Ceremony, community and connection – the poems of Once the Smudge is Lit carry the reader into deeply spiritual elements of Nishnaabe/Ojibwe culture. Co-written by Cole Forrest and Kelsey Bogford, the poetry of Once the Smudge is Lit highlights the Indigenous experience in post-colonial times through explorations of themes ranging from love to community. Bogford's and Forrest's verses seek to open multiple windows into the experience of being Nishaabe in the modern world. A profound sense of movement and continuity is emphasized by Tessa Pizzale's beautifully evocative illustrations, which include a line of smudge smoke flowing from page to page. (From Kegedonce Press)

Kelsey Borgford is a Nbisiing Nishnaabekwe from the Marten clan and an emerging author. She has a forthcoming children's book called What's in a Bead.

Cole Forrest is an Ojibwe filmmaker and programmer from Nipissing First Nation. They are the writer and director of various short films that have been screened at festivals including imagineNATIVE, TQFF, and the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Tessa Pizzale is a Moose Cree artist and student at Nipissing University. She is based in North Bay, Ont.