First Nation Communities READ (FNCR) is celebrating 20 years in 2023 and announced the longlist in partnership with the Ontario Library Association on Indigenous People’s Day (June 21, 2023).
The program is led by First Nation librarians working in First Nation communities across Ontario to promote the best of Indigenous literature in Canada. Each year, a longlist is released and later, a shortlist and the selected titles are named. There are two categories: Children’s literature and YA/Adult books.
Heritage House is very proud to have three books recognized by the FNCR Awards team:
- Abalone Woman, written by Teoni Spathelfer and illustrated by Natassia Davies, in the Children’s category
- Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools—Commemorative Edition, by Theodore Niizhotay Fontaine in the YA/Adult category
- kā-āciwīkicik / The Move, written by Doris George and Don K. Philpot and illustrated by Alyssa Koski, in the Children’s category
The submitted books are judged with very specific guidelines that reflect First Nation librarianship and the value of knowledge transmission and cultural importance. The winning titles will be announced and celebrated during First Nation Public Library Week (FNPLW) in October 2023.