Bob Bartel

I grew up in the small village of Waldheim, Saskatchewan, Canada. My father owned a general store in the community, and my family (4 boys and a sister) often helped in its operation. I was an elementary teacher and an insurance broker. I also volunteered with a church development agency. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), for six years. The time with MCC changed my life. I spent three years in Jamaica, three years in Labrador, and a year working in the Canada office with aboriginal issues. During this time, the local people taught me lessons about inequality and justice which changed my perspective on life. I write children's stories. My first book Nutaui's Cap (published in 2019), is about the Innu people of Labrador and their struggle against the low-level military jet flights over their traditional lands. My second book, The Colors Jesse Sees, is about a boy who sees the world differently. My wife and I have two children and two grandchildren. I presently garden and write in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.