December 01, 2009 (PR) (Catholic education, Catholic schools)

An illustrated journal describing his move from his First Nations community in Manitoba to Toronto helped Christian Scriver win one of six James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Awards.

The James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Award gives Aboriginal youth an opportunity to showcase their creative writing abilities. Some of the winning entries included stories about gay youth, family relationships and a young teen’s admiration for his father.

The 2009 award recipients are:

• Cote Monias, age 11, from Ogoki Post (Northestern Ontario north of Longlac)
• Christian Scriver, age 10, from Toronto
• Fawn Thompson, age 13, from Tyendinaga (near Belleville)
• Nancy King, age 16, from Rama (near Orillia)
• Mavis Oskineegish, age 15, from Wunnumin Lake (Northwestern Ontario northeast of Sioux Lookout)
• Colin Quin, age 16, from Toronto.

“More than 300 young Aboriginal writers submitted stories and poems to this competition and this is a wonderful reflection on the popularity of this award. I hope that young Aboriginal writers will continue to create and express themselves,” said Brad Duguid, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs for Ontario.

The Honourable James K. Bartleman served as Ontario’s 27th Lieutenant Governor from 2002 to 2007. As a member of the Mnjikaning First Nation, he was the first Aboriginal Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. During his term in office, he set up four Aboriginal Youth Literacy initiatives to give Aboriginal youth access to reading materials. Bartleman told the students, “The written word can allow you to travel to distant places and experience new worlds. I am proud that these recipients are accomplished storytellers and writers at a young age.”

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