Inuk author Norma Dunning among writers shortlisted for $25K Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing
CBC Books | Posted: April 14, 2023 3:56 PM | Last Updated: April 14, 2023
Norma Dunning's book Kinauvit? is among the five shortlisted titles for this year's Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing.
Now entering its 23rd year, the $25,000 prize is awarded annually for a book of literary nonfiction that embodies a political subject relevant to Canadian readers and Canadian political life.
From Left to Right by Dale Eisler, Sideways by Josh O'Kane, Valley of the Birdtail by Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii) and How to Be a Climate Optimist by Chris Turner have also made the shortlist.
The shortlist was selected from 48 books by a jury composed of political science professor Terri E. Givens, data scientist Nik Nanos, and former prize finalist Jacques Poitras.
Kinauvit? is a revelatory collection of personal accounts and research into the forgotten Canadian history of what was once called the Eskimo Identification Tag System.
Dunning is an Inuk writer, scholar and grandmother who currently lives in Edmonton. She also wrote Tainna, which won the 2021 Governor General's Literary Award for fiction.
LISTEN | Norma Dunning talks to Shelagh Rogers about her book:
"Norma Dunning shares a powerful and masterful story about the government of Canada's implementation of Eskimo Identification Numbers — the little-known system that identified Inuit through digits on physical discs in place of their traditional name," the 2023 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize jury said in a statement.
"With Kinauvit?, Dunning balances memoir and information, breaking ground with a uniquely Inuit story that contributes to the broader topic of Indigeneity in Canada, especially in the North. Deeply analyzed and with a matter-of-fact writing style, Kinauvit? is a must-read for all Canadians that shines a spotlight on a vital national story told through Dunning's personal journey of discovery."
In From Left to Right, Eisler examines the political and economic transformation in Saskatchewan from its history of leftism to the present.
"How did the birthplace of socialized medicine become a hotbed of commodity-fueled conservatism?," said the jury. "In a world where major democracies are gripped by populist fevers, Dale Eisler explores the relevance and applicability of Prairie politics to the body politic in Canada."
LISTEN | Dale Eisler on The Morning Edition:
O'Kane, a tech reporter for the Globe and Mail who uncovered many controversies during the Sidewalk Labs fiasco in Toronto, continues his work in Sideways. O'Kane writes of the power of Big Tech and the realities of data privacy and monetization.
"In Sideways, Josh O'Kane presents the engaging, comprehensive tale of Google's collision with Waterfront Toronto," said the jury. "The result is a definitive chronicle, leaving behind valuable lessons for Canadian policymakers."
Valley of the Birdtail is a book about on-going relations between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians residing in two communities divided by a valley. It tells the story of two families in these communities, and how these divisions impacted them over generations.
"[Sniderman and Sanderson] tell a moving story that educates and provides potential paths to reconciliation," said the jury. "This is a masterfully written and accessible book which will resonate well beyond Canada as we work toward policies that create a better future for all."
LISTEN | Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii) on Up to Speed:
In How to Be a Climate Optimist, Turner combines original reporting with personal reflection to write about the places where sustainable futures emerge.
"While Chris Turner doesn't pretend that crafting policy to slow global warming is easy, he presents a compelling argument: gloom and doom is not an effective strategy," states the jury.
LISTEN | Chris Turner on The Sunday Magazine:
The Shaughnessy Cohen Prize was established in honour of the outspoken and popular Member of Parliament from Windsor, Ont. It is sponsored by CN and supported by the Politics and the Pen gala.
The winner will be announced on May 10, 2023.
Last year's winner was Joanna Chiu for her debut book China Unbound.
Other past winners include Kamal Al Solaylee, Beverley McLachlin, Jane Jacobs and Roméo Dallaire.
The Writers' Trust of Canada is an organization that supports Canadian writers through 11 annual national literary awards, fellowships, financial grants, mentorships and more.