Jesse Thistle’s bestselling memoir From the Ashes (Simon & Schuster Canada) was among the winners of the third annual Indigenous Voices Awards. The winners were announced on June 21 – National Indigenous Day – in a virtual gala of readings and stories streamed via the IVAs website.

Michelle Sylliboy’s Kiskajeyi—I am Ready (Rebel Mountain) and Arielle Twist’s debut collection, Disintegrate / Dissociate, tied to win the Published Poetry in English prize. The four published categories include a $5,000 prize. Authors of the four unpublished, Indigenous language, and alternative format categories receive $2,000.

The winners were chosen by a jury comprised of Jordan Abel, Jeannette Armstrong, Joanne Arnott, Francis Langevin, Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, Pierrot Ross-Tremblay, and Richard Van Camp. The full list of winners follows.

Published Prose in English
From the Ashes, Jesse Thistle (Simon & Schuster Canada)

Published Poetry in English
Kiskajeyi—I am Ready, Michelle Sylliboy (Rebel Mountain) and Disintegrate / Dissociate, Arielle Twist (Arsenal Pulp Press)

Published Prose in French
Shuni — Ce que tu dois savoir, Julie, Naomi Fontaine (Mémoire d’encrier)

Published Poetry in French
Bréviaire du matricule 082, Maya Cousineau-Mollen (Éditions Hannenorak) and Chauffer le dehors, Marie-Andrée Gill (La peuplade)

Works in an Indigenous Language
Injichaag: My Soul in Story, Rene Meshake (University of Manitoba Press) and Dakwäkãda Warriors, Cole Pauls (Conundrum Press)

Unpublished Prose in English
Excerpts from “Half-Bads in White Regalia,” Cody Caetano

Unpublished Poetry in English
“Two Little Foxes, Buttertown Beach, I Will Never be Happier,” Keely Shirt

Works in an Alternative Format
Elizabeth Dances Pow-wow, Elaine McArthur (independently published)