Antonine Maillet

Giving voice: Who speaks for the forgotten?

Sunday, May 29
12:15 to 13:20
Margaret Norrie McCain Hall, Noel Kinsella Auditorium

Antonine Maillet, novelist, playwright and academic, has captured the history of the Acadian people for many years. Her deep connection to both the physical geography and the Acadian people has allowed her to give voice to the rich and poignant experiences of an oft-forgotten group. How can her work serve as a medium for their stories? As her work continually reveals, she is able to speak referentially about her own sacred trust while also thinking about it in comparative ways.

Born in Bouctouche, NB, Antonine Maillet is a ground-breaking author whose works have been recognized with multiple awards, including the Governor General’s Award and the prestigious Prix Goncourt. Her novel La Sagouine (1971) was met with much critical acclaim. A holder of over 20 honorary doctorates, Mme. Maillet is one of Canada’s most eminent novelists and playwrights. Mme Maillet is a Companion of the Order of Canada and Officier de l’Ordre de la Légion d’Honneur de France, among others.