Annharte at Blue Met 2015

As part of our ongoing efforts to promote all kinds of writing and writers, we created a new prize this year to shine a spotlight on Indigenous writers of Canada by creating the Blue Met First Peoples Literary Prize.

The inaugural prize is awarded this year to Anishnabe poet and activist Annharte for her amazing collection Indigena Awry.

This work is definitely one of the most original and provoking poetry collections I've read this year in preparing for this upcoming Festival. Annharte explores urban culture in fascinating and often hilarious ways: but in addition to her poems, she performs, tells stories, and fights for the rights of women and the disabled.

Annharte will do many events at Blue Met 2015 but the headline event is the awarding of the Blue Met First Peoples Prize to her on stage in conversation with activist Taiaiake Alfred. This event starts at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 25 and the tickets are $10 ($8.50 if you buy before April 8).

Annharte will also do a storytelling event at Westmount Library at 10:30 on April 23. This event is free.

She will be in conversation, too, with novelist Lee Maracle, on Witness: Indigenous Women Writers. This one is at 11:00 am on Sunday, April 26 at Hotel 10.

Finally, she will discuss artists and ability/disability in an on-stage discussion with Laurence Parent and Concordia Mobile Media Lab's Kimberly Sawchuk. Writing Disabilities: Poet + Activist on Sunday, April 26 at 12:30pm at Hotel 10. This event is free.