JANUARY UPDATE: We've announced our judges! We are thrilled that celebrated author and storyteller Richard Van Camp will be helping to judge the Indigenous Writing Contest. Richard will be joined on the jury by Sandra Samatte of GoodMinds.com, and Jordan Ryder, Managing Editor at Second Story Press. More info about Richard and Sandra is posted at the bottom of the page.
CONTEST DETAILS:
Second Story Press's fourth Indigenous Writing Contest is open now to submissions from Indigenous writers. Second Story is excited to hold this new contest in partnership with GoodMinds.com — a First Nation owned business based on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Brantford, Ontario, with a passion for books by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit authors. Both companies are excited to see what books will come from the contest this year, adding to the profound range of Indigenous literature.
This contest focuses on contemporary writing that reflects the experience of Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) Peoples written by an Indigenous writer aged 18 or older. All entrants must be citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The contest is open to manuscripts written for young children, middle grade, young adult, or adult audiences. The winner will be offered a publishing contract from Second Story Press. The jury will be particularly interested in contemporary stories with an urban setting.
The contest deadline is January 31st, 2025. All entries must be made online via Submittable.
Previous winners and runners-up of the Second Story Press Indigenous Writing Contest include Naaahsa is an Artist! by Hali Heavy Shield; Auntie’s Rez Surprise by Heather O’Watch; The Train by Jodie Callaghan; The Case of Windy Lake by Michael Hutchinson; Stolen Words by Melanie Florence; The Mask That Sang by Susan Currie; What’s in a Bead? by Kelsey Borgford; and The Water Walker by Joanne Robertson.
The winner(s) of the contest will be announced in spring 2025.
We can’t wait to read the entries to this contest! For complete information on the submission process, go to Submittable.
ABOUT THE JUDGES:
Richard Van Camp is the bestselling author of thirty books for both children and adults. He is a proud member of the Dogrib Tłı̨chǫ Nation from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. Second Story Press is honoured to have Richard’s help in judging this contest. He brings to the process his years of experience as an author, as well as his experience as a mentor for developing writers. Richard’s writing crosses ages and genres and includes beautiful baby books like Little You and Welcome Song for Baby and the powerful novels The Lesser Blessed and Three Feathers.
Sandra Samatte, Anishinaabe, member of Ne-biimiskonaan (Skownan) First Nation, Treaty 2 Territory. Sandra has a Bachelor of Education degree. She is an author and is currently the CEO of Indigenous Education Press (IEP). Through Indigenous Education Press Sandra works with well-known and new Indigenous Authors and illustrators, publishing Indigenous Stories for all readers. Her passion for Indigenous Education has been focused on creating Indigenous books and resources that are respectful, are culturally appropriate, and hold cultural integrity for educators, children, and young people.
Jordan Ryder is the Managing Editor at Second Story Press. She earned her Master’s in Publishing from the National University of Ireland, Galway in 2018, before moving back home to Toronto, and has been working in feminist-focused publishing ever since.
For all inquiries, please contact contest@secondstorypress.ca
The Land on Which We Work and Live...
The women of Second Story Press would like to recognize the ancestral lands on which we work and live. The building that houses our office, at 20 Maud Street, is situated in traditional territories, including those of the Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Anishnabeg, Métis, and the Mississaugas of the New Credit — and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We at Second Story have been privileged to work with Indigenous authors, illustrators, editors, and other collaborators in this publishing house, and we hope that the books that we produce here can in some ways contribute to the reconciliation process.
