Northern Voices Storybook Contest

A Short Story Contest for Kindergarten to Grade 12

 

The North is full of stories shaped by wind, language, river paths, and memories handed down through families. Northern Voices invites young writers to share original stories rooted in life across the South Slave. Students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 can submit a story that reflects their connection to land, culture, identity, or community.

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Prize Groups

Each prize group has one winner.

Each winner receives one hundred dollars, a custom book created from their story and published on the SSDEC website.

• Young Storytellers - Kindergarten to Grade 3

• Growing Voices - Grade 4 to Grade 6

• Emerging Authors - Grade 7 to Grade 12

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Possible Themes to Explore

• Legends and oral traditions

• Daily life in Northern communities

• Language, culture, and heritage

• Reflections on family, identity, and place

• Connections between people, land, and wildlife

 

Find Your Voice

 

• Visit with Elders and ask questions

• Explore your language and traditions

• Let the Northern lights, the river, and the spirit of your community shape your ideas

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How to Submit

Give your story to your teacher or email NorthernVoices@ssdec.org.

Include your name, grade, school, and teacher.

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For more information - contact Justin Heron at justin.heron@ssdec.org or call - 867.872.5701

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Submission deadline
April 10, 2026

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Official Rules

All submissions must follow the official rules.

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1. By entering, the writer agrees that all rights, except the Moral Right to be identified as the author, transfer to the South Slave Divisional Education Council for the winning story.

2. Entries must be original works that have not been previously published. Plagiarism in whole or in part results in disqualification.

3. The contest is open to all Kindergarten to Grade 12 students who attend SSDEC schools.

4. Submissions must be provided to the student’s teacher or emailed to NorthernVoices@ssdec.org and must include the student’s name, grade, school, and teacher.

5. Stories will be judged by a panel selected by the South Slave Divisional Education Council. All decisions of the judging panel are final.

6. Each prize group will have one winner. Winners will be notified by phone or email.

7. SSDEC reserves the right to edit the winning stories for publication.

8. The contest is void where prohibited by law.

9. Each winner receives one hundred dollars and a printed copy of their book.​​