Joseph Boyden, a Canadian novelist and short story writer, was the guest speaker at the English Department’s annual Munro Beattie lecture on Oct. 21.
Boyden discussed his novel-writing process, particularly in relation to his mental health issues and struggles with depression. He emphasized the importance of discussing mental health openly.
Boyden said his first novel, Three Day Road, came from the voices in his head. His novels mainly deal with Indigenous culture.
“[I] listened to those voices and learned to trust them,” he said, and added—after much frustration—the voice of Niska, a character in Three Day Road, demanded her story be told.
Boyden said these voices at times create their own paths and often shape their own story.
“A character, one of my babies basically, says ‘no, Dad, we are not going to do what you just told us to do,’” he said. “’What do you mean? I am the director,’ and the character is like ‘no, I am going to do something else.’”
Boyden touched on his personal struggles with depression and the need for discussion about mental health. He said writing saved his life.
“We need to start treating [depression] like physical illness,” Boyden said.
Emily Cameron, a fourth-year English student, said the Munro Beattie lecture is a good way to explore new genres of literature and different writers.
“[Boyden’s books] focused more on Indigenous culture, so if you are not part of that culture already getting to know this book helps widen [your perspective].”
Roxanne Veaudry, a third-year English student, said she originally came to the lecture because of her professor, Susan Birkwood, who introduced Boyden’s novel Three Day Road in her Canadian literature course.
“I was excited to see he would be coming,” she said. “He was really good . . . There was a good variety to it.”
Birkwood said Boyden plays an important role as a writer. She said his role is to “bridge communities and bridge the different cultural world views and make them . . . give that insight into those other worlds.”
Boyden said he hopes everyone who attended the lecture understands the prevalence of the Indigenous community and their importance in Canada.
“First Nations are the fastest growing population in the country . . . Not people of the past, but very much of the present and the future, and I believe that Canada is starting to understand that,” Boyden said.
