20.12m

20.12m: A Short Story Collection of a Life Lived as a Road Allowance Mtiscelebrates and acknowledges the humble living conditions of Mtis Road Allowance families and it exemplifies their grit and tenacity to survive and indeed succeed in the face of so many hardships. "20.12m" refers to the narrow width of many of the road allowances throughout the prairies. This unoccupied crown land became one of the meagre options for many impoverished Mtis families as so few owned land.

In this passionate coming of age book, Arnolda Dufour Bowes honours the true-life experiences of her father, Arnold Charles Dufour, a resident of the Punnichy, Saskatchewan Road Allowance community. The strength of the oral tradition has kept these stories solidly in place in Arnolda's memory. Weaving true elements with those drawn from her own creativity, these five engaging stories share a lived experience that is little-known to most Canadians. This collection of cherished remembrances of this Mtis family will also strongly resonate with many other Mtis families who lived similar lives. In keeping with the family focus, Arnolda's sister, Andrea Haughian, skillfully complements these poignant stories with expressive illustrations, which both honour and richly portray road allowance life. (FromGabriel Dumont Institute Press)

• Arnolda Dufour Bowes among finalists for $10K Danuta Gleed Literary Award

Arnolda Dufour Bowes is a Mtis author originally from Saskatoon who studied creative writing with Guy Vanderhaeghe at the University of Saskatchewan. The book 20.12m won the 2022 Danuta Gleed Literary Award and was also a finalist for the 2022 finalist for the Saskatchewan Book Awards.