Annual story competition looking for submissions
- Andréa Ledding | March 09, 2016
For more than a decade, Aboriginal Arts & Stories has recognized self-identifying First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth (ages 9 to 29) for interpreting an aspect of their culture and heritage through literary and visual arts. Winners chosen by established Aboriginal authors, artists, and community leaders from among hundreds of entries receive cash prizes and national recognition. Along with the annual celebration where prizes are awarded, winners are exhibited and published locally and nationally, and their works are permanently housed on Historica Canada’s website.
Alicia Elliott, from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, won second place in 2015 for her story “Emails to an Invisible Woman” in the 19-29 category and in 2006 won first place in the younger category (ages 14-18). She has gone on to study writing with notable Aboriginal writers.
“I think that getting recognized as a young Indigenous artist through competitions like this can do so much for your self esteem. It's hard to be a writer, as you're pretty much writing in a void for a long time. There are points where no one will read your work, where no one will be there to tell you to keep going,” noted Elliott. “Competitions like this remind you that your voice — your distinct voice as an Onkwehon:we person — matters. We need that. Our stories need to be told — and by us.”
Shaelyn Johnston, half Ojibway and half Irish-Canadian, won the senior short story contest last year at the age of 28. A member of Saugeen First Nation in Ontario, she was born and raised in Vancouver, BC. The story she wrote featured a young girl who promises to learn Anishnaabemowin (the story title) when she discovers her grandmother is ill. Along the way Johnston found writing was a great way to research the language, draw from memory and culture, and connect with family history.
“The Aboriginal Arts & Stories prize was amazing. Along with a $2000 cash prize, I had an all-expenses paid trip to a major city for an award ceremony (last year it was in Toronto) for myself and a friend. Drew Hayden Taylor, Lee Maracle, and Brian Maracle were all at the award ceremony so it was a really great opportunity!” noted Johnston. She was then flown to Ottawa on another all-expenses paid trip where she was awarded a medal from Governor General David Johnston at Rideau Hall. “The contest was such a great opportunity for me. Before entering, I had never sent my writing out publicly before, this was the first contest I had ever entered. The experience was so great at showing me what can happen when you aren't afraid to put yourself and your work out there.”
Aboriginal Arts & Stories encourages submissions on a wide variety of subjects, and “past entries have addressed themes of cultural identity, history and myth, spirituality, language loss and revitalization, the environment, family and residential schools,” notes the media release.
In honour of the TRC, a feature category on the history and legacy of residential schools has been created. Due to the importance of the topic, two additional prizes for residential school entries are being offered.
Youth can submit to Aboriginal Arts & Stories online, by mail or by fax before March 31, 2016. Full contest details, including rules and regulations, prizing and a collection of past winners’ works can be found on the website at www.our-story.ca.
Related: Contest encourages Aboriginal youth to explore historical themes