Dwight Simon has made the 2020 CBC Nonfiction Prize longlist for A New Beginning.

The winner will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, attend a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and will have their work published by CBC Books.

Four finalists will receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and will have their work published by CBC Books.

The shortlist will be announced on Sept. 24. The winner will be announced on Oct. 1.

"My vision, prior to becoming a teenager, has been a concern throughout my entire life. Asked God why my life was so difficult; then, just like my own thoughts, 'I am going to make you like a bishop.' Blessed with gifts of discernment and mechanical technology; life has had its extremes. An altruistic worker bee, self description, searching for my indigenous cultural identity. Acquired a wide variety of survival skills, employment experiences and a sound formal education, plus extensive personal research."

"An adventure into the past."

"A part of my destiny."

A reflection of dramatic change: Diagnosed by the community elder as a "No good city Indian," and nothing, but a chronic alcoholic. Recovery required the better part of 10 years, after which I would bear the brunt of community jealousy, because of my education.

Caviar

Summer Beaver Ont., 40 years ago, a remote Indigenous fly-in community, located 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, a resettled community. My wife said, her dad needs help moving his big canoe to Bear Stick Lake. Wow, what an opportunity. Born: Port Huron Mich., Sarnia Indian Reserve, my home, a city Indian, and here I am, in the middle of nowhere.

The winner of the 2020 CBC Nonfiction Prize will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, have their work published on CBC Books and attend a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity. Four finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and have their work published on CBC Books.

The 2021 CBC Short Story Prize is currently open for submissions. The 2021 CBC Nonfiction Prize will open in January. The 2021 CBC Poetry Prize will open in April.