Joseph Boyden

Joseph Boyden (born October 31, 1966) is a Canadian novelist and short story writer of Irish and Scottish descent. He also claims Indigenous descent, but this is widely disputed. Joseph Boyden is best known for writing about First Nations culture. ''Three Day Road'', a novel about two Cree soldiers serving in the Canadian military during World War I, was inspired by Ojibwa Francis Pegahmagabow, the legendary First World War sniper. Joseph Boyden's second novel, '' Through Black Spruce'', follows the story of Will, son of one of the characters in ''Three Day Road''. The third novel in the Bird family trilogy was published in 2013 as '' The Orenda''.

Life and career

Joseph Boyden grew up in Willowdale, North York, Ontario, and attended the Jesuit-run Brebeuf College School. The ninth of eleven children, he is the son of Blanche (Gosling) and Raymond Wilfrid Boyden, a medical officer renowned for his bravery, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was the most highly decorated medical officer of World War II.

Joseph Boyden studied humanities at York University and received an MFA in Fiction from the University of New Orleans in 1995. He was a professor in the Aboriginal Student Program at Northern College during 1995–1997. He taught at the University of New Orleans during 1998–2010, where he served as writer-in-residence. He was also a lecturer with the University of British Columbia's Creative Writing Program during 2013–2015.

To date, Joseph Boyden has received five honorary doctorates and degrees. His first honorary doctorate in 2009 (Doctor of Letters, ''honoris causa'') was awarded from Nipissing University. In 2013, Joseph Boyden was awarded a second honorary doctorate from Algoma University. He was awarded a third honorary doctorate from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University in 2014, a fourth from Trent University in 2015, as well as an honorary degree from Humber College in 2015. Joseph was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013. He sits on the board of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

In 2014 Joseph accepted a commission from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet to write a ballet about residential schools in Canada. Joseph Boyden's ballet ''Going Home Star – Truth and Reconciliation'' premiered in 2014 and travelled across the country.

As a public speaker, Joseph regularly addresses Indigenous Canadian, environmental, and mental health issues.

On December 30, 2015, Joseph Boyden was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada "for his contributions as an author, who tells stories of our common heritage, and for his social engagement, notably in support of First Nations".

Joseph Boyden was married to author Amanda Boyden from 1995 to 2018. In 2020, Amanda Boyden published a memoir, ''I Got the Dog'', in which she wrote about the circumstances that brought on the end of their marriage.

Joseph Boyden lives in Georgian Bay, Ontario with his wife Laura and their two sons. In 2019, Boyden wrote about coming home and finding new life in ''Georgian Bay Today'' magazine. Joseph Boyden is the co-creator of Sweetwater Writers Workshop in Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada. Sweetwater Writers Workshop offers one-on-one mentorships, creative writing workshops and hosts retreats.

Controversies surrounding genealogy and tribal affiliation

Joseph Boyden is primarily of Irish and Scottish ancestry. A number of Indigenous writers and researchers came forward to publicly state Joseph did not have the right to speak on behalf of any Indigenous community because he was not a First Nations citizen and ultimately not Indigenous.

Joseph's claims to Indigenous heritage subsequently became the subject of public dispute when an APTN National News article, "Author Joseph Boyden's shape-shifting Indigenous identity" by Jorge Barrera, was published December 23, 2016. Barrera's article investigates Joseph's past claims of Mi'kmaq, and Métis ancestry as well as his current claims of being Nipmuc and Ojibway. Barrera brought to light facts surrounding Joseph's uncle Earl Boyden, who went by the name "Injun Joe". Earl Boyden was an artist in Algonquin Park and was the subject of a 1956 ''Maclean's'' article titled, "The Double Life of Injun Joe", in which the author reports that he has no "Indian blood." Barrera's search of Joseph's family tree could not locate any Indigenous ancestry. Joseph's mother, who was briefly interviewed via telephone by Barrera, said that her son was researching her family's history.

Joseph, who had refused an interview with APTN for the article, responded by Twitter on December 24. Joseph stated he admitted he'd called himself Métis, but only meant the term to mean mixed blood. He continued to assert his maternal Ojibway and paternal Nipmuc roots.

Subsequently, Rebeka Tabobondung, editor of ''Muskrat Magazine,'' revealed Boyden had told her he was from the Wasauksing First Nation. Tabobondung, who is from Wasauksing, followed up to find his family connection and could not. However, Boyden's family did own a private island near the community.

Over the next weeks a series of Indigenous writers, activists and politicians including Wab Kinew

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