The finalists for the inaugural Emerging Indigenous Voices prizes have been announced. In its first year, $25,000 will be distributed to winners in seven categories, as selected by jurors Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Gregory Scofield, Jean Sioui, and Richard Van Camp. A gala event will take place on May 29 in Regina.

Most Significant Work of Prose in English by an Emerging Indigenous Writer • Carleigh Baker, Bad Endings (Anvil Press)
• Dawn Dumont, Glass Beads (Thistledown Press)
• Aviaq Johnston, Those Who Run in the Sky (Inhabit Media)
• Joanne Robertson, The Water Walker (Second Story Press)

Most Significant Work of Prose in French by an Emerging Indigenous Writer
• Naomie Fontaine, Manikanetish (Memoire d’Encrier)
• J. D. Kurtness, De Vengeance (L’Instant Meme)

Best Unpublished Poetic Piece in French
• Marie-Andrée Gill, “Uashteu”

Most Significant Work in an Alternative Format by an Emerging Indigenous Writer
• Keith Barker, This is How We Got Here (Playwrights Canada)
• Cliff Cardinal, Huff & Stitch  (Playwrights Canada Press)
• Mich Cota, Musical Selections o Heather Igloliorte, Sakkijâjuk (Goose Lane Editions)
• Mika Lafond, Nipê Wânîn (Thistledown Press)

Most Significant Work of Poetry in English by an Emerging Indigenous Writer
• Billy-Ray Belcourt, This Wound is a World (Frontenac House)
• Tenille K. Campbell, #IndianLovePoems (Signature Editions)
• Joshua Whitehead, full-metal indigiqueer (Talon Books)

Unpublished Poetic Piece(s) by an Emerging Indigenous Writer
• David Agecoutay, “Poetic Selections”
• Brandi Bird “Two Poems”
• Francine Merasty “Poetry of a Northern Rez Girl”
• Smokii Sumac, “#haikuaday and other poems”

Unpublished Prose Piece by an Emerging Indigenous Writer
• Treena Chambers, “Hair Raizing”
• Elaine McArthur, “Queen Bee”
• Tom Nazbah, “The Hand Trembler”
• Amanda Peters, “Pejipug (Winter Arrives)”

–Quill & Quire May 18, 2018