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Richard Wagamese Wins Burt Award
Richard Wagamese Wins Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature First Prize
October 2, 2013
Ottawa, October 2nd, 2013 ?The first winners of a unique literary award that will provide thousands of First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth across Canada with access to culturally-relevant, engaging books were announced on October 2nd.
Shelagh Rogers and Waubgeshig Rice co-hosted the inaugural gala for CODE's Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature, recognizing outstanding literary works for young adults written by First Nations, Métis and Inuit authors.
Richard Wagamese received the first prize of $12,000 for Indian Horse (published by Douglas and McIntyre), Tara Lee Morin won the second prize of $8,000 for As I Remember It (published by Theytus Books), while the third prize of $5,000 went to James Bartleman for As Long As the Rivers Flow (published by Random House of Canada Ltd.) The winners were selected by a jury composed of Canadian writers administered by the Canada Council for the Arts.
The Award's book purchase and distribution program will ensure that a minimum of 2,500 copies of each of the three winning titles will be delivered to First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth across Canada through community libraries, schools, Friendship Centres and summer literacy camps.
"It's really important to us that the winning books actually get in the hands of young people,"; said CODE Executive Director Scott Walter. "Thanks to our partners, we can make sure that these three truly amazing works reach First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth, even in remote communities, so they can enjoy stories in which they see their culture and their reality reflected.";
The Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature was established by CODE - a Canadian charitable organization that has been advancing literacy and learning in Canada and around the world for over 50 years - in collaboration with William (Bill) Burt and the Literary Prizes Foundation.
The Award is the result of a close collaboration with the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the National Association of Friendship Centres, Frontier College, GoodMinds, the Association of Canadian Publishers and the Canada Council for the Arts.
"I want to congratulate the winners and everyone who submitted works for the first edition of the Canadian Award,"; said William (Bill) Burt, who financially supports the initiative. "It's my hope that First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth will enjoy them, get inspired to keep learning, and develop a life-long love of reading.";
CODE's Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature is an annual award. The deadline for submissions of manuscripts or recently-published books for the next edition is May 1st, 2014.
The Burt Literary Awards is a global readership initiative and is also currently established in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and the Caribbean.
October 2, 2013
Ottawa, October 2nd, 2013 ?The first winners of a unique literary award that will provide thousands of First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth across Canada with access to culturally-relevant, engaging books were announced on October 2nd.
Shelagh Rogers and Waubgeshig Rice co-hosted the inaugural gala for CODE's Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature, recognizing outstanding literary works for young adults written by First Nations, Métis and Inuit authors.
Richard Wagamese received the first prize of $12,000 for Indian Horse (published by Douglas and McIntyre), Tara Lee Morin won the second prize of $8,000 for As I Remember It (published by Theytus Books), while the third prize of $5,000 went to James Bartleman for As Long As the Rivers Flow (published by Random House of Canada Ltd.) The winners were selected by a jury composed of Canadian writers administered by the Canada Council for the Arts.
The Award's book purchase and distribution program will ensure that a minimum of 2,500 copies of each of the three winning titles will be delivered to First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth across Canada through community libraries, schools, Friendship Centres and summer literacy camps.
"It's really important to us that the winning books actually get in the hands of young people,"; said CODE Executive Director Scott Walter. "Thanks to our partners, we can make sure that these three truly amazing works reach First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth, even in remote communities, so they can enjoy stories in which they see their culture and their reality reflected.";
The Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature was established by CODE - a Canadian charitable organization that has been advancing literacy and learning in Canada and around the world for over 50 years - in collaboration with William (Bill) Burt and the Literary Prizes Foundation.
The Award is the result of a close collaboration with the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the National Association of Friendship Centres, Frontier College, GoodMinds, the Association of Canadian Publishers and the Canada Council for the Arts.
"I want to congratulate the winners and everyone who submitted works for the first edition of the Canadian Award,"; said William (Bill) Burt, who financially supports the initiative. "It's my hope that First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth will enjoy them, get inspired to keep learning, and develop a life-long love of reading.";
CODE's Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature is an annual award. The deadline for submissions of manuscripts or recently-published books for the next edition is May 1st, 2014.
The Burt Literary Awards is a global readership initiative and is also currently established in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and the Caribbean.
Submitted on October 3, 2013 in By David.
