Wagamese wins first “Burt Award” in Aboriginal literature

Richard Wagamese was among the first winners of the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature. Indian Horse (published by Douglas and McIntyre) earned Wagamese first prize of $12,000. 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 Burt Award is named for Toronto philanthropist Bill Burt who was inspired to develop a love of reading in youth.  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. 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.