A look at King’s life and impact
Retired University of Guelph professor Thomas King has cultivated a strong presence in the Guelph community. A celebrated author, radio broadcaster, and lecturer, King has contributed multiple works, giving voice to First Nations people across North America.
Announced on Nov.18, the Canada Council for the Arts chose King as the recipient of the Governor General’s Literary Award in English-language Fiction for his novel The Back of the Turtle. During a conversation with King, he said that he was “in Vancouver on Grandville Island” when he found out of his win. He said he was “there for the Vancouver book festival.”
King has received numerous awards for his fiction and non-fiction works over the years. When asked about how it feels to be recognized he said, “…I never know how to feel about that, it was nice. There is a sort of detachment from writing a book and winning an award. All of the pleasure is in the writing for me. […] That is where the passion lies.”
The Governor General’s Literary Award is one of the most prestigious prizes among Canadians. Created in 1937, the awards are extremely coveted by Canadian literary authors, and have since cultivated a storied and powerful list of winners.
King has established himself as one of Canada’s most skilled writers, making the shortlist for the literary award on three separate occasions. Funnily enough, when receiving the call for winning the Governor General’s Literary Award, King thought it was “too early for them to be announcing winners because the shortlist had just come out.” He believed he was possibly going to be asked to sit on a panel of judges.
“I never know [what it is people will be drawn to], when I write a novel, I write it for myself the best I can,” said King, when asked about his newest work of fiction, The Back of the Turtle. King said. “Then, [I] send it out into the world, like you would a child after you have raised it.” Everyone who reads a novel will come up with their own perspective, but “[…] the novel deals with the idea[s] of community, and the idea of planetary stewardship,” which are topics on the minds of many today. “We’ve gotten to the point where the communities we had, have slipped away from us […] I don’t know if communities are as strong as they used to be.”
This past spring, King also won the 2014 RBC Taylor Award for his non-fiction book, The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America. The book showcased King’s experience and passion as a teacher and First Nations activist. King was a professor at the University of Guelph for 17 years, of which he said that he “enjoy[ed] talking with young people, and working with them in a classroom setting.”
Furthermore, in 2003, King was invited to be a participant in CBC’s Massey Lectures – the first person of aboriginal descent to be named a lecturer. King delivered his lecture entitled The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative, which tackled various issues through an interwoven narrative of storytelling – showcasing tales of oral native history, politics, and religion.
King was also named a member of the Order of Canada in 2004, a recognition that emphasizes his importance and influence as a writer-activist to Canadians across the nation.
King’s storytelling has continued to inspire many within the Guelph community. His focus on the importance of storytelling remains something constant throughout his writings. Using traditional native narratives to weave stories and tell intricate, yet simplistic, tales allows for an impactful reading of King’s work and his message.
“I don’t know if I always wanted to be a writer, but I always told stories, from as long as I can remember. I wrote poetry when I was young – awful poetry […] I guess I slipped into it as a reader. I enjoyed reading stories, [and telling them] so it seemed natural to write stories,” said King. King also shared a personal fact that is quite a big part of his story, “[I] didn’t start seriously working as a writer until I came to Canada in 1980, and there is was to impress a woman to be honest with you.” When asked if it worked, he replied, “she’s still with me.”
It is clear that King has a tremendous ability to give a unique voice and perspective onto social, political, and moral issues. King said that he “spent some time in New Zealand as a photojournalist,” which got him “into the mode of telling stories.” In an interview after the release of one of King’s earlier novels, King was asked if he saw himself as an intellectual worker – he stated “If you had asked me that 10 years ago, I would have said, ‘Yes, I see myself as an intellectual activist.’ But if you ask me that today, I’m not sure that I would try to take that on. And the reason is because – in my novels, I do get into a form of intellectual activism.”
King’s legacy as a prominent figure in the Guelph community has flourished under the national spotlight. His numerous awards and accomplishments demonstrate the need for a motivational and influential figure to discuss pertinent social and political issues. By communicating his stories and voice through multiple mediums, King’s work will forever encompass the spirit of his message.