Call for Submissions

The CODE Burt Award for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis  Young Adult – Literature Deadline: August 30, 2019 

The CODE Burt Award for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Young Adult Literature is a Canadian literary award and readership initiative that recognizes excellence in Indigenous-authored literature for young adults (ages 12-18). Starting in 2019, we will also be offering the first ever Canadian Indigenous-language Young Adult Literature award. 

CODE is accepting books written, illustrated and translated by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Young Adult for youth in English as well as any Indigenous language from Canada. The submissions can include graphic novels, short story and poetry collections by a single author, hi/lo novels, creative non-fiction, and young adult novels. We are not accepting children’s picture books or non-fiction.  

English-language manuscripts and books published between February 15, 2018 and April 30, 2019 are eligible. 

Indigenous-language manuscripts and books published between January 1, 2014 and April 30, 2019 are eligible.  

An English-language and an Indigenous-language YA book will be selected as winners. The winning titles will each be awarded a prize of $6,000.00 CAD.  An English-language Honour book will receive $3,000.00 CAD. Publishers of English-language winning titles (including the Honour book) will be granted a guaranteed purchase of up to 2,500 copies. The publisher of the Indigenous-language book will be granted a guaranteed purchase appropriate to the size of the language community, but not greater than 2,500 copies. The titles will be distributed to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth in schools, libraries, friendship centres, literacy and learning programs, and community centers across Canada.

For submission guidelines, eligibility criteria and submission forms, please visit https://www.burtaward.org or 

www.nationalreadingcampaign.ca

For more information, contact, Lynn O’Rourke, Program Manager, Literary Awards & Publishing at 613-2323569 x 244 or by email at LORourke@code.ngo.