Grey Owl (1888-1938), an Englishman, immigrated to Canada as Archibald Belaney in 1906 and quickly constructed an identity as a Native, assuming the Ojibwa name Wa-sha-quon-asin. He was world-renowned for his work as Canada's pioneer conservationist and spread his message of preservation through multiple bestsellers, including Tales of an Empty Cabin and The Adventures of Sajo and Her Beaver People.

James Polk has written on Grey Owl and other animal-story writers in articles, reviews, and a book, Wilderness Writers. The former editorial director of House of Anansi Press, he was publishing policy adviser in the Ontario government and is the author of a novel, short stories, and a play. He lives in Toronto.