| Native Women in the Arts (NWIA) invites you to celebrate National Poetry Month 2026 in April, with resources, materials, funding, and opportunities made possible with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, and the Department of Canadian Heritage. National Poetry Month 2026 will shape itself around the theme Land & Sea: Mother Earth began with spirit — first water, then land — alive and sacred. To walk on the land and touch her waters is an act of respect and gratitude. Every stone, stream, mountain, and drop of water is a teacher; every breeze, a messenger. We are called to listen, honour, by giving thanks through acts with care. Speaking with water and land we acknowledge its life-sustaining gifts; carrying the lessons of the past into the future through ceremony. This National Poetry Month, the League of Canadian Poets, First Nations House, and NWIA invite poets and readers to explore their relationship with water and land — to write, reflect, and celebrate our shared responsibilities and the sacred bonds that sustain us all. On Thursday, April 30, 2026, we invite you to join us for an evening of poetry readings with guest artist Rosanna Deerchild, and five selected Indigenous readers. Each poet will be given the opportunity to present their poems with the theme of Land & Water. Each selected poet will be provided with a reader fee of $150.00 CAD, pre-register is required by end of day, Monday, April 27, 2026. Audiences will also have the opportunity to connect with Bobbie Lee Journal, who will be present with publications and information for contributors. National Poetry Month 2026 – Land & Sea Thursday, April 30, 2026 | 5PM – 8PM The Teaching Lodge – 33 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON Cost: FREE Spots are limited, please register for this event with bailey.bornyk@utoronto.ca. Reader Callout – NPM 2026, Land & Sea – Fill out this form. U of T registration link: https://folio.utoronto.ca/students/events/detail/6820269 For more information contact fnhresource.centre@utoronto.ca. |
ROSANNA DEERCHILD Rosanna Deerchild (She/Her) is Cree, from O-Pipon-Na-Piwan Cree Nation.Her first play, with Winnipeg’s RMTC’s Pimootayowin Creators Circle, The Secret to Good Tea was the first Indigenous-written play to debut on their mainstage for their 2023 season. It was produced by The Grand Theatre in London, Ontario and Ottawa’s NAC Indigenous Theatre in the 2025 season. As the host of Unreserved (CBC Radio One, Sirius XM, US Public Radio and Native Voice One) Rosanna shares Indigenous community, culture and conversation.She has written three collections of poetry: this is a small northern town, calling down the sky, and she falls again, which won the Indigenous Voices Award for poetry in 2025. BOBBIE LEE JOURNAL Bobbi Lee: a Collection of Indigenous Knowledges, is named in honour of Lee Maracle’s iconic 1975 autobiographical work Bobbi Lee Indian Rebel. The editorial team, comprised of Indigenous students at the University of Toronto, are seeking to establish a platform for Indigenous scholarly and creative work. We are seeking both academic works, such as research essays, along with creative works including poetry, short stories, screenplays, visual art, and videos. All mediums are accepted for publication. We welcome self-identifying Indigenous folks from across Turtle Island to submit their works. This includes those outside of post-secondary institutions, and those located in non-urban spaces or reserve communities. THE LEAGUE OF CANADIAN POETS The League of Canadian Poets is Canada’s only national professional poetry organization. The League serves the poetry community and promotes a high level of professional achievement through events, networking, projects, publications, mentoring, and awards. We administer programs and funds for governments and private donors and encourage an appreciative readership and audience for poetry through educational partnerships and presentations to diverse groups. As the recognized voice of Canadian poets, we represent poets’ concerns to governments, publishers, and society at large, and we maintain connections with similar organizations at home and abroad. The League strives to promote equal opportunities for poets from myriad literary traditions and cultural and demographic backgrounds.Members of the League are professional poets who are actively contributing to the development, growth, and public profile of poetry in Canada. FIRST NATIONS HOUSE – UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO INDIGENOUS STUDENT SERVICES The First Nations House, provides culturally relevant services to Indigenous students to support academic success, personal growth and leadership development. We offer learning opportunities for all students to engage with Indigenous communities at U of T and beyond. NATIVE WOMEN IN THE ARTS Native Women in the Arts (NWIA) is a not-for-profit organisation for First Nations, Inuit and Métis women and other Indigenous gender marginalized folks who share the common interest of art, culture, community and the advancement of Indigenous peoples. |
