2015 Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature winners announced

Four days ago, the 2015 winners of the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature were announced.  This award, inaugurated in 2013 recognizes excellence in English-language literary works for Young Adults by First Nations, Métis and Inuit writers. The Burt Awards are a part of CODE's mandate to "support(s) literacy and learning in Canada and around the world" (Retrieved from http://www.codecan.org/code on November 19, 2014.)

The jury process for this award is overseen by the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the National Association of Friendship Centres, the Association of Canadian Publishers, and the Canada Council for the Arts.

This year, the prizes were $12,000 for First Prize, $8,000 for Second Prize and $5,000 for Third Prize.

Congratulations to the following winners:

FIRST PRIZE

Skraelings

by Rachel & Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley 

Inhabit Media

SECOND PRIZE

Grey Eyes
by Frank Christopher Busch 
Roseway Publishing


















THIRD PRIZE

Lightfinder 

by Aaron Paquette 

Kegedonce Press

First Nation Communities Read & Aboriginal Literature Award 2014-2015

Last spring, the following five titles were selected as finalists for the 2014-2015 First Nation Communities Read, a year-long reading program organized by Ontario First Nation public libraries. that promotes a community approach to reading while promoting an awareness of the relevance and importance of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit writing, illustration, and publishing.  The First Nation Communities Read program alternates between books for children that encourage family literacy, intergenerational storytelling, and intergenerational information sharing and books for adults and young adults.  The 2014-2015 program focuses on books for children.

Here are the five finalists for the 2014-2015 First Nation Communities Read:

The Diamond Willow Walking Stick: A Traditional Métis Story About Generosity Written and illustrated by Leah Marie Dorion
Michif translation by Norman Fleury
(Gabriel Dumont Institute)

Little Chief and the Gifts of Morning Star 
by Victor Lethbridge
Illustrated by Ben Crane
 (Tatanka Productions)

Moccasin Creek 
Written and illustrated by Rene Andre Meshake
(self-published)

Raven Brings the Light 
by Roy Henry Vickers and Robert Budd
Illustrated by Roy Henry Vickers
(Harbour Publishing)

Wild Berries/Pakwa Che Menisu 

Written and illustrated by Julie Flett

Cree dialect translations by Earl N. Cook 

(Simply Read Books)









Subsequently, a jury selected the winner of the first Aboriginal Literature Award of the Periodical Marketers of Canada (PMC).  The award which recognizes the work of the creators of outstanding Aboriginal literature and supports the objectives of PMC’s Foundation for the Advancement of Canadian Letters (FACL) includes an award of $5000.


Last May, the winner of the inaugural Aboriginal Literature Award was announced and then presented in June, 2014.  Congratulations to winner,

Julie Flett

for her picture books

Wild Berries and Pakwa che Menisu

Simply Read Books

Wild Berries is bilingual (English and n- dialect Cree or Swampy Cree from the Cumberland House area). Pakwa che Menisu is Cree only (n-dialect from the Cross Lake, Norway House area).

2014 Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature: winners

I'm so far behind in my award announcements but I couldn't miss this exceptional new award, inaugurated in 2013. The Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature recognizes excellence in English-language literary works for Young Adults by First Nations, Métis and Inuit writers. The Burt Awards are a part of CODE's mandate to "support(s) literacy and learning in Canada and around the world" (Retrieved from http://www.codecan.org/code on November 19, 2014.)

The jury process for this award is administered by the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the National Association of Friendship Centres, the Association of Canadian Publishers, and the Canada Council for the Arts. 

This year, three of the five finalists were awarded with prizes, with a First Prize of $12,000, a Second Prize of $8,000 and a Third Prize of $5,000.

Congratulations to the following winners:

FIRST PRIZE

Tilly, a Story of Hope and Resilience 

by Monique Gray Smith 

Sono Nis Press

SECOND PRIZE

The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America 

by Thomas King 

Doubleday Canada

THIRD PRIZE

They Called Me Number One 

by Bev Sellars 

Talonbooks

Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature: 2013 Winners announced

This past week, the first Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literaturewas awarded, recognizing excellence in English-language literary works for Young Adults by First Nations, Métis and Inuit. This jury process for this award is administered by the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the National Association of Friendship Centres, the Association of Canadian Publishers, and the Canada Council for the Arts.

On October 2, 2013, at a gala hosted by Shelagh Rogers and Waubgeshig Rice, three of the five finalists were awarded with prizes, with a First Prize of $12,000, a Second Prize of $8,000 and a Third Prize of $5,000.

Congratulations to the following winners:

FIRST PRIZE

Indian Horse
by Richard Wagamese
Douglas & McIntyre

SECOND PRIZE

As I Remember It
by Tara Lee Morin
Theytus Books

THIRD PRIZE

As Long as the Rivers Flow

by James Bartleman

Random House of Canada

2013 Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature finalists announced

Last year CODE, a Canadian charitable organization that supports literacy and learning, teamed up with William (Bill) Burt and the Literary Prizes Foundation to create the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature.  This literary award recognizes excellence in English-language literary works for Young Adults by First Nations, Métis and Inuit authors with the aim of improving the access of young adults to books that are meaningful to them and engage them. 

The Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the National Association of Friendship Centres, the Association of Canadian Publishers, and the Canada Council for the Arts are responsible for administering the jury process.

On October 2, 2013, at a gala hosted by Shelagh Rogers and Waubgeshig Rice, the Award for three works will be announced, with a First Prize of $12,000, a Second Prize of $8,000 and a Third Prize of $5,000 also given.

The five finalists are:

As Long as the Rivers Flow
Written by James Bartleman
Random House of Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Throw

Written by Jacqueline Guest
James Lorimer & Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shadows Cast by Stars

Written by Catherine Knutsson

Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster

 

 

 

 

 

As I Remember It
Written by Tara Lee Morin
Theytus Books 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indian Horse
Written by Richard Wagamese
Douglas & McIntyre