Submission Deadline: April 15th, 2015
The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce the call for essays in its tenth annual Young Native Writers Essay Contest. The Foundation partners with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) to sponsor this national writing contest.
For 2015, students will write about one or more of the cultural images, symbols, or art forms that have been historically utilized by their community (American Indian, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian) to communicate a particular message or value. Essays should be 1,200 words or less and should cover the following:
- Describe the image(s), symbol(s) or art forms selected;
- Explain how the image was historically used by the community. Involve an elder, or another knowledgeable person from the community to lend historical and cultural strength to your essay;
- Reflect on the student’s own experience, including thoughts and feelings, about the image;
- Suggest why or how the image is still relevant today to the reservation, tribal town, or Native community where the image originates.
The contest is designed to encourage young Native American writers to explore their heritage. It is open to American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian high school students (grades 9-12) from all Native communities.
Contest winners received an all-expenses-paid “Scholar Week” trip to Washington, D.C., which takes place from July 20-25, 2015. Winners also received a $2,500 scholarship paid to the college or university of their choice.
Full details on eligibility and submission requirements can be found HERE. (http://nativewriters.hklaw.com/?utm_source=NIEA+Native+Ed+Review+-+03-26-15&utm_campaign=NIEA+Native+Ed+Review+Vol.+1+%238&utm_medium=email)