land granted to German-speaking Mennonites for colonization. Chortitza was founded in 1789 by Plautdietsch-speaking Mennonite settlers from West Prussia, and consisted of many villages. It was the first of many Mennonite settlements in the Russian Empire. Life then becomes much harder when World War I begins and there is suspicion as to the loyalty of the Mennonites because they speak German. Life then eases when where the area is occupied by Austrian and German soldiers. However, Russia falls into chaos when they leave in 1917, with the February and October Revolutions. The Russian workers on the estate take the bloody revenge on the Mennonites. Katya's parents and her siblings, but for two sisters are brutally murdered. After years of poverty and near-starvation. Katya, her husband, sisters, and grandparents eventually emigrate to Canada in 1923, to settle in Manitoba: "Between 1923 and 1930, nearly 25,000 Mennonites fled violence that erupted in the Soviet Union". Recognition Prizes and honours 1984 Gerald Lampert Award from League of Canadian Poets, 1984, for Night Travellers 1990 Books in Canada First Novel Award (for The Missing Child) 1992 Shortlist, Governor General's Award for English-language fiction (for The Chrome Suite) 1993 Marian Engel Award 1997 Shortlist, Governor General's Award for Fiction (for The Two-Headed Calf) 1997 Shortlist, Silver Birch Award; Saskatchewan Children's Literature Award, for The Town That Floated Away 2001 Shortlist, Giller Prize (for The Russländer) 2001 Saskatchewan Book of the Year, Best Saskatchewan Fiction and City of Regina (for The Russländer) 2007 Longlist, International Dublin Literary Award (for Children of the Day) 2007 Saskatchewan Best Fiction Award (for Children of the Day) 2010 Shortlist, Governor General's Award for English fiction (Waiting for Joe) Juno Award nomination for radio play, The Town That Floated Away" Awards Marion Engel Award for meritorious achievements of a woman writer in mid-career. The Joseph S. Stauffer Prize, The Canadian Council 1992, for meritorious achievements in the arts. Juno Award nomination for radio play, The Town that Floated Away. National Magazine Award and nomination for short fiction. 45 Below Award, by The Canadian Book Information Center. Chosen as one of ten most promising below the age of 45. Awarded writing grant from The Manitoba Arts Council, The Canadian Council and the Saskatchewan Arts Board. Nominee for 2010 Saskatchewan Book Award Shortlists: Fiction Award. Waiting for Joe (Random House Canada). Bibliography NovelsThe Missing Child (1989). Lester & Orpen DennysThe Chrome Suite (1992).