Avis Blackbird
July 14th, 2026

The impact of colonization, enduring ties to the land and the resilience of Indigenous communities shape Lightning in Our Roots (Brick Books $24.95). In her debut poetry collection, Avis Blackbird traces a personal journey from an urban childhood disconnected from Indigenous traditions to a renewed relationship with her Secwepemc and Stóō heritage. Rooted in the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, the lyric poems explore ancestry, healing, identity and hope while imagining a future grounded in cultural resurgence. Avis Blackbird is a Secwepemc and Stóō writer, visual artist and photographer of mixed European heritage who lives in Coast Salish territory in British Columbia. A member of the Indigenous Arts Collective of Canada, she is completing graduate studies in counselling. 9781771316798
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