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Translated graphic novel educates readers on reconciliation in Québec
A self-described âcomic nerd,â award-winning translator Sarah Henzi sees graphic novels as a rich medium to share research findings.
A settler scholar and assistant professor in Indigenous Studies and French at 91ĆĘÜœ (SFU), Henzi recently translated artist-author innovative graphic novel, , to inform English-speaking readers about Indigenous education in QuĂ©bec.
âWhen we approached Wilfrid Laurier University Press, it was already proven that there is a strong interest in this graphic novel as an educational tool to facilitate conversations about reconciliation in QuĂ©bec classrooms,â says Sarah Henzi of Dufourâs French graphic novel, originally published by ĂcosociĂ©tĂ© in 2021. âWe were delighted when editor Daniel Heath Justice (Cherokee Nation/ áŁáłá©áŻ á á°á”) accepted âQuĂ©bec Was Born in My Country!â as the first graphic novel in the publisherâs .â
Henzi and Dufour are already receiving accolades for the English translation, with the recently published graphic novel receiving an Awards to Scholarly Publications Program (ASPP) Translation Grant (2025) from the Federation of the Humanities and Social Sciences. We asked Henzi to tell us more about the unique challenges of reimagining this multi-layered graphic novel for audiences outside of Québec.
Can you tell us about this project? What subject matter is explored?
Emanuelle Dufour is both the artist and writer of this graphic novel, which she created as her PhD project in art education â the first in QuĂ©bec to include such a significant visual component. The graphic novel takes the form of a diary, where Dufour confronts her lack of knowledge about Indigenous people in her own country. To educate herself, Dufour interviewed Indigenous and QuĂ©bĂ©cois people about their experiences with the events and polices she describes in the book, such as the Oka crisis, media misrepresentations, and the education system in QuĂ©bec.
What I like about Dufourâs approach is she interviews, but she is not editing. There are multiple facets to these stories. As the translator, it was important to preserve each contributorâs unique voice. Their combined voices tell this story, and as such, they are each credited at the front of the book.
"As the translator, it was important to preserve each contributorâs unique voice."
Who is the audience for this graphic novel? What can readers learn?
Since 2021, the French version of the graphic novel has been used as a pedagogical tool in Québec to teach students of all ages about the continuing impacts of colonization and residential schools.
"QuĂ©bec Was Born in My Country!" starts with a quote from the Honourable Murray Sinclair: âEducation is what got us into this mess, but education is the key to reconciliation.â Dufourâs background is in educational safety, and the importance of education â particularly Indigenous-run institutions, such as Kiuna College in QuĂ©bec â is a key message. Dufour is forward thinking and presents the information in an engaging and accessible format, so that the next generation can become better informed and make positive change.
How did you become involved in this project?
As a translator, I take on projects that I feel personally attached to because I love the text so much. I met Dufour years ago through a summer program I organized in Québec. At that time, she was a graduate student working on educational safety with First Nations youth, and she was beginning to explore the ideas behind her graphic novel, inspired by her travels to New Zealand. We connected over our love of comics. For me, it began with reading Calvin and Hobbes as a teenager and has evolved to become one of my research interests as an academic. As a post-doctoral fellow, my research was focused on unconventional media and this interest has continued for me. Through a SSHRC Insight Grant, I recently co-organized the , which focused on Indigenous, French, and English graphic novels. Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas was a keynote speaker, and the conference also hosted the book launch for "Québec Was Born in My Country!"
"Dufourâs background is in educational safety, and the importance of education â particularly Indigenous-run institutions, such as Kiuna College in QuĂ©bec â is a key message."
What makes this project unique?
As you can see when you read this graphic novel, many small details and layers needed to be translated, including captions that accompany multiple drawings on each page. Dufour and I collaborated to ensure the translation reflected her original vision.
My translation projects have all been unique from each other. As a translator, there is not just one English, and there is not just one French. The details of the word choices can become overwhelming. For this project, I created many notes at the end of the graphic novel to explain context and details that might not be familiar to readers outside of Québec.
What is next for you?
My next project is a French translation of (2nd Ed.), which includes many illustrative examples from Western Canada given throughout the book. Part of the challenge will be finding equivalent examples â such as animals and plants â that readers in QuĂ©bec will know.
Our faculty specialize in a variety of research areas across the field of Indigenous Studies. Find out more about research at SFU Indigenous Studies.