James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Award 2014

The James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Award celebrates Aboriginal youth for their creative writing efforts and provides an opportunity for them to showcase their work to a broader audience. The Honourable James Bartleman was the 27th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (2002 – 2007). Mr. Bartleman was the first Aboriginal Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

“These six young writers represent exactly what this award is intended to encourage. They have taken their own unique experiences and married them with their creative writing talent to create stories that move us and expand our understanding of one another.”  -The Honourable James K. Bartleman, Former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

Every year up to six Aboriginal students each receive the award of $2,500, a framed certificate, and a trip for them and two guests to attend the awards ceremony.  Congratulations to the 2014 winners:

Brooklyne Amyot
for her poem that compares Canada to a playground.

Natalie Court
for her poem about the beauty in what we often call our flaws.

Krista Lee
for her essay on multiculturalism in Canadian society and the role of Aboriginal peoples.

Anawahs Migwans
for her story about a girl born with one blue eye and one brown eye.

Steven Okeese
for his short story about same-sex relationships and the struggle for acceptance from family.

Jada Sofeafor her essay on hope in her community of Webequie.