Sweetgrass & Cigarettes by Aleria McKay

“Sweetgrass & Cigarettes is a collection that explores themes of identity, trauma, and family, through the life, love, and loss of my father.”

Aleria McKay comes from a Haudenosaunee & Teme Augama Anishnabai mother and Red River Métis & Dene Tha father. She was raised on Six Nations of the Grand River and is proud to call her community home. Aleria holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Indigenous Studies and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Education. A poet and playwright, her past works include And She Split The Sky in Two and Thunderstorms. Her most recent poetry collection, Sweetgrass & Cigarettes, was released in early 2023. Aleria is passionate about animals, pageants, and escape rooms.