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James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Award

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

Reviewed by G Paul · verified September 23, 2026

$2,500

Total value

Government of Ontario

Administered by

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 provider 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 own page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm with the provider before you apply.

Open to high school students
Resident of Ontario

How to apply

Read the award's own 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.
Check this year's deadline
We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's own page will have it.

More details

Creative Writing

Avoid 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.

Support

Avoid 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.

Strategy

Avoid 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.

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