John Moore

Johnny Moore is a Cree author and Fire Keeper born and raised in Moose Factory in 1963. He is of the Bear Clan and his Cree name is Notowekisoo Mikesoo (Eagles Calling).

Since 1989, Johnny has lived in Toronto, where he is a well-known and respected community member, volunteering with Native agencies and helping to strengthen communities through ceremonies, Sacred Fires, and support for those experiencing the effects of colonialism.

Due to the devastating impact of the Residential School System that his family members attended, Johnny grew up disconnected from his ancestral culture. The Indian Act stripped both his parents of their Cree Status, and no Cree was spoken in his childhood home.

When he was in his mid-twenties, Johnny gave up drugs and alcohol, and began to embrace his heritage and culture, attending ceremonies such as fasts and sweats. Johnny often reflects on the fact that his connection with his culture has helped him to grow into the person he is today. His family of three grown boys, three adopted daughters, and 13 grandchildren are sustaining gifts in his life.

Every week, Johnny hosts an Every Child Matters Sacred Fire at a Toronto park, holding those who are lost and missing close to his heart and offering a place to honour and keep their memory alive.

Johnny has been writing for more than 40 years. His prose poetry, which he calls spirit writings, are strongly influenced by the dark history of so-called Canada, and his own personal experiences with colonial systems as well as his resulting fight with his own demons. Guided by what he calls “the power dust of ancestors,â€ Johnny’s life and spirit writings reveal the transformations that come from lifting each other up.