Matthew James Weigel

Matthew James Weigel is writer and artist from Canada,[https://www.cbc.ca/books/22-debut-canadian-poetry-collections-to-read-for-national-poetry-month-1.6410277 "22 debut Canadian poetry collections to read for National Poetry Month"]. CBC Books, April 8, 2022. whose debut poetry collection Whitemud Walking was a finalist for the 2022 Dayne Ogilvie Prize for first works by LGBTQ Canadian writers.[https://www.cbc.ca/books/bilal-baig-francesca-ekwuyasi-matthew-james-weigel-finalists-for-10k-prize-for-emerging-lgbtq-writers-1.6560654 "Bilal Baig, francesca ekwuyasi, Matthew James Weigel finalists for $10K prize for emerging LGBTQ writers"]. CBC Books, August 24, 2022.

He was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, where he is a graduate student in English and film studies at the University of Alberta.[https://windspeaker.com/news/windspeaker-news/treaty-brought-life-new-art-installation-edmonton-river-valley "Treaty brought to life in new art installation in Edmonton river valley"]. Windspeaker, September 13, 2022. Weigel self-identifies as a Denesuline and Métis.

Whitemud Walking is a collection of poetry about indigenous peoples' relationship with wider Canadian society, based around the historical and geographic significance of Edmonton's Whitemud Creek.Tyler Pennock, [https://prairiebooksnow.ca/articles/view/poetry-collection-weaves-through-and-reframes-history-of-lands-and-treaties "Poetry collection weaves through and reframes history of lands and treaties"]. Prairie Books Now, Spring/Summer 2022.

He previously won the Vallum Chapbook Award in 2020 for his chapbook It Was Treaty / It Was Me. In 2023, Whitemud Walking won the Gerald Lampert Award,[https://quillandquire.com/omni/matthew-james-weigel-gillian-sze-adebe-derango-adem-win-league-of-canadian-poets-book-awards/ "Matthew James Weigel, Gillian Sze, Adebe DeRango-Adem win League of Canadian Poets book awards"]. Quill & Quire, May 4, 2023. and was shortlisted for the Raymond Souster Award,Cassandra Drudi, [https://quillandquire.com/omni/league-of-canadian-poets-announces-2023-book-awards-shortlists/ "League of Canadian Poets announces 2023 Book Awards shortlists"]. Quill & Quire, April 20, 2023. from the League of Canadian Poets.

In addition to his poetry, Weigel is a designer for the poetry publisher Moon Jelly House, and has created commissioned public artworks including Spirit of Treaty at the entrance to Edmonton's Spirit of Hope United Church, and The Magpie and the Buffalo Treaty in the city's Gold Bar Park.