NNSL (Jun 01/98) - The NWT Literacy Council has announced the names of the winners in its 1998 NWT Writing Contest.

The winner of the Norman McPherson Award, which is presented to the author of the best overall entry submitted, is Susan Beaumont of Fort Smith.

Beaumont, who has recently moved to Fort Smith from Fort McPherson where she worked as a teacher at the community learning centre, was given top marks for her poem Rabbit Song.

"The rabbit was a gift to the Dene and gave itself to the people," Beaumont says. "In the poem, I identified with the rabbit. Rabbit skins were woven by many Dene groups into clothing for young children and blankets, rabbit fur was used in shoes for warmth -- my students told me that -- as well as many other uses."

"I really liked the identification of rabbits with children and babies -- growth and hope."

Carla Bullinger, executive director of the NWT Literacy Council, says the number of submissions in this year's contest meant that judging and making the final decision on the winner took longer than expected."

"We really appreciate people being so patient," she says.

In all, nearly 1,000 entries from across the NWT were submitted in six different languages, including English, French, Inuktitut, South Slavey, Dogrib, and Gwich'in.

"We were really thrilled to receive so many entries. There was a good representation from all across the North," Bullinger says. "We were particularly pleased to have a Gwich'in entry as well as eight South Slavey entries."

"We hope that people will continue to submit entries in their own language so we can publish them."

Bullinger also says that every person who entered the contest will be receiving a thank you letter from the council.

"We really hope to encourage people to enter year after year," she says. "By sending a thank you letter we hope that people understand how valuable their own creative efforts are."

As the recipient of the Norman McPherson Award, Beaumont receives an engraved plaque and $500. Her poem, along with the other winners, have been published in Northern Writes 5.