The winners of the Periodical Marketers of Canada Indigenous Literature Award, selected from the shortlisted books of the 2020/2021 First Nations Communities Read program, have been announced! The winners were chosen by a jury of Indigenous librarians from across Ontario, and the winning titles, together with the rest of the nominated books, represent some of the best, modern Indigenous literature today. The authors of the selected titles will each receive a $3000 cash prize.

In the Children’s Category, Clayton Gauthier was chosen for their book The Bear's Medicine/Sus Yoo, published by Theytus Books. The Bear's Medicine/Sus Yoo is the charming story of how a mother bear feeds her cubs off the land. In doing so she teaches her cubs about gratitude for the world around them. It’s the story of a mother’s love for her children as she teaches them how to survive. Click here for an accessible version of The Bear's Medicine/Sus Yoo.

In the Young Adult/Adult Category, Drew Hayden Taylor was awarded the prize for their book Chasing Painted Horses, published by Cormorant Books. In Chasing Painted Horses,  is shocked when he comes across some graffiti in an alley on a cold winter morning and recognizes the art. He is transported back to his childhood on the Otter Lake reserve and the drawing of a horse by another child that won a drawing competition. A homeless Indigenous man sees his reaction and calls out to him. Over the course of their conversation he remembers the questions that arose from the drawing of that horse and what it meant for him, his sister, his best friend and for the girl who created the drawing. Click here for an accessible version of Chasing Painted Horses.

Many of the long and short-listed books nominated for these awards are available in the NNELS Collection: First Nations Communities Read 2020, and it has been our absolute pleasure to work with the people at the Southern Ontario Library Service and First Nations Communities Read in order to ensure that this collection was as accessible as possible.

Read more about the contest and winners here: News Release: First Nation Communities READ Announces the Children’s and Young Adult/Adult Selected Titles for the 2020-2021 PMC Indigenous Literature Award.