Province honours Indigenous youth writers
Tim Brody - Editor
The provincial government is honouring six talented Indigenous students with the James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Award.
“The 2018 and 2019 award recipients are being recognized for writing remarkable stories that illustrate powerful and personal accounts of their unique perspectives and challenges, helping to promote literacy among Indigenous youth,” a June 4 news release explained.
Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, was joined virtually by Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries to present the awards.
“These young writers are representative of the important contributions Indigenous writers make to Ontario’s cultural landscape,” said Minister MacLeod. “I offer my sincere congratulations to all of the award recipients and encourage them to continue to share their unique stories with Ontarians across our province.”
The recipients are:
- Mya Dixon from Sandy Lake First Nation is the recipient of the Senior Fly-In category
- Mikaela Allen from Newmarket is the recipient of the Junior Off-Reserve category
- Ariel Wendling from Port Colborne is the recipient of the Senior Off-Reserve category
- Kaylem Daybutch from Mississauga First Nation is the recipient of the Senior On-Reserve category
- Pearson Meeseetawageesic from Eabametoong First Nation is the recipient of the Junior Fly-In category
- Denyce Sandy from Kenora is the recipient of the Junior On-Reserve category.
“The award was established in 2008 to honour the legacy of James Bartleman, as the province’s 27th Lieutenant Governor and the first Indigenous person to be appointed to the role. It recognizes his efforts and contributions to promoting literacy among Indigenous youth, which include organizing book drives for underprivileged communities,” the news release stated.
