Drawing on her Ojibwa roots and storytelling, Barnes shares stories that take the heart on the path to the past, nostalgic though it may be, wherein lies discovery, memories, and rhythms that ease the soul. Touching, tender but never overwrought, Barnes' poetry brings wonder to the spirit of nature and provides a sense of connection to the things most often overlooked.

Mary Barnes is of Ojibwa descent. She is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and a winner of the Tom York Award for short fiction. She has written book reviews for The Antigonish Review and currently writes for Prairiefire. Her poetry has appeared in literary journals such as the Prairie Journal, Tower Poetry Society, and Voicings. Inspirations for her writing come from the landscape of her youth and everyday encounters. Her first collection of poetry What Fox Knew was released 2019 by At Bay Press and received two award nominations; The League of Canadian Poets Pat Lowther Award and the Manuela Dias Award. Born in Parry Sound, she now lives in Wasaga Beach with her husband Bob and writes, gardens, and talks to the birds.

Mary Barnes' profile page

"Mary Barnes’ second poetry collection, 'Moving Upstream', masterfully blends the profound questions of our existence with hard facts of the realities and mandates of our quantified world. Her poetic language, deeply rooted in her Ojibwe ancestry, is a thought-provoking and vast treasury that reveals symbol-and-meaning working together to a lasting and powerful effect.." —Bianca Lakoseljac, author of 'Stone Woman'

“Moving Upstream personifies how Ojibwe ways of knowing continue to persevere, nurturing the individual identities of each generation alongside colonial infrastructures now sharing the water.” —Scott Mainprize