Birth Name: Karen Louise Erdrich
Place of Birth: Little Falls, Minnesota, U.S. (evidently)
Date of Birth: June 7, 1954
Ethnicity:
*father – German
*mother – Native American/First Nations [Ojibwe, some Cree], French/French-Canadian, smaller amounts of English and Irish
Louise Erdrich is an American author, of novels, short stories, poetry, and children’s books. Her prose focuses on Native American characters and themes. She is one of the most notable authors of the second Native American Renaissance.
Louise is the daughter of Rita Joanne and Ralph Louis Erdrich. Her parents taught at the boarding school in Wahpeton, North Dakota, of the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and her father was also a writer. Her father was born in Minnesota, to German parents. Her maternal grandfather was a Chippewa tribal leader. Her maternal grandmother was of Indigenous and European ancestry. Her sister is poet, editor, and writer Heid E. Erdrich.
Louise has seven children, including six with her former husband, late novelist and scholar Michael Dorris.
Louise’s paternal grandfather was named Ludwig/Louis Frederick Erdrich (the son of parents surnamed Erdrich and Kraher). Ludwig was born in Pforzheim, Karlsruhe, Germany, and fought for Germany in WWI, before immigrating to the U.S. in 1922. Louise’s great-grandparents were killing during the firebombing of Pforzheim in 1945 during WWII, as their house and butcher shop were destroyed.
Louise’s paternal grandmother was named Mary Elizabeth/Elizabet “Liesel” Ruff/Ruf.
Louise’s maternal grandfather was named Patrick Moses “Aun-nish-e-naubay” Gourneau (the son of Joseph Gorneau and Eliza/Liza). Patrick was born in Belcourt, Rolette County, North Dakota, and was the long-time tribal chairman for the federally recognized tribe of Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. Joseph was born in Minnesota. Eliza was born in Canada.
Louise’s maternal grandmother was Mary Cecilia LeFavor/LaFavor (the daughter of Charles Eugene LeFavor/LaFavor and Marie Virginie “Jenny”/Ginnie Grandbois). Louise’s grandmother Mary was born in East Grand Forks, Polk County, Minnesota. Charles was born in Union Star, DeKalb County, Missouri, the son of Joseph LaFavor and Laura Ann Parker. Louise’s great-grandmother Marie was born in Pembina, North Dakota, the daughter of parents who were both of part Indigenous ancestry, Jérémie Grandbois, who was born in Manitoba, Canada; and Elise/Elsie Vivier. Elise herself was the daughter of François “Ti-Tash” Vivier and Josephte Dubois.
Sources: Genealogy of Louise Erdrich – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Louise’s father – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of Louise’s mother (through her own sister) – https://www.findagrave.com
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