New literature from Phyllis Webstad and Chelsea Vowel headlining Canada's fall nonfiction releases

New memoirs and educational guides from prominent Indigenous authors are set to hit shelves this spring as part of a significant literary rollout in Canada. On 31 August 2026, CBC Books highlighted two major works by Northern Secwépemc and Métis writers as essential reading for the upcoming season, focusing on themes of truth, reconciliation, and cultural resurgence. Author Phyllis Webstad, who is Northern Secwépemc from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, is scheduled to release her new memoir, "We Are Still Here: A Life of Truth and Reconciling Two Worlds", on 1 September 2026. The book, published by Medicine Wheel Publishing, details how Webstad’s personal experience of having her orange shirt taken away at age six evolved into a global movement. Webstad, a residential school survivor based in Williams Lake, B.C., previously won the 2021/2022 First Nation Communities Read Award for her work "Beyond the Orange Shirt Story." Joining the fall lineup is Métis writer and educator Chelsea Vowel, who is releasing an updated second edition of "Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Métis and Inuit Issues in Canada" on 1 September. Published by HighWater Press, Vowel’s latest work expands on critical contemporary discussions including Inuk and Métis identity, cultural appropriation, and the ongoing progress of Truth and Reconciliation efforts. Vowel, known for her focus on language and gender identity, has previously contributed to the graphic novel "This Place." These releases reflect a continuing trend of Indigenous voices leading the national conversation in Canadian nonfiction. According to CBC Books, these titles represent a broader movement of authors using personal narratives and scholarly research to bridge the understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.