Youth in Bearskin Lake and Sandy Lake First Nation win writing competition
Ontario Honours Six Youth From Across The Province - Bartleman Awards Celebrate Young Aboriginal Writers
Six young aboriginal writers are receiving the James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Awards.
This year's recipients include a 13-year-old Toronto boy's writings about his younger sister's struggles with a learning disability, a poem about isolation in a small community, a collection of poems about family members and a poem about Aboriginal youth transitioning from northern communities to urban centres.
These awards give Aboriginal youth an opportunity to showcase their creative writing abilities.
"Writing sets these young people on a journey of learning and exploration. The written word will take you to places limited only by your imaginations."
– The Honourable James K. Bartleman
"I marvel at the outstanding ability displayed by these relevant and moving stories and poems. They tell significant tales about the reality of life as an Aboriginal youth in today's Ontario."
– The Honourable David C. Onley. Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
"These Awards give Aboriginal youth a forum to tell their stories to people within and beyond their communities. I hope that many Aboriginal young people from across Ontario participate in this program so that all Ontarians can benefit from their talents."
– Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
"These young people are a testament to the creative talent in Aboriginal communities. More than 250 young writers submitted their stories and poems to this legacy program that was established by the Government of Ontario to honour Mr. Bartleman's work in Aboriginal youth literacy. This is a wonderful reflection on this award created to encourage literacy in Aboriginal youth."
– Chris Bentley, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs
This year's award recipients are:
Damian Giovanni Inglese, age 13 from Toronto
Forest Rain Maracle, age 13 from Deseronto
Vanessa Trimble, age 11 from Bearskin Lake
Erik Fiddler, age 18 from Sandy Lake
Nakita Guillet, age 14 from Thunder Bay
Mshquazeed Jewell, Age 14 from Oneida
QUICK FACTS
> The Honourable James K. Bartleman was Ontario's first Aboriginal Lieutenant Governor. From 2002-2007, he implemented four literacy initiatives for Aboriginal youth across Ontario.
> Since its creation in 2008, the James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Awards have been given to 18 aboriginal youth.
LEARN MORE
> The James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Award
CONTACTS
Nanda Casucci-Byrne
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
416-325-7780
Indira Naidoo-Harris
Minister's Office
416-325-6205
indira.naidoo-harris@nullontario.ca
Michel Payen-Dumont
Communications Branch
416-314-7010
michel.payen-dumont@nullontario.ca