Editor’s Note: As we celebrate Mi’kmaw History Month, we’re proud to spotlight some of our own people, Indigenous culture, contributions and history.
Getting to know StFX student Joe Pitawanakwat-Trudeau
Studying English, in England, held a certain appeal for Joe Pitawanakwat-Trudeau, a fourth year StFX English student and an aspiring storyteller from Sault Ste. Marie, ON, who spent last year abroad, completing an international exchange at the University of Winchester in Winchester, England, located about an hour southwest of London.
The study abroad opportunity interested on several levels.
“What better place to study English than England?” says Mr. Pitawanakwat-Trudeau, who liked everything about the experience—from the academics to the English culture, to the old architecture, the TV, and books, and “the gloomy, smoky kind of environment.”
As an aspiring storyteller, his time in Great Britain provided great atmosphere.
Reading, writing and storytelling have always interested Mr. Pitawanakwat-Trudeau. However, he originally followed another interest when he enrolled at StFX, beginning his studies initially in the human kinetics program. He also played for the StFX X-Men football team.
He did take an English course that first year, but it didn’t become his focus until after he took a gap year from StFX. During this time, a family friend, who is also a professor at Queen’s University, helped put him on a path to exploring his writing.
He also used that gap year to do a lot of reading on Indigenous culture. He had grown up learning a lot about the culture too.
When he returned to StFX, it was as an English student, with a renewed focus, knowing “this is what I’m doing.”
After his StFX graduation, Mr. Pitawanakwat-Trudeau knows that whatever route he takes, he wants to tell stories and write novels. Currently, he’s working on three very different projects, a young adult novel, an historical fiction work, and an adventure/fantasy novel.
“I was always into movies and stories and books,” he says, “I have a knack for remembering lines.”
While in high school, he did consider pursuing this passion for writing, but at the time opted for another route. Writing though is always something he’s carried with him, and he wondered at times, like after seeing the film, The Shawshank Redemption, what it would be like to write a book and tell such stories.
At StFX, Mr. Pitawanakwat-Trudeau says he’s been able to see the duality of the student experience. He played football his first two years and was heavily involved. When he returned to StFX, he had more free time. That’s when he saw the advertisement for StFX’s study abroad experience. He decided to go for it.
A constant since his first year at StFX has been spending some time at Kiknu, StFX’s Indigenous Student Centre. Kiknu means ‘our home’ in English. “I find it grounding,” he says.
Sharing stories and shining a spotlight on Indigenous culture is something he feels is important, as he says the culture is always something that has either been suppressed or misinterpreted. There’s a lot of confusion that exists, and there is a lot of truth and insights to be gained by sharing cultural insights and learning more, he says.
