NWT Indigenous authors Catherine Lafferty and Lisa Boivin have been nominated for Indigenous Voices Awards (IVA).

Established in 2017, the IVAs seek to nurture established and emerging (or unpublished) Indigenous authors across Canada writing in English, French and Indigenous languages.

SA国际影视传媒楢 new sort of traditional storySA国际影视传媒�

Lafferty, a law student and member of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, was nominated for her novel Land-Water-Sky in the category of published fiction prose in English. The book was released in October 2020 by Fernwood Publishing.

Her novel comprises six storylines that interconnect throughout the book and take place in the NWT in different time periods, from the distant past to about 2030.

One of the characters in the book is Deeyah, a former foster child who was taken away from her family when she was young and who returns to the North as an archaeology student to learn about her history.

SA国际影视传媒淪he meets up with a ranger who is part-human and part sky-spirit. They work together to track down the Nahga,SA国际影视传媒� Lafferty said.

Lafferty describes the Nahga as a SA国际影视传媒渟hape-shifting bush manSA国际影视传媒� and an abusive womanizer who seeks to control the land and its people.

SA国际影视传媒淭here is one sky spirit who can face up to the Nahga. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 land, water and sky coming together to stop his terrible reign,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Commenting on the shortlisting of the novel, the IVA jury noted LaffertySA国际影视传媒檚 work resembles a SA国际影视传媒渘ew sort of traditional story, one that brings the old to life and makes it come completely alive,SA国际影视传媒� said IVA board member Sophie McCall.

Lafferty offered her congratulations to all finalists who were nominated.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 important these awards exist because itSA国际影视传媒檚 helping bring Indigenous voices to the mainsteam and highlights the excellence of all our Indigenous authors across Canada.SA国际影视传媒�

Land-Water-Sky follows LaffertySA国际影视传媒檚 2018 memoir Northern Wildflower.

SA国际影视传媒楢 labour of love to honour my brotherSA国际影视传媒檚 passingSA国际影视传媒�

Lisa Boivin, a bioethicist and a member of the Deninu Kue First Nation who was raised in Edmonton, was nominated in the graphic novels and illustrated books category for I Will See You Again, published in February 2020 by HighWater Press.

SA国际影视传媒�(The book) is a labour of love to honour my brotherSA国际影视传媒檚 passing and to help my mother heal,SA国际影视传媒� said Boivin, who travelled abroad to recover her brotherSA国际影视传媒檚 remains.

SA国际影视传媒淚t is a story of death, grieving and healing told in simple language for young people to understand. I had to call on my inner strength to complete the difficult task. I wrote and illustrated my journey to bring (my brother) home to my mother.SA国际影视传媒�

Boivin said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 grateful be shortlisted for the IVAs and proud to be in the company of other talented authors and illustrators.

Her nomination comes shortly after her second book SA国际影视传媒� We Dream Medicine Dreams SA国际影视传媒� was published in April by HighWater Press.

Lafferty and Boivin join three Inuit writers who are among the five Northern authors shortlisted for this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 IVAs.

There are 27 finalists in total for the awards across nine categories. Most of the shortlisted works are in English, some in French and one SA国际影视传媒� the ShamanSA国际影视传媒檚 Apprentice by Zacharias Kunuk SA国际影视传媒� was written in Inuktitut.

IVA winners will be announced on National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21. in a virtual gala.