Janet Marie Rogers

A powerful debut by Indigenous performance poet and spoken word artist, Janet Marie Rogers, Splitting the Heart throbs with the vitality of a Native drum and wails with a warrior’s wisdom. Both Mohawk warrior and west coast woman, Roger’s poems speak of personal and cultural identity, the trials of her people, loss and death – balanced by exquisite love poems, transcendent in their earthiness. She addresses the limitations of written history, the illusion of borders and the abuses suffered by the Native peoples, even those self-inflicted. Created as spoken word performance pieces, these poems more than hold their own when committed to print and come alive in an accompanying audio CD. Janet Marie Rogers is a multi-media artist with a way with words and a great deal to say on matters of deep importance. Splitting the Heart is a landmark volume of Canadian poetry. It’s time has come!

A Mohawk writer from the Six Nations territory in southern Ontario, Janet Marie Rogers was born in Vancouver and now lives in Victoria, B.C. Originally a visual artist, Rogers later channeled her creative energy into writing, exploring poetry, drama, fiction and fantasy. She is known as a dynamic spoken word artist and performer. Splitting the Heart is her first book.