The highly successful mentorship and workshop program returns for the fourth year. The Audible Indigenous Writers' Circle initiative was created to help emerging Indigenous writers looking for ways to elevate and develop their stories.
In the past three years, over 85 Indigenous writers have been supported by the program. Results included one published book, over 8 confirmed signed deals, and representation secured for writers such as book agents.
Details released for this fourth year of the program includes:
Six-months mentorship and workshop program for emerging First Nations, Inuit, and Métis writers in Canada looking to elevate their stories. The program is open to writers who self-identify as First Nations, Inuit and Métis emerging writers.
Applications open February 1 for eight weeks and the deadline is early April. Application details can be found here.
This year, the program will have 7 mentors and are looking for 21 emerging writers to participate. Chosen emerging writers in the program will be paired up with Indigenous mentors who will coach and guide participants through the creative process, and help them identify and pursue opportunities in line with their goals as writers.
The esteemed mentors this year include:
- Richard Van Camp (He/Him) - is a returning for a fourth year, Richard is an internationally renowned Tłı̨chǫ Dene storyteller and best-selling author. He has written 25 books in just about every genre. Explore Richard’s works on Audible.ca here.
- January Rogers (She/Her) - is returning for a third year, January is a multi-award-winning Mohawk/Tuscarora poet, media producer, performance and sound artist. She has seven published poetry titles and is currently developing a comedy web series titled NDNs on the Airwaves.
- Reneltta Arluk (She/Her) – Reneltta Arluk is a writer and actor of Inuvialuit, Dene and Cree descent, originally from the Northwest Territories. As Banff Centre's former Director of Indigenous Arts, Reneltta has helped numerous Indigenous artists discover their voices and turn their ideas into reality.
- Joshua Whitehead (He/Him) - is a Two-Spirit, Oji-nêhiyaw member of Peguis First Nation (Treaty 1). He is an award winning author known for full-metal indigiqueer, Jonny Appleseed and Making Love with the Land.
- Warren Cariou (He/Him) – is born in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan into a family of Métis and European heritage. His books, films, photography and scholarly research explore themes of community, environment, orality and belonging in the Canadian west, with particular focus on the relationships between Indigenous stories and the land.
- Waubgeshig Rice (He/Him) – Waubgeshig Rice is an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation. He has written four fiction titles, and his short stories and essays have been published in numerous anthologies. His expertise is in journalism, fiction, short stories.
- Tanya Talaga (She/Her) – is an acclaimed and award-winning Anishinaabe journalist and author of national bestsellers Seven Fallen Feathers and All Our Relations: Finding The Path Forward. Her Audible Original series, Seven Truths, features her personal story of fighting for Indigenous rights. Tanya heads up Makwa Creative Inc., a production company focused on amplifying Indigenous voices through documentary films, TV and podcasts.
Audible will provide additional support to the participants throughout the program, including guidance on how participants can promote their work. At the end of the program, depending on what stage each writer has progressed their creative work and how they choose to share their writing, participants may explore opportunities with Audible.
There’s no cost for writers to apply and selected emerging writers are eligible for a bursary to support their participation in the program.
More information including details on the program, eligibility, and more can be found here: https://www.audible.ca/ep/IWC