KPU welcomes new Indigenous artist and writer-in-residence

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There is a new Indigenous artist and writer-in-residence at Kwantlen Polytechnic University who will be working with students in the faculty of arts.  

Napatsi Folger, who has a masters degree in creative writing from the University of British Columbia, filled the position earlier this semester, which entails in-class visits, events, consultations, and student and staff engagement. 

“I came across the job posting on LinkedIn and it seemed like a great fit for me,” Folger says. 

“I had gone to school with a previous writer-in-residence, Molly Cross-Blanchard, who is now a teacher in creative writing here at KPU, so that was a nice coincidence.” 

Folger was previously mentoring Inuit students at the Inuit Art Foundation and wants to continue working with Indigenous students here at KPU. 

“I find it very meaningful and get a lot out of it,” she says.  

“I learn from the students and get a lot of satisfaction from helping them out, particularly Indigenous students, and giving them more confidence in writing about their own culture. What really got me interested in being the writer-in-residence was the idea of being able to work with students and hone their own writing skills.” 

Folger is looking forward to working with and hearing stories from all KPU students. 

“I love reading the new ideas of young folks and I love to be able to point students in the direction of how to get published and how to hone their work to be really stellar,” she says. 

As an Inuit literary artist, Folger has published work including a children’s book called the Joy of Apex, which follows the life of a 10-year-old girl named Joy who lives in a small town in Nunavut. 

“My rise as a writer myself was the encouragement and positivity of mentors and teachers,” she says. 

“I learned a lot from my own mentors when I was coming up as an emerging writer myself, so I am excited to take on that role now.” 

Folger says she is happy to hold this position not only because it gives a voice to the Indigenous communities, but because KPU is ahead of other universities in terms of working towards reconciliation with First Nations and Indigenous communities. 

“There is so much that Indigenous communities go through, and there is a lot of intergenerational trauma and historically, a lack of access to the kinds of programs and accessibility. I think it is a lot more accessible now,” she says. 

“I would love to encourage other people to come and see me and chat with me about their work. I would not be a writer or a comic maker without the support of those kinds of people when I was in my undergrad.” 

To get in touch with Folger, email the faculty of arts administrator at arts.commevents@kpu.ca.