Adrian Sutherland’s memoir, The Work of Our Hands: A Cree Meditation on the Real World, has been nominated for a 2026 Governor General’s Literary Award in the Nonfiction category, marking another significant milestone for the acclaimed musician and author from Attawapiskat, Ontario.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Published by Penguin Random House Canada, the memoir explores Sutherland’s life in the James Bay region, reflecting on his Omushkegowuk Cree heritage, family, community, and deep connection to the land. Through personal stories of hardship, resilience, and renewal, Sutherland offers readers a thoughtful perspective on life in Canada’s Far North, and Cree culture and traditions.
ABOUT THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S LITERARY AWARD
Established in 1936, the Governor General’s Literary Awards, presented by the Canada Council for the Arts, recognize outstanding Canadian books across seven categories in English and French. Among Canada’s most prestigious literary honours, the awards celebrate literary excellence and connect readers with the work of Canadian authors and creators.
Other nominees in the Nonfiction category include:
- You Will Not Kill Our Imagination: A Memoir of Palestine and Writing in Dark Times by Saeed Teebi (Scribner Canada/Simon & Schuster Canada)
- The Lobster Trap: The Global Fight for a Seafood on the Brink by Greg Mercer (McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House Canada)
- Black Bear: A Story of Siblinghood and Survival by Trina Moyles (Knopf Canada/Penguin Random House Canada)
- A Truce That Is Not Peace by Miriam Toews (Knopf Canada/Penguin Random House Canada)
This latest recognition follows the book’s nomination for the 2026 Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize, announced in May. Sutherland’s memoir continues to reach new readers with its honest and deeply personal account of life, culture, and belonging in the Far North.
Discover Adrian’s personal stories and reflections on life in the Far North in The Work of Our Hands. Get your copy here.