Maria Campbell was born in 1940 in Park Valley, Saskatchewan. She is of Scottish, Native American, and French descent making her half white and half native. Maria is the eldest daughter of seven children.
When Maria was 12 years old, the death of her mother caused Maria to drop out of school and care for her siblings. At age 15, Maria married an abusive white alcoholic man to prevent her brothers and sisters from being placed in an orphanage. Unfortunately, her husband reported her to the Welfare Authorities and her siblings were placed in foster care.
Next, Maria's husband decided to take her to Vancouver, British Columbia and tricked Maria into thinking this was just a trip. But Maria's husband abandoned her in Vancouver and left her with nothing. Maria tried to make money, but the racist community in Vancouver caused Maria to become depressed and lose hope. Maria tried bonding with native tribes living in Vancouver. But soon, they found out she wasn't a full blooded native and began ignoring her. Maria became a prostitute and drug addict. She had two suicide attempts and a nervous break down, until she finally realized the harm she was doing to herself. Maria realized she was a strong woman, and not "worthless" as her community said she was. In an effort to get help, she went to the hospital and entered Alcoholics Anonymous.
Maria also stopped offering herself to men, and was no longer a prostitute. But this meant that Maria had lost her only job and she had no money left. Maria knew she was going to be kicked out of her house for not being able to pay the rent. Unsuccessfully Maria tried again, to find a job. She begged her white community for help. Just when Maria's self esteem was being rebuilt, her community broke her down by telling her she didn't belong in Vancouver. Maria was left with no choice and decided to work on the streets again. One night she sat down with a hand full of drugs, ready to go back to her old habits. Maria thought to herself, and said "I can't go back to drugs again. Who do I want to be? My old husband"' She began writing a letter to herself and soon found someone to talk to.
This is how Maria began writing her first book, "Halfbreed". "Halfbreed" relates to the first thirty years of her life as a lonely, depressed woman living in a community full of bigots. Maria felt more confident by writing to herself because she knew she wouldn't be judged or criticized. She felt comfort by compiling her thoughts that she kept bottled up for so long. In the book, Maria writes about being discriminated against by whites and full-blooded Metis Aboriginals for her different cultures. "Halfbreed" is a best seller in Canada and is described as "the most decisive book written by a Native person" by The Canada Council for the Arts.
Maria Campbell also wrote a selection of research books about native tribes and children's books. Some of these books are; "Reil's People", "The Little Badger and the Fire Spirit", "People of the Buffalo", "Stories of the Road Allowance People" and "Achiimoona". But a constant theme that is always present in Maria's work is the quest for acceptance.
To Aboriginals, Maria's work represents the struggles natives feel to be accepted into society and how to overcome these obstacles. To non-aboriginals, Maria's work teaches society to be kinder to people of mixed backgrounds and races. Not many people realize this, but Maria is also an inspiration to those who self destruct themselves. Maria turned to writing as a medicine, and re-built her self esteem.
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Author's Note: Sources: 1. http://research2.csci.educ.ubc.ca/indigenation/Indian_ReACTions/Indian_ReACTions/MariaCampbell.htm
2. http://www.canadacouncil.ca/news/releases/2004/nq127293590562656250.htm
3. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0010857
