Darrel J. McLeod

Darrel J. McLeod (1957-2024) was Cree from Treaty-8 territory in Northern Alberta. Before deciding to pursue writing, he worked as an educator, chief negotiator of land claims for the federal government and executive director of education and international affairs with the Assembly of First Nations. He held degrees in French literature and education from the University of British Columbia and sang in a jazz band. McLeod’s memoir Mamaskatch (2018) was the winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award for Nonfiction, was shortlisted for many other major prizes and translated into French and German editions. It was followed by Peyakow (2021) which was also shortlisted for several literary prizes, and his novel, A Season in Chezgh’un (2023).