Where Words Meet Worlds: A Child Author Book Signing
On December 2nd, students in Maskwacis, Alberta, gathered to celebrate young voices and powerful storytelling. Voices of Future Generations (VOFG) newest child author, Vienna Swampy, visited Nipishkopahk Elementary School and Maskwacis Cree High School to sign her first book, The Land Before Us, and connect with readers in her community.
Vienna is a proud 13-year-old from the Samson Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada. Earlier this year, she won the Voices of Future Generations (VOFG) story writing competition with a powerful story that follows Nimîsêw, an eleven-year-old Cree girl learning about her culture, her rights, and the responsibilities humans have toward the land. Over the past year, Vienna worked closely with her editor and illustrator to bring her story to life, transforming her winning story into a published book.
The Land Before Us is now available for free online, making it accessible for children, families, and educators everywhere. The book is meant to inspire young readers and encourage them to think deeply about culture, community, and caring for the land.
A Visit Filled with Connection and Pride
Students at both schools were thrilled to meet Vienna and were full of questions about what it’s like to write and publish a book at such a young age. The excitement and pride in the rooms were easy to feel. Students shared hugs, gifts, and heartfelt appreciation. Some girls felt such a strong connection to Vienna’s story that they removed bracelets from their own wrists and placed them on hers—a beautiful moment that showed just how powerful it is for children to see themselves reflected in stories.
One of the main goals of the VOFG writing competition is to uplift the voices of Indigenous youth, particularly those connected to communities impacted by the Sixties Scoop. The Call for Stories is funded by the Sixties Scoop Foundation of Canada, and aims to create space for young voices to be heard, respected, and celebrated.
Books, Food, and Community
At Maskwacis Cree High School, ten lucky students won copies of The Land Before Us through an energetic raffle. Vienna also joined students for a presentation on the school’s food program, where they learned about on-site chefs, local meals, and meat that is locally hunted. This topic is especially meaningful to Vienna and has already inspired her next project—she will be writing a second book focused on food, land, and community.
The day ended with students and Vienna sharing a meal together, a simple but powerful way to connect through conversation and culture.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Vienna’s editor joined her for the visit and shared that several students approached her during lunchtime to ask questions about the VOFG writing contest. The contest is open until the end of December and welcomes submissions from Indigenous children aged 8 to 17 across Canada whose families or communities have been impacted by the Sixties Scoop.
Reflecting on her journey, Vienna shared:
““Voices of Future Generations gave me a great opportunity to speak to the youth about future opportunities. I got to meet Diane, my editor, and make a difference in my community. So overall, I got to work with a great team, and hopefully inspired kids in my community to make a difference.””
Vienna’s visit was a powerful reminder that stories matter—and that when young people are supported and believed in, their words can inspire entire communities.
