Contest seeks writing talent

Aboriginal youth writers are invited to share their talents by submitting creative writing pieces to an annual contest.
The James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Awards is now accepting submissions in two categories: youth under 12 years old and youth 13 to 18 years old.
The award is an ongoing effort to continue the vision of James Bartleman and his goal to promote literacy among Aboriginal youth.
Bartleman served as Ontario’s 27th lieutenant governor from 2002 to 2007. He was also the first Aboriginal to hold the post.
Participants are asked to submit by May 31 a creative writing piece that has not been copied from another source and to self identify being Aboriginal. They must also be a student and permanent resident of Ontario.
Any form of creative writing piece will be accepted such as songs, short stories, poems, plays and mangas, but the maximum length is 2,500 words.
The winning submissions will receive $2,500, and will be brought to Toronto to attend a ceremony in honour of the recipients.
Last year two participants from Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities were awarded – Vanessa Trimble, 11, from Bearskin Lake and Erik Fiddler, 18, from Sandy Lake.