Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature

Gabriel Dumont Institute; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job description

Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature

Ottawa, September 5, 2012— As the world prepares to celebrate International Literacy Day, a unique Canadian literary award and readership initiative recognizing excellence in English-language literary works for Young Adults by First Nations, Métis and Inuit authors was launched today.

Established by CODE – a Canadian charitable organization that has been supporting literacy and learning for over 50 years – in collaboration with William (Bill) Burt and the Literary Prizes Foundation, the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature aims to provide engaging and culturally relevant books for young people across Canada. The Award is now accepting submissions from Canadian publishers until May 1, 2013.

“First Nations, Métis and Inuit leaders have long stressed the importance of literacy and learning for youth in their communities and recommended the development of reading materials grounded in their culture and heritage,” said CODE Executive Director Scott Walter. “With the new Award, we hope to help address this issue by celebrating the literary achievements of Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit authors and improving young readers’ access to books that are engaging and meaningful to them.”

The Award is the result of ongoing collaboration with the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the National Association of Friendship Centres, the Association of Canadian Publishers, and the Canada Council for the Arts, which will administer the jury process.

The Award will be given annually to three English-language literary works for Young Adults by First Nations, Métis or Inuit authors. A First Prize of $12,000, a Second Prize of $8,000, and a Third Prize of $5,000 will be awarded to the authors and translators (if applicable) of the winning titles. Additionally, publishers of the winning titles will be guaranteed a minimum purchase of 2,500 copies, ensuring access for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit youth across Canada through their community’s schools, libraries, or Friendship Centres.

Building on its experience with the Burt Award for African Literature, an annual prize recognizing excellence in Young Adult fiction in English in Africa since 2008, CODE aims to replicate this success in Canada. Over 120,000 copies of 18 titles have been published and distributed in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania. The partnerships established over the last 25 years with educators, writers, and publishers will be instrumental in launching this new initiative.

“We are very excited to expand the Burt Award program to Canada,” said William (Bill) Burt, who financially supports the Award. “My hope is that Canadian First Nations, Métis, and Inuit youth will love the titles that emerge from this project and that these books will help improve their reading and writing skills for the rest of their lives.”

GDI is a Saskatchewan-based educational, employment, and cultural institute serving Métis across the province.