About Richard

Richard Van Camp is a proud member of the Dogrib (Tłı̨chǫ) Nation from Fort Smith, NWT, Canada.

Photo credit William Au

He is a graduate of the En’owkin International School of Writing, the University of Victoria’s Creative Writing BFA Program, and the Master’s Degree in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia.

He is an internationally renowned storyteller and best-selling author. His novel, The Lesser Blessed, is now a movie with First Generation Films and premiered in September of 2012 at the Toronto International Film Festival. He is the author of five collections of short stories, six baby books, three children’s books, five comics and much more.

Awards

2023

A recipient of the Order of the Northwest Territories.

2021

The Blue Metropolis First Peoples Literary Prize at the 2021 Blue Metropolis Festival for Moccasin Square Gardens
and Richard’s literary career so far.

2021

CODE Burt Award for First Nations, Inuit and Metis Young Adult Literature

Winner English Language Category: Moccasin Square Gardens

2016

Nominated for the Eisner Award for Best Single Issue for A Blanket of Butterflies

2015

R. Ross Arnett Award for Children’s Literature for
Little You

2013

Georges Bugnet award for Godless but Loyal to Heaven (Enfield & Wizenty)

2012

Northern Journal’s “News-maker of the Year”
Up Here Magazine’s “Northerner of the Year”

2006 – 2007

Wordcraft Storyteller of the Year for “The Greatest Storytelling in Canada and the US” at the annual Returning the Gift conference held at Michigan State University by the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers

2001

Jugendileraturpries Award, the highest award for a translation awarded by the German government for The Lesser Blessed (Translated by Ulrich Plezdorf)

1999 – 2000

Canadian Children’s Book Center “Our Choice” recommended list For What’s the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses

1999

Writer of the Year Award for Children’s Literature by the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers for A Man Called Raven

1997

Canadian Authors Association Air Canada Award, honoring a young (under 30) Canadian writer deemed to show the most promise for the future in the field of literary creation

Nominations

2013

Finalist for the Western Magazine for the short story “Devotion”

2010

ReLit Award for The Moon of Letting Go
Western Magazine Award, nominated by Prairie Fire for the short story “Dypthia”

Interested in working with Richard?

Richard is available for speaking engagements.

GET IN TOUCH

Richard Van Camp is a proud member of the Dogrib (Tłı̨chǫ) Nation from Fort Smith, NWT, Canada.

He is a graduate of the En’owkin International School of Writing, the University of Victoria’s Creative Writing BFA Program, and the Master’s Degree in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia.

Awards

2023

A recipient of the Order of the Northwest Territories.

2021

The Blue Metropolis First Peoples Literary Prize at the 2021 Blue Metropolis Festival for Moccasin Square Gardensand Richard’s literary career so far.

2021

CODE Burt Award for First Nations, Inuit and Metis Young Adult Literature

Winner English Language Category: Moccasin Square Gardens

2016

Nominated for the Eisner Award for Best Single Issue for A Blanket of Butterflies

2015

R. Ross Arnett Award for Children’s Literature for Little You

2013

Georges Bugnet award for Godless but Loyal to Heaven (Enfield & Wizenty)

2012

Northern Journal’s “News-maker of the Year” Up Here Magazine’s “Northerner of the Year”

2006 – 2007

Wordcraft Storyteller of the Year for “The Greatest Storytelling in Canada and the US” at the annual Returning the Gift conference held at Michigan State University by the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers

2001

Jugendileraturpries Award, the highest award for a translation awarded by the German government for The Lesser Blessed (Translated by Ulrich Plezdorf)

1999 – 2000

Canadian Children’s Book Center “Our Choice” recommended list For What’s the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses

1999

Writer of the Year Award for Children’s Literature by the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers for A Man Called Raven

1997

Canadian Authors Association Air Canada Award, honoring a young (under 30) Canadian writer deemed to show the most promise for the future in the field of literary creation

Nominations

2013

Finalist for the Western Magazine for the short story “Devotion”

2010

ReLit Award for The Moon of Letting Go Western Magazine Award, nominated by Prairie Fire for the short story “Dypthia”

Interested in working with Richard?

The Blue Metropolis First Peoples Literary Prize at the 2021 Blue Metropolis Festival for Moccasin Square Gardens
and Richard’s literary career so far.

R. Ross Arnett Award for Children’s Literature for
Little You

Northern Journal’s “News-maker of the Year”
Up Here Magazine’s “Northerner of the Year”

ReLit Award for The Moon of Letting Go
Western Magazine Award, nominated by Prairie Fire for the short story “Dypthia”