On Wednesday, the Canada Council for the Arts presented the Governor General’s Award in the Children’s Literature – Illustrated Books category to the culture-transmitter, Maliotenam’s Innu Ovila Fontaine. His book “The First Christmas Tree” with illustrator Charlotte Parent bridges the gap between Innu tradition and the New World, underlines the jury.
The writer and illustrator receive a $25,000 grant, while the publishing house receives $3,000 to promote it.
“It reads like a song”
“Set in the heart of the boreal forest, this sensitive book opens the door to an age-old vision of the world, both practical and poetic. With the constancy of a river, it reads like a song. The marriage between the story and the drawings is very successful, as is the collaboration between the author and the illustrator. Children and adults alike will want to read and reread this tale,” also notes the evaluation committee composed of Clément de Gaulejac, Diane Obomsawin and Isabelle Picard, who selected the winning book.
Ovila Fontaine stands out for its intergenerational vision of the history of its people, from nomadism to today including the era of the Old Post Office of Sept-Îles. The Innu call him the culture smuggler! He gives lectures to mining workers and visits young people in non-native and native primary schools.
Prestigious award
The book by Ovila Fontaine and Charlotte Parent “The First Christmas Tree” was published by Éditions La Pastèque. The Canada Council for the Arts announced this week the 14 winning books for 2024 GG Books.
The 14 winning books were chosen by the 14 peer review committees. Founded in 1936, the Governor General’s Literary Awards are among the oldest and most prestigious literary distinctions awarded in Canada, with annual prizes totaling $450,000.
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