James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Award

Government of Ontario

Win $2,500 for your creative writing talent if you are an Indigenous student in Ontario.

Published by G Paul · last checked September 26, 2026

Total value

$2,500

Deadline

May 31, 2027

Level

High school

Open to

Ontario

Apply on the official site ↗

What you will need

Your personal information
Parent or legal guardian contact information
Your school name and address
An original creative writing piece (short story, poem, essay, play, song, comic strip, etc.)
A brief description of your writing piece, including your inspiration and what it means to you
Parent or legal guardian consent (if you are under 18)

About this award

You can win a $2,500 award. This is a grant, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. Up to six Indigenous students are recognized annually. This is for you if you are a young Indigenous writer in Ontario who wants to share an original story, poem, or play. You must apply by May 31 of each year. The funder does not post a specific notification date — when you apply, ask how and when you will hear back via the portal or email. An independent selection committee made up of people from Indigenous communities reviews your work and recommends the winners. They choose one junior student (12 and younger) and one senior student (13 to 18) from each of the three geographic categories: fly-in communities, on-reserve, and off-reserve. Ask Government of Ontario during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with Government of Ontario whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must be 18 years of age or under and a resident of Ontario. You must also be a student enrolled in a school in Ontario and self-identify as an Indigenous person. If you are under 18, you need consent from your parent or legal guardian. You will fit into one of three geographic categories: a fly-in community, on reserve, or off reserve (meaning you do not live in a fly-in community or on a reserve). Depending on your age, you will be entered as a junior student (12 years old and younger) or a senior student (13 to 18 years old).

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

Open to high school students
Resident of Ontario

How to apply

Read the award's official page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Write your essay
Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.
Submit your application
Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

Creative WritingAvoid submitting a piece that is partly copied from another source. Instead, provide entirely original work, such as a short story or comic strip, and include a personal description of what inspired you.
SupportAvoid trying to navigate the portal alone if you are a minor. Instead, have your parent or legal guardian help you complete the declaration section to ensure the application is legally valid.
StrategyAvoid ignoring the geographic categories. Instead, clearly identify whether you live in a fly-in community, on reserve, or off reserve to ensure you are judged in the correct group.
RealismAvoid assuming a guaranteed win because of the categories. Instead, treat this as a talent competition and spend time polishing your original piece to stand out to the Indigenous selection committee.

Questions students ask

How do I apply?

Use the Apply on the official site button on this page: it opens the official application page in a new tab.

When is the deadline?

Applications close on May 31, 2027. Submit a day or two early: application sites get busy at the end.

Can international students apply?

Check the award's official page for the citizenship rules.

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FundMyCourse.ca · checked Sep 26, 2026