Iqaluit (Sep 13/04) - The second annual Nunavut Literary Prize is up for grabs, but so far the writing contest is off to a slow start.

The contest's co-ordinator Cindy Kudloo said one entry has been received so far.

Last year, so many people sent stories and essays to the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth (CLEY), it took an extra two months to process the 180 entries.

This year's theme is humour. Judges will be looking for the funniest story in Inuktitut or Innuinaqtun written by a resident of Nunavut. First prize is $6,000, second is $4,000.

Last year, Morty Alooloo of Arctic Bay won first prize for a non-fiction essay on how literacy can help preserve Inuit culture by communicating the knowledge of elders. Second prize went to Paul Issakiark of Arviat for a fictional tale of a caribou hunt. Leo Tulugajuk, Miriam Aglukkaq and Helen Power received honourable mentions.

Stories don't have to be solo efforts. Elders who can't write can have someone else write down their story for them. Teams are limited to a maximum of two people, though.

The purpose of the contest is to increase the amount of literature available in Inuktitut and Innuinaqtun.

CLEY will accept entries by e-mail, mail or fax. The deadline for entries for the 2005 contest is Nov. 1, 2004 . The winners will be announced in February 2005 during Language Week.