First Nation Communities READ 2020-2021 Announce the Children and Young Adult/Adult Shortlists for the PMC Indigenous Literature Award

September 16, 2020April 30, 2021 - CCI Admin Leave a comment

Toronto, September 16, 2020 – First Nation Communities READ announces the shortlist for the combined Children’s and Young Adult/Adult categories. Chosen by a jury of Indigenous librarians from across Ontario, these titles represent the best of Indigenous literature from across Turtle Island today. The title selection announcement for FNCR 2020-2021 will take place at Toronto’s Virtual Word on the Street Festival on Sunday, September 27, 2020. The authors of the selected title will be the recipients of the Periodical Marketers of Canada Indigenous Literature Award and will each receive a $3000 cash prize.

Children’s Category Shortlist

I’m Finding My Talk by Rebecca Thomas. Published by Nimbus Publishing
When We Had Sled Dogs by Ida Tremblay. Published by Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing
E Meshkwadooniged Mitig/The Trading Tree by Nancy Cooper. Published by Prince’s Trust Canada
Sus Yoo The Bear’s Medicine by Clayton Gauthier. Published by Theytus Books
Neekah’s Knitting Needles by Odelia Smith and Sylvia Olsen. Published by Sono Nis Press

Young Adult/Adult Category Shortlist

Crow Winter by Karen McBride. Published by Harper Collins Publishers Ltd.

Chasing Painted Horses by Drew Hayden Taylor. Published by Cormorant Press
If I Go Missing by Brianna Jonnie. Published by James Lorimer and Company
In My Own Moccasins by Helen Knott. Published by University of Regina Press
A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott. Published by Doubleday Canada

Ray Argyle presents PMC Indigenous Literature Award to Monique Gray Smith

November 12, 2019May 3, 2021 - CCI Admin Leave a comment

PMC’s sponsorship of the PMC Indigenous Literature Awards was wrapped up with a November 12 luncheon in Toronto hosted by our partners the Southern Ontario Library Service. The luncheon was arranged by SOLS program coordinator Nancy Cooper and attended winning author in the Young Adult/Adult category Monique Gray Smith as well as friends and representatives of the organizations involved. On hand representing PMC were Ray Argyle and Barry Francis. Unfortunately, Cindy Blackstock, the winning author in the Children’s category was unable to attend the luncheon due to the cancellation of her flight and her award will be presented at a later date.

2018’s PMC Indigenous Literature Award Winners are Presented Their Awards at Ceremony

June 25, 2018April 30, 2021 - CCI Admin Leave a comment

On June 25th, the winner’s of the PMC Indigenous Literature Award were presented their awards in a ceremony in downtown Toronto. TNG President, Peter Olson, had the pleasure of presenting the awards.

Peter Olson of PMC congratulates 2018 PMC Indigenous Literature Award Winners Tanya Talaga (fourth from left) and Joanne Robertson (second from right).

Peter Olson of PMC is flanked by 2018 PMC Indigenous Literature Award Winners Tanya Talaga (to his left) and Joanne Robertson (to his right) and members of this year’s judging panel.

One of the Award winners Author-Illustrator, Joanne Robertson, was featured in an article by SooToday.com. Click here to read this interesting article.

elected Titles for the Indigenous Literature Award Announced

June 12, 2018April 30, 2021 - CCI Admin Leave a comment

Toronto June 12, 2018 – First Nation Communities READ 2018-2019 announces the selected titles in the Children’s and YA/Adult Categories. Chosen by a jury of Indigenous librarians from across Ontario, these titles represent the best of Indigenous literature. The selected titles’ authors will be presented with the Periodical Marketers of Canada Indigenous Literature Award on June 27th in Toronto at Yonge/Dundas Square as part of National Indigenous History Month celebrations. The Indigenous Literature Award comes with a prize of $3000 for each author.

Children’s Category Selected Title

The Water Walker by Joanne Robertson

Published by Second Story Press

The story of a determined Ojibwe Grandmother (Nokomis) Josephine Mandamin and her great love for Nibi (water).

Nokomis walks to raise awareness of our need to protect Nibi for future generations, and for all life on the planet.

Joanne Robertson is AnishinaabeKwe and a member of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. She continues to help water walkers through live GPS spotting to make sure the water is safe on their journeys. Joanne lives near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Young Adult/Adult Selected Title

Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga

Published by House of Anansi Press

This is the story about seven Indigenous high school students who died in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The students were far away from home, forced to attend school in the northern city and were ultimately found dead in the region.

Tanya Talaga has been a journalist at the Toronto Star for twenty years. Tanya is of Polish and Indigenous descent. Her great-grandmother, Liz Gauthier, was a residential school survivor. Her great-grandfather, Russell Bowen, was an Ojibwe trapper and labourer. Her grandmother is a member of Fort William First Nation. Her mother was raised in Raith and Graham, Ontario. Tanya lives in Toronto with her two teenage children.

