The Nipissing First Nation has lived in the area of Lake Nipissing in Ontario, Canada for about 9,400 years.
Wayne Keon was born in 1946 in Pembroke, Ontario. His father, Orville Keon worked at Denison Mines in Elliot Lake, where Keon grew up. Although his father only had a 6th grade education, he was a skilled storyteller and presented the young Keon with a gift of the complete works of W. B. Yeats. Even since he was twelve years old, Keon wrote.
Keon obtained a business administration degree from Northern Institute of Technology in Kirkland Lake, Ontario in 1969. He has a background as a financial analyst. As of 1976 he worked for mining corporation Rio Algom which amalgamated with Billiton and finally BHP Billiton to become the largest mining corporation in the world and was able to travel extensively, including North and South America, Australia and Europe. The company encouraged Keon's writing and gave their South American colleagues studying English copies of his books.
Keon has read his poetry in Canada, the United States, and throughout Europe. Currently, he lives in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
His work is characterized by his enigmatic and unique spelling, for instance, "nd" instead of "and."
Published works
Keon, Wayne (1997). My Sweet Maize. Toronto, Ontario: Mercury Press. ISBN 978-1-55128-041-7.
Keon, Wayne (1993). Storm Dancer. Toronto, Ontario: Mercury Press. ISBN 978-0-920544-97-6.
Keon, Wayne (1990). Sweetgrass II. Toronto, Ontario: Mercury Press. ISBN 978-0-920544-78-5.
THUNDERBIRDS OF THE OTTAWA, fictional account of a Canadian of native descent with a contemporary historical setting in the Ottawa Valley region. Co-authored by Wayne Keon and Orville Keon. Highway Bookshop, Cobalt, Ontario.
SWEETGRASS, a modern anthology of Indian Poetry. Collection of poetry written by three members of the Keon family. Orville Keon and two sons Wayne Keon and Ronald Keon collaborated. WOK Books, Elliot Lake, Ontario.
Anthology publications
das auge des raben schwarz. 2016. Edited by Helmbrecht Breinig and Wolfram Donat, Libronauti Verlag, Gelnhausen, Germany
Live Ink. 2012. Chenelière Éducation, Montreal, PQ, Canada
Live Lines. 2010. Pearson Canada Inc., Don Mills, Ontario, Canada
Composition and Indigenous Literature in Canada. 2009. Edited by Linda Stollings. Thompson Rivers University, Canada
Canadian Native Literature in English: An Anthology. 2005 Third Edition. Canadian Indian poetry. Edited by Terry Goldie and Daniel David Moses, Oxford University Press, Canada.
Without Reservation. 2003. Edited by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm. Kegedonce Press, Canada
Native Poetry in Canada. 2001. Edited by Lally Grauer, Jeannette Armstrong, Broadview Press, Canada .
Poetry Nation. 1998. Edited by Regie Cabico and Todd Swift, Vehicle Press, Canada
Canadian Native Literature in English: An Anthology. 1997 Second Edition. Canadian Indian poetry. Edited by Terry Goldie and Daniel David Moses, Oxford University Press, Canada.
Uncommon Wealth: an Anthology of Poetry in English. 1997. Edited by Neil Besner, Deborah Schnizer and Alden Turner, Oxford University Press, Canada
Images of Nature. 1995. Edited by David Booth, Kids Can Press, Canada
Voices of the First Nations. 1995. McGraw Hill Ryerson, Toronto.
Border Lines: Contemporary Poems in English. 1995. Edited by Dr. J.A. Wainwright, Copp, Clark, Canada
There Will Always Be A Sky. 1993. Edited by George Swede, Nelson Canada, Houghton Mifflin Company Nelson Canada, Canada.
Canadian Native Literature in English: An Anthology. 1992. Canadian Indian poetry. Edited by Terry Goldie and Daniel David Moses, Oxford University Press, Canada.
Native Writers and Canadian Writing. 1990. Edited by W. H. New, University of British Columbia Press, Canada.
Different Masks. 1990. Edited by J. Alvin Speers, Aardvark Enterprises, Canada.
Sacred Climaxes. 1990. Edited by Jiri Jirasek, Cosmic Trend, Canada.
First People, First Voices. 1983. Edited by Penny Petrone, University of Toronto Press, Canada.
Many Voices. 1977. Edited by David Day, Marilyn Bowering, J.J. Douglas Ltd, Canada
Sweetgrass: An Anthology of Indian Poetry, 1972. Edited by Wayne Keon, Ronald Keon, and Orville Keon, Algoma Printing Service, Canada.
Music performances of Wayne Keon’s work
Teach Me To Dance (2014) on YouTube, Written by Wayne Keon / Arranged and Performed by Mia Bee
Storm Dances (1996). Featured in performance presenting 'Storm Dances' - selection of improvised music and poems from STORM DANCER. Performers William Beauvais, Julian Knight, Mhari Fyfe, Wednesday, June 1996 at Orillia, Ontario
Storm Dances (1995). Featured in performance presenting 'Storm Dances' - selection of improvised music and poems from STORM DANCER. * performers William Beauvais, Julian Knight, Mhari Fyfe, Fall 1995 at Toronto, Ontario
Storm Dances (1994). Featured in performance by Improv Cafe presenting 'Storm Dances' - selection of improvised music and poems from STORM DANCER. Performers William Beauvais, Julian Knight, Mhari Fyfe, Wednesday, March 16, 1994, at THE ART BAR, Matyas Cellar, 840 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto, Ontario
Three Impressions (1973). Musical arrangement commissioned for the Ontario Youth Choir, CBC taping Arrangement composed by Norma Beecroft, Poems from Sweetgrass, "shell," "fall," and "sundown."
Album
"Sunsets & Dreams" on YouTube, music album
"lo tech no tech & no retakes" on YouTube, music album
Singles
" for Chanie 2016 " on YouTube, remembrance for Chanie Wenjack - Wayne Keon
" teach me to dance 2015 " on YouTube, from the album lo tech no tech & no retakes - Wayne Keon
" don't you ever go away 2015 " on YouTube, from the album lo tech no tech & no retakes - Wayne Keon
" Baltic Dream 2015 " on YouTube, from the album Sunsets & Dreams - Wayne Keon
" Would You Believe 2014 " on YouTube, from the album Sunsets & Dreams - Wayne Keon
" Baltic Blue – for Anita 2014 " on YouTube, from the album Sunsets & Dreams - Wayne Keon
" Hold the One You Love 2013 " on YouTube, from the album Sunsets & Dreams - Wayne Keon
" I’m Outta Here 2013 " on YouTube, from the album Sunsets & Dreams - Wayne Keon
" If I Could Fly – for wh new 2013 " on YouTube, from the album Sunsets & Dreams - Wayne Keon
" Soledad 2013 " on YouTube, from the album Sunsets & Dreams - Wayne Keon
" Tennessee Tonight 2013 " on YouTube, from the album Sunsets & Dreams - Wayne Keon
" Until The End 2013 " on YouTube, from the album Sunsets & Dreams - Wayne Keon
