Calling Young Indigenous Storytellers!
Are you between 8 and 16 years old and a member of an Indigenous community in Canada?
Do you have creative ideas and a story to share?
This is your chance to become a published Child Author!
The Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative (VoFG CI), in partnership with the National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada (NSSHFC), invites you to write a short story that celebrates Indigenous children’s rights, resilience, and the hope of a better future.
Get Ready to Participate!
Who Can Enter?
Indigenous children 8–16 years old from Canada whose families or communities have been impacted by the Sixties Scoop.
What We Are Looking For
Stories set in Turtle Island (Canada) and told from the perspective of a child, and feature child characters representing your community and cultural heritage.
Creative tales that highlight Indigenous children’s rights and encourage understanding of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Connections to at least one of the 94 calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and at least one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
You can submit either:
A full story (1,200–1,500 words)
Or a story outline or partially developed story (200–300 words) with a commitment to finish it if selected
Along with your story, include a 100-word bio about yourself!
Prizes and Rewards
Gold Prize — $300, medal, certificate, and your story published as a beautifully illustrated book shared worldwide!
Silver Prize — $250, medal, certificate, plus your story featured in an anthology and a spot as a Child Ambassador
Bronze Prize —$200, medal, certificate, anthology publication, and Child Ambassador roleHonourable Mentions — $100, medal, certificate, and anthology publication
Silver and Bronze winners will also see their work included in a special international collection of young voices.
Winners will also have the opportunity to speak to an international audience in our annual online events to showcase their work and demonstrate the importance of Indigenous youth voices as Child Authors and Child Ambassadors.
How to Enter
Write your story and submit it by December 31st, 2026.
You can submit your story online HERE
For inspiration, you can read past winning stories by Indigenous Child Authors that were published, such as:
The Land Before Us and The Forest of Friendship by Vienna Swampy;
The Brothers' Reunion, and Coming Back Home by Sydnee Wynter Amie Nisyok;
The anthology Voices of Turtle Island, and
Not sure how to begin?
Check out our webpage with creative writing resources
Need help?
Request a brief coaching session with our team by sending an email to Ms. Diane Litman at diane.litman@vofg.org or Ms. Brileigh McCrank at brileigh.mccrank@vofg.org, cc’ing ela.martinez@vofg.org
Your story matters. Your voice matters.
Grab your pen, let your creativity flow, and share your vision for a better future.
We can’t wait to hear from you!
Funding from this program is through a generous Gift from The National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada
