Dystopian fiction and Indigenous storytelling converge in powerful contemporary narratives that address systemic exploitation, cultural preservation, and resilience. Métis author Cherie Dimaline gained widespread international acclaim with her 2017 young adult novel The Marrow Thieves, a groundbreaking story set in a dystopian future where Indigenous peoples are hunted for their marrow, which holds the ability to dream.
Career & Background
Cherie Dimaline was born on July 2, 1975, in Penetanguishene, Ontario, and is a member of the Georgian Bay Métis Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario. She launched her literary career with her debut novel Red Rooms, which earned the Fiction Book of the Year award at the Anskohk Aboriginal Literature Festival. Her early published works include the short story "Seven Gifts for Cedar", the novel The Girl Who Grew a Galaxy, and the short story collection A Gentle Habit. In 2014, Dimaline was named Emerging Artist of the Year at the Ontario Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts and served as the first Indigenous writer-in-residence at the Toronto Public Library. She also founded Muskrat Magazine and served as its founding editor. In 2019, she edited Little Bird Stories (Volume IX) for Invisible Publishing and published her acclaimed adult novel Empire of Wild. Beyond her book publishing, she writes and produces for screen and stage while remaining actively involved in her community.
Writing Style & Themes
Dimaline's work frequently blends Métis folklore, speculative fiction, magical realism, and gothic elements to explore the impacts of ongoing colonial exploitation. Rooted in her heritage and family oral history, her narratives prioritize intergenerational relationships, cultural memory, and environmental stewardship. Her writing balances stark survival scenarios with humor, deep community ties, and ancestral wisdom, showcasing how traditional knowledge serves as a tool for resistance and recovery.
Major Works
- The Marrow Thieves — Published in 2017, this young adult dystopian novel depicts a future where climate devastation has destroyed humanity's ability to dream, except among Indigenous peoples. The book won the Governor General's Literary Award, the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature, and the Burt Award, and was selected for TIME's list of the Best YA Books of All Time.
- Empire of Wild — Released in 2019, this adult novel reimagines the traditional Métis legend of the Rogarou in a modern setting in northern Ontario. It became an instant bestseller and was named Indigo's #1 Best Book of 2019.
- Hunting By Stars — This 2021 companion sequel to The Marrow Thieves continues the story of youth fighting to survive capture and residential-style extraction facilities, earning recognition as a 2022 American Indian Library Association Honor Book.
- Red Rooms — Dimaline's debut novel focuses on urban Indigenous experiences and community connections, earning her the Fiction Book of the Year award at the Anskohk Aboriginal Literature Festival.
- Funeral Songs for Dying Girls — A 2023 novel following a teen girl living in a cemetery management office who navigates grief, friendship, and the spirit world.
