CHRISTINE NIH'SHAW
Children's & Young Adult Author/Illustrator - Artist - Indigenous Language Advocate
About me
I've been an artist since I was old enough to hold a pencil. Originally born in Florida, I now live in the beautiful state of New Hampshire in a area originally inhabited by the Abenaki (Missiquoi, Souhegan, and Amoskeag) and Penakuk (Pennacook) peoples. A self-proclaimed Imagination Expert, Sushi Addict, and Sea glass Collector, I enjoy reading, roaming, and all things oceanic.
As a woman of Siksiká (Blackfeet) and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) blood, it is extremely important to me to preserve and cultivate our indigenous languages, culture, and stories for current and future generations. I believe my path has led me to do this through children's literature.
My latest work includes collaborations from the Red Cloud Lakota School (Pine Ridge, South Dakota), the Ahkwesáhsne Freedom School (Hogansbury, NY), and an educational advocate from the Mashpee Wampanoag Red Hawk Singers and Dancers (Mashpee, Massachusetts).
When not writing or working on illustrations, I enjoy traveling, spending time at the ocean, and exploring our natural world. Professional memberships include SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators), BroadUniverse, EFA (Editorial Freelancers Association), CLiF (the Children's Literacy Foundation), and a recent appointment to the NH Commission on Native American Affairs (a division of the NH Dept of Natural & Cultural Resources).