To read CBC’s coverage, click here.

Click here to read the official press release.

First Nation Communities READ 2018-2019 Indigenous Literature Award Shortlist

May 30, 2018May 3, 2021 - CCI Admin Leave a comment

First Nation Communities READ 2018-2019 Announce the Children and Young Adult/Adult Shortlists for the Indigenous Literature Award

Toronto, May 30, 2018 – First Nation Communities READ announces the shortlists for the combined Children’s and Young Adult/Adult categories. Chosen by a jury of Indigenous librarians from across Ontario, these titles represent the best of Indigenous literature from throughout Turtle Island today. The title selection announcement for FNCR 2018-2019 will take place in Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto on June 27 as part of the National Indigenous History Month celebrations. The authors of the selected titles will be the recipients of the Periodical Marketers of Canada Indigenous Literature Award and will each receive a $3000 cash prize.

Children’s Category Shortlist

• When We Were Alone by David Robertson and illustrated by Julie Flett (Highwater Press)
• Akalik’s Adventure by Deborah Kigjugalik Webster (Inhabit Media)
• My Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Julie Flett (Orca Book Publishers)
• The Water Walker by Joanne Robertson (Second Story Press)
• The Cloud Artist by Sherri Maret (The Roadrunner Press)

Young Adult/Adult Category Shortlist

• #NotYourPrincess edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale (Annick Press)
• My Conversations with Canadians by Lee Maracle (Book*hug)
• The Marrow Thieves by Cheri Dimaline (Dancing Cat Books)
• Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga (House of Anansi)
• He Who Dreams by Melanie Florence (Orca Book Publishers)

First Nation Communities READ 2017-2018 Announces Shortlist for Young Adult/Adult Category

May 2, 2017May 3, 2021 - CCI Admin Leave a comment

Toronto, May 2, 2017 – Five books are in contention to become the First Nation Communities READ community reading selection for 2017-2018. Five jury members from First Nation public libraries in Ontario made the shortlist selections. The title selection announcement for 2017-2018 will take place in Toronto on June 28 as part of National Aboriginal Day Celebrations. The selected title’s creator will be the recipient of the $5,000 Periodical Marketers of Canada Aboriginal Literature Award.

First Nation Communities Read Announces 2016-2017 Shortlist of Books for Children

May 2, 2016May 3, 2021 - CCI Admin Leave a comment

Toronto, May 2, 2016 – Five books are in contention to become the First Nation Communities Read community reading selection for 2016-2017. Six jury members from First Nation public libraries in Ontario made the shortlist selections. The title selection announcement for 2016-2017 will take place in Toronto on June 23 as part of National Aboriginal Day Celebrations. The selected title’s creator will be the recipient of the $5,000 Periodical Marketers of Canada Aboriginal Literature Award.

PMC Foundation Funds Sponsorship of a Syrian Refugee Writer

April 30, 2015May 3, 2021 - CCI Admin Leave a comment

Members of Periodical Marketers of Canada approved a $40,000 grant that will make it possible for a Syrian refugee writer and family to find a new life in Canada.

The grant, from the Foundation for the Advancement of Canadian Letters (FACL), will go to a committee of writers based in Kingston that is organizing the project. Through FACL, PMC has a forty-year history of supporting literacy and promoting Canadian writing through awards to magazine writers and authors. FACL currently sponsors a $5,000 annual Aboriginal Literature Award for the best book published by an indigenous author.

The Kingston Writers’ Refugee Committee has been registered as a Community Sponsor affiliated with the United Church of Canada. The affiliation empowers the Committee to sponsor a refugee family and support them in their first year in Canada.

First PMC Aboriginal Literature Award to Vancouver Writer/artist

June 10, 2014May 3, 2021 - CCI Admin Leave a comment

TORONTO: The first Aboriginal Literature Award has been presented by Periodical Marketers of Canada to Julie Flett of Vancouver, author/illustrator of Wild Berries/Pakwa che Menisu, a picture book for children published in English and Cree.

Winner of the $5,000 award was chosen from a five-title short list by First Nations Communities Read. A jury of librarians from First Nations public libraries in Ontario hailed it for its “underlying themes of intergenerational relationships and teaching, respect for Mother Earth, and use of Aboriginal languages and dialects.”

First Nation Communities Read Announces 2014 – 2014 Shortlist of Books for Children – and Everyone.

April 29, 2014May 3, 2021 - CCI Admin Leave a comment

Toronto, April 29, 2014 – Five children’s books are in contention to become the First Nation Communities Read community reading selection for 2014-2015. Six jury members from First Nation public libraries in Ontario made the shortlist selections. The title selection announcement for 2014-2015 will take place the week of May 19 as a lead in to National Aboriginal History Month and National Aboriginal Day celebrations in June. The selected title’s creators will be the inaugural recipients of the $5,000 Periodical Marketers of Canada Aboriginal Literature Award.