In Memoriam: Darrel J. McLeod

Cree people believed the northern lights to be spirits of the dead who remained in the sky, trying to communicate with their living relations.

— from Peyakow, by Darrel J. McLeod

This week, we lost a remarkable teacher, writer, and friend: Darrel J. McLeod. Darrel's impact on our community was profound.

He was the Governor General's Award-winning author of Mamaskatch, as well as Peyakow and the novel A Season in Chezgh'un, each of which was nominated for prestigious awards and recognized for its depth and power. His work touched many of us, whether through his writing or through his presence in our programs. Darrel was Cree, from Treaty Eight territory in northern Alberta, and a cherished member of our school and community.

Darrel was not only an accomplished writer and musician, but also a leader and advocate. He served as the chief negotiator of land claims for the Canadian federal government and was the executive director of Education and International Affairs with the Assembly of First Nations. He brought this rich background into his teaching with us, most notably in the Story Intensive, where he guided students with compassion and wisdom.

As a writer, Darrel was generous, disruptive, and filled with emotional depth. His words mixed memory, intellect, and spirit to create a space where truth-telling felt compassionate and real. Through his stories, he invited us into a shared experience of healing and release. His voice will be deeply missed.

In his honor, I'm sharing the epigraph from his memoir, Peyakow:

Love is something that you can leave behind when you die—it is that powerful.

—John Fire Lame Deer, Lakota Holy Man

Thank you, Darrel. It was a privilege to work and write with you. We miss you so much.

Me and Darrel J. McLeod with Esi Edguyan, Sarah Weinman and Sheena Kamal after our panel discussion Dream | Love | Leap | Transcend at the Victoria Festival of Writers in 2018.