www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free to 1-800-893-5777. ��� This collection is dedicated to the memory of Gabriele Helms (1966–2004). Her strong support of auto/biographical studies in Canada and around the world endures in her work and in the memories of her colleagues, students, and friends. This page intentionally left blank Julie Rak Introduction—Widening the Field: 1 Auto/biography Theory and Criticism in Canada Susanna Egan and Generations of the Holocaust in 31 Gabriele Helms Canadian Auto/biography Albert Braz The Modern Hiawatha: Grey Owl’s 53 Construction of His Aboriginal Self Sally Chivers “This is my memory, a fact”: 69 The Many Mediations of Mothertalk: Life Stories of Mary Kiyoshi Kiyooka Deena Rymhs Auto/biographical Jurisdictions: 89 Collaboration, Self-Representation, and the Law in Stolen Life: The Journey of a Cree Woman Ann Fudge Schormans Biographical versus Biological Lives: 109 Auto/biography and Non-Speaking Persons Labelled Intellectually Disabled Ljiljana Vuletic and A Transfer Boy: About Himself 129 Michel Ferrari Si Transken Creativity, Cultural Studies, and 145 Potentially Fun Ways to Design and Produce Autobiographical Material from Subalterns’ Locations vii | Contents ��� Andrew Lesk Camp, Kitsch, Queer: Carole Pope and 173 Toller Cranston Perform on the Page Laurie McNeill Writing Lives in Death: Canadian 187 Death Notices as Auto/biography Barbara Havercroft (Un)tying the Knot of Patriarchy: 207 Agency and Subjectivity in the Autobiographical Writings of France Théoret...