Murdo Scribe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1920
Murdo Scribe | |
|---|---|
| Born | Murdock Scribe 1920 Norway House, Manitoba |
| Died | 1983 (aged 62–63) |
| Citizenship | Swampy Cree |
| Occupations | Author and educator |
Murdo Scribe (1920 – 1983) was a Swampy Cree, World War II veteran[1] and educator from Norway House, Manitoba, Canada. He recorded his stories and some of the legends that had been passed to him. He wrote Murdo's Story, the text of a children's picture book published in 1985, which is available in Cree and Ojibwe as well as English.[2]
After WWII Murdo returned home to Manitoba and resumed his life as a trapper, gardener, business man, band councillor and storyteller.[3]
Scribe was appointed to co-ordinate the Traditional Individualized Education (TIE) Program with the Aboriginal Education Directorate (formerly known as the Native Education Branch) of Manitoba Education, in 1975.[4]
Throughout his life Murdo created various works that were published through the Manitoba Ministry of Education. The work features topics pertaining to the indigenous way of life such as canoe freighting, trapping and sledding.[5] Most of these works were published in English as well as Cree.
Murdo's Story was illustrated by Terry Gallagher.[6][7] Gallagher won a 1985 Canada Council Children's Literature Prize, now the Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration.
The Murdo Scribe Centre opened on June 14, 2005, located at 510 Selkirk Ave, Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was named in honor of the Murdock "Murdo" Scribe in recognition of his contributions to Aboriginal education in the province of Manitoba. The centre houses the Aboriginal Education Directorate, part of Higher education in Manitoba.[8]
