Remembering Darrel J. McLeod

D&M joins the literary community in mourning the death of author Darrel J. McLeod, and we offer our deepest condolences to McLeod’s family and many friends. 

Darrel J. McLeod (1957-2024) was Cree from Treaty-8 territory in Northern Alberta. His father died three months before McLeod was born, in an era when government agencies routinely took Indigenous children away from poor single mothers. McLeod’s mother, Bertha, went into hiding with young Darrel and his older siblings in his Mosum's trapping cabin. McLeod recalled this formative time at his great-grandfather's remote cabin as idyllic, though he realized his mother must have been struggling after losing her husband, her own mother, and her closest brother all within six months. After leaving the safety of Mosum’s cabin, McLeod’s early life was tumultuous and one of constant change and transition—from a Cree-speaking community in the bush to the cities of Calgary, Vancouver, and Ottawa, and a childhood and youth impacted by poverty, racism, abuse, and the suicides of family members. Along the way, the spirit of Mosum would be a constant solace, and McLeod also credited a number of other key people who guided him, including his older sister Debbie, remarkable teachers, and many longstanding friends. In turn, McLeod will be fondly remembered by many as a dear friend, wise teacher, gentle soul, tireless advocate and generous mentor.

An academic education that includes a degree in French language and literature from the University of British Columbia, as well as a diploma in Education and a certificate in dispute resolution, launched Darrel into a successful career that spanned a wealth of experiences: French immersion teacher, school principal, director of a curriculum center, Executive Director of Education and International Affairs at the Assembly of First Nations, and Chief Negotiator for the Government of Canada, then published author at age 61.

From there, McLeod’s writing career could easily be described as meteoric. His first memoir, Mamaskatch—named for the Cree word used as a response to dreams shared—won the 2018 Governor General’s prize for non-fiction and was shortlisted for many other prestigious prizes. McLeod was invited to appear at festivals across North America as well as in Argentina, Thailand and Malaysia. In Mamaskatch, McLeod recalls how deep and mysterious forces handed down by his mother helped him survive and thrive in the face of chaos and intergenerational trauma: her love and strength stayed with him to build the foundation of what would come to be a very fulfilling and adventurous life, which he shares in the sequel, Peyakow. His second memoir was also met with critical acclaim, including  a shortlist for the prestigious Hilary Weston Writer’s Trust Prize for Nonfiction. Darrel’s first novel, published in 2023, A Season in Chezgh’un, featured an educator grappling with the contradictory triumph and pain of finding conventional success in a world that feels alien. Through all his writing, McLeod remained a fierce voice for Indigenous rights, and candid in his struggles as a two-spirited Indigenous man.

McLeod was fluent in French, Spanish, as well as English, and was studying Cree. He lived near Sooke, BC, and spent winters in Puerto Vallarta. He was also an accomplished jazz singer—he often included musical references in his writing—and enjoyed gardening, cooking, running, travel, and yoga.

Darrel J. McLeod’s greatest gift to friends and readers, long after the last page was read, was the capacity for connection that his words provided. 

McLeod’s family has established an Indigenous Writers Scholarship that will be managed through Camosun College. It will be called Mamaskatch: Creative Writing Fund in Memory of Darrel J. McLeod. Donations to the scholarship would be genuinely appreciated and will honour his legacy as an extraordinary writer and mentor for Indigenous writers, in particular those interested in writing memoirs. To donate, please follow this link: https://webservices.camosun.ca/foundation/memorial-gifts/

Photos by Ilja Herb