
Louise Bernice Halfe, also known as SKYDANCER was born in Two Hill, Alberta. She was raised on the Saddle Lake Indian Reserve and attended Blue Quills Residential School. Louise earned her bachelor of Social Work from the University of Regina, and a certificate in Drugs and Alcohol Counselling from Nechi Institute. During a six year stay in northern Saskatchewan while attending satellite classes and commuting to the University of Saskatchewan (a 3 hour drive), she kept a journal; as a result her first book of poetry, Bear Bones & Feathers evolved and was published by Coteau Books and shortlisted for the Spirit of Saskatchewan Award and the Gerald Lambert Award. In 1996 the book won the Milton Acorn Award. Louise's work has appeared in various anthologies and magazines, notably the Saskatchewan NeWest Review. Louise has been on air with Peter Gzowski Morningside, CBC The Arts Tonight and Ambience. Sky Dancer has been a workshop leader in Banff with Rachel Wyatt and Robert Kroetsch. She has traveled extensively across Canada and abroad doing readings and presentations of her work. Sky Dancer, Louise's second book, Blue Marrow, is a mixture of prose, poetry and journal writing from voices of the past and is published by McClelland & Stewart, 1998. Louise recenly completed a two week residency as the Markin-Flanagan Distinguished Writer in Calgary, Alberta. Sky Dancer, Louise is married, has two children, one of which has made her a proud Grandmother of two.