Margaret Manuel is a Salish writer of children's literature.
Manuel, who was born in Kamloops and raised in Merritt, British Columbia, is descended from Syilx and Secwépemc ancestors. [1] She learned the Syilx Okanagan language at home, but is not fluent. [1] Manuel is a graduate of the National Aboriginal Professional Artist Training Program at the En'owkin Centre in Penticton. [2]
Her first book, I See Me, is a board book aimed at children up to age three. [3] The book features photographs of Manuel's son, Qwyula?xw, engaged in different activities, often with traditional indigenous toys or instruments. [2] [3] Each photograph is captioned with an English phrase of the form "I see me ...", followed by a blank line where parents are encouraged to translate the illustrated activity into their own language. [3] [4] The book was published by Theytus Books in 2010 and was shortlisted for a 2010 New York Book Festival award and a 2012 American Indian Youth Literature Award. [2] [5] [6] It was a bestseller in Canada. [7]
In 2016, she published a sequel, I am Proud of Me, which again features photographs of her son with captions in English and Okanagan. [1]