Press Release
INDIGENOUS VOICES AWARDS: FINALISTS
The Indigenous Voices Awards (IVAs) is thrilled to announce the finalists in this year’s competition celebrating the very best in literary art by emerging Indigenous writers. A jury of renowned Indigenous writers and prominent figures from the Canadian literary world has identified finalists in categories for published and unpublished writing, including work in English, French, and Indigenous languages. Prizes totalling over $25,000 will be awarded at the IVAs Gala Event in Regina, Saskatchewan on May 29th, 2018.
The IVAs Gala Event will take place on Tuesday May 29th between 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at O’Hanlon’s Restaurant, 1947 Scarth Street, Regina, SK, S4P 2H1. This public event will be hosted by Hip Hop artist Brad Bellegarde (aka InfoRed), and it will feature readings by emerging Indigenous writers as well as appearances by jurors Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Gregory Scofield, Jean Sioui, and Richard Van Camp. The IVAs were established in 2017 to nurture and support Indigenous literary art in its diversity and complexity. Begun as a crowd-funded campaign seeking to raise a few thousand dollars to support emerging Indigenous writers, the IVAs have raised over $125,000 to date from over 1,500 different donors.
Categories and Finalists:
• Most Significant Work of Prose in English by an Emerging Indigenous Writer
- Carleigh Baker, Bad Endings (published by Anvil Press http://www.anvilpress.com )
- Dawn Dumont, Glass Beads (published by Thistledown Press https://www.thistledownpress.com )
- Aviaq Johnston, Those Who Run in the Sky (published by Inhabit Media http://inhabitmedia.com )
- Joanne Robertson, The Water Walker (published by Second Story Press https://secondstorypress.ca )
• Most Significant Work of Prose in French by an Emerging Indigenous Writer
- Naomi Fontaine, Manikanetish (published by Memoire d’Encrier http://memoiredencrier.com )
- J. D. Kurtness, De Vengeance (published by L’Instant Meme http://www.instantmeme.com/ebi-addins/im/Actualite.aspx )
• Best Unpublished Poetic Piece in French
- Marie-Andrée Gill, “Uashteu”
• Most Significant Work in an Alternative Format by an Emerging Indigenous Writer
- Keith Barker, This is How We Got Here (published by Playwrights Canada Press https://www.playwrightscanada.com )
- Cliff Cardinal, Huff & Stitch (published by Playwrights Canada Press https://www.playwrightscanada.com )
- Mich Cota, Musical Selections o Heather Igloliorte, Sakkijâjuk (published by Goose Lane Editions https://gooselane.com )
- Mika Lafond, Nipê Wânîn (published by Thistledown Press https://www.thistledownpress.com )
• Most Significant Work of Poetry in English by an Emerging Indigenous Writer
- Billy-Ray Belcourt, This Wound is a World (published by Frontenac House https://www.frontenachouse.com )
- Tenille K. Campbell, #IndianLovePoems (published by Signature Editions http://www.signature-editions.com )
- Joshua Whitehead, Full-Metal Indigiqueer (published by Talon Books http://talonbooks.com )
• Unpublished Poetic Piece(s) by an Emerging Indigenous Writer
- David Agecoutay “Poetic Selections” o Brandi Bird “Two Poems” o Francine Merasty “Poetry of a Northern Rez Girl”
- Brandi Bird “Two Poems”
- Francine Merasty “Poetry of a Northern Rez Girl”
- Smokii Sumac “#haikuaday and other poems”
• Unpublished Prose Piece by an Emerging Indigenous Writer
- Treena Chambers “Hair Raizing”
- Elaine McArthur “Queen Bee”
- Tom Nazbah “The Hand Trembler”
- Amanda Peters “Pejipug (Winter Arrives)”
