MANDATE

Eschia Books Inc. is a channel for First Nations, Métis and Inuit voices. Our books spark interest in Indigenous experience and worldview, and our authors aim to encourage understanding of Canada’s First Peoples through authentic and insightful writing.

ABOUT US

Eschia is an expression meaning “oh, wow!” or “oh, my gosh!” in the northern Dëne Sųłiné or Chipewyan, language. Showcasing the diversity of First Nations across Canada, Eschia titles emphasize history and culture—the wellspring from which our stories evolve. We strive to ensure these essential narratives assume their well-deserved place in our country’s literary landscape to resonate with Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers alike.

Created to meet the demand for accessible, affordable books about Indigenous subjects, Eschia titles educate, inspire and entertain. The unique stories, information and experiences within the pages of our books engage all readers, and our future intentions include publishing material for Indigenous youth, who may be reluctant readers, to engage them in their own peoples’ history, experience and achievement.

Eschia Books is proud to provide a venue for Indigenous writers, especially emerging authors and those who live in isolated areas of Canada. By publishing their stories, we promote cross-cultural awareness that bridges the gap between groups that have lived so close and yet so far from each other for centuries.

Writing down the stories of a traditionally oral culture is important to protect them for future generations. We do so respectfully, guided by our Elders where needed and using Indigenous illustrators whenever possible.

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

Dianne Meili is proud to be the publisher and guiding spirit of Eschia Books. An enthusiastic and driven Métis woman with a diverse background in communications, Dianne has spent 32 years writing, editing and broadcasting. Using these skills to help strengthen the future of Indigenous culture and literature, she is gratified to dedicate the pages of Eschia’s offerings to safeguard and share traditional values, practices and stories, many with contemporary themes.

Dianne studied communications in Calgary and has travelled the world as a freelance writer. She edited Windspeaker, a national Indigenous magazine published by the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA) and attended meetings and conferences as a reporter. Inspired by the heartfelt words of Elders at these events, Dianne withdrew from media work to travel the province for two years to gather stories and wisdom from some of Alberta’s most beloved Elders. The culmination of her work was Those Who Know, published in 1992 with an updated version released in 2012 that won the Trade NonFiction Book Award at the Alberta Book Publishing Awards.

In addition to Those Who Know, Dianne has written three children’s books and contributed to three textbooks used in Alberta Education’s Aboriginal Studies.

She is a great advocate for Indigenous writers, artists, artisans and Elders, as is evident in her founding of Skydancer Cultural Centre. Enthusiastic about cultivating a stronger voice for Indigenous Peoples, Dianne aspired to provide a welcoming space where they could explore and express their Indigeneity, and where Indigenous culture could be shared with the greater community. Thanks to her hard work and dedication Skydancer Cultural Centre has become a place where Indigenous writers share the stories they’ve written, artists display their work, artisans teach people about their craft and Elders tell the stories of the People. Along with Eschia Books, Dianne looks forward to guiding and nurturing new and established writers into becoming major contributors of the stories of Indigenous people.

Eschia Books Inc. is a proud member of the Book Publishers Association of Alberta.