National contest celebrates young Aboriginal writers

Aboriginal history has come alive on paper with the help of the creativity of young writers.

On June 15th, young Aboriginal writers from across Canada gathered with leaders and the local community at Regina’s MacKenzie Art Galley to celebrate the winners of a national Aboriginal youth writing challenge. This year’s Historica-Dominion Institute’s 6th Annual Canada Aboriginal Writing Challenge was a huge success, according to the institute’s executive vice president, Marc Chalifoux. The competition saw a record number of entries submitted from every province and territory.

Giller prize winner Joseph Boyden acted as Master of Ceremonies, and National Chief Shawn Atleo of the Assembly of First Nations presented the awards to this year’s two first place winners, Stephanie Wood of North Vancouver B.C., and Nathan Adler of Orangeville, ON.
“I still can’t believe that I won at all,” said 17 year-old winner Stephanie Wood before the ceremony. “I’m really excited, nervous and happy that I did.”

Writers between the ages 14-18 and 19-29 were invited to write a short story about a defining moment in Aboriginal history. A jury of Aboriginal leaders and writers selected the winning entries.

Wood’s story “The Indian in the Child” placed first in the 14-18 age category, while Adler came up on top of the 19-29 age category with his selection of writings called “All Teeth,” which Chalifoux said displayed “moments of genius.” Adler’s brother Howard placed first last year in the same category.

The winning stories will be featured in the upcoming fall issue of the Canadian history magazine The Beaver.
Wood’s short story incorporates Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s 2008 apology on behalf of the Canadian government of residential schools with a personal story of ‘Lucy’ and her experiences in the school system and its impact on her in adulthood.

According to Wood, “The Indian in the Child” helps the readers understand how the formation and disintegration of residential schools had a major impact on the culture and survival of Canada’s Aboriginal people.

“I want people to be really aware. There were some people at my high school who were never aware of residential schools until we had one day in class to learn about it. So if people read it, I think it’s good that they have more knowledge about it,” said Wood, who is a member of the Squamish First Nation.

“The reality of the win still hasn’t really hit me,” added Wood. “But I really think it’s great that this competition gives people an opportunity to pay attention to Aboriginal culture.”

Radisson Saskatchewan resident Laura Tanner chose to submit a more personal story about her family to the competition.

Tanner’s story is about a girl who was assigned in school to learn about her family history. While speaking to her grandmother, the girl is shocked to find out she is a Métis and that her grandfather didn’t want her to learn about that family history.

Placing third in the 14-18 age category with her short story “A Piece of My Past,” Tanner said she wanted to take a different historical perspective when she wrote her piece.

“That’s why I wrote about that moment in my family history rather than about national history because I thought it would be a different perspective,” said 17 year-old Tanner.

Taking pride in Métis heritage is one the lessons of her story, according to Tanner.

“Our family and our ancestry is a part of who we are. We wouldn’t be in the place we are without them,” she added.

Young people who like to write shouldn’t be shy to enter competitions, said Tanner.

“I would give the advice if you want to be a writer and enjoy writing to never give up. You can be surprised as to how good of a writer you are.”

For more information about the writing challenge and for a complete list of this year’s winners, please visit www.our-story.ca.