Manitowapow Award / Prix Manitowapow

December 13, 2022 - 12:36 pm

Submissions open Monday, November 21st and close Monday, January 20, 2023.

Presented every two years to two Indigenous writers or oral performers who demonstrate excellence in writing, storytelling or spoken word and who also actively support Indigenous verbal arts in Manitoba.

Call for Nominations – Manitowapow Award PDF 

Sponsor: ​The Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture (CCWOC) at the University of Manitoba

Languages: ​English/Français/Indigenous languages

Eligibility:

  • Eligible writers must identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit, and be residents of Manitoba for at least 3 months of the nomination period.
  • Eligible genres include poetry, fiction, non-fiction, personal essay, drama, children’s/young adult, spoken word, and oral storytelling.
  • Written submissions  must have been professionally edited and appear in a book, magazine, or print or online media. Oral work must have been performed in an accredited public context such as a series or festival. Submitted files must Include publication information (for written work) or performance details (for oral work).
  • Eligible writers and oral performers will have engaged in work that supports and encourages Indigenous writing and oral performance in Manitoba. Examples include mentoring, offering workshops, editing projects, and planning/presenting writer events.
  • Nominations may be made by eligible writers, or by members of the community at large.
  • This year, the nomination period extends from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020.

Submission materials:

  • for written work: up to 15 pages of prose or up to 5 poems, plus publication information
  • for oral work: up to 10 minutes of recorded material, plus performance information
  • a written statement (700 words max) outlining the nature of activity supporting Indigenous writing in Manitoba
  • a current CV

Note: all materials must be submitted as electronic files.

Jury: two winners will be decided by a jury of three: one member of the Manitoba Indigenous writing community, one member of the Canadian Indigenous writing community, and one member of the Canadian writing community.

Prize: Two equal cash prizes from proceeds from the sale of ​Manitowapow: Indigenous Writings from the Land of Water​ (edited by Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair and Warren Cariou).

For more information visit: manitobabookawards.ca