Background
Rita Joe was born on March 15, 1932 in Whycocomagh, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. She was the youngest surviving daughter of Joseph (Josie) Gould Bernard and Annie (Googoo) Bernard. In 1942, she was orphaned.
Rita Joe was born on March 15, 1932 in Whycocomagh, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. She was the youngest surviving daughter of Joseph (Josie) Gould Bernard and Annie (Googoo) Bernard. In 1942, she was orphaned.
Rita attended Shubenacadie Indian Residential School, in 1944-1948.
In 1978, Rita's first book, The Poems of Rita Joe was published. Over her lifetime she published six other books, including the autobiographical Song of Rita Joe,in which the poet outlined some of her experiences at the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School. The first Rita Joe Memorial Literacy Day was held in 2012. Festivities include a writing contest for students and visits and workshops from professional writers and artists.
Quotations:
"Indians have in the past been portrayed as the bad guys, I write the positive image of my people, the Mi'kmaq.""When I started the first time writing, I was trying to inspire all minorities with my work. To make others happy with my work is what I wanted to do.""My greatest wish is that there will be more writing from my people, and that our children will read it. I have said again and again that our history would be different if it had been expressed by us.""The positive outlook that I have worked on for so long now turns me off the negative.
I look for the good.".
In 1992 she was made a Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.
Rita married Frank Joe in 1954. They had eight children and adopted two boys.