Northern Women Asked to Put it in Writing

Award-winning journalist, Carol Morin, wants to hear from Northern women.

“What’s really important to me is, as women, we all encounter the same struggles,” said Morin, who is to receive a National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Media and Communication this spring.

“It doesn’t matter whether we are aboriginal, your skin colour, your income. We all encounter the same challenges. We are all Northern. We all love being here and that’s what I want to hear about.”

Though well-known as a television host for CBC, CTV and APTN, Morin doesn’t want to interview Northern women, she wants to hear from them in writing.

She is editing an anthology of Northern women’s writing that she hopes to publish some time next year.

“Since I have been in the North, I haven’t seen anything like this,” Morin pointed out.

“Our stories are important. Our stories need to be told. Our stories are beautiful.”

The deadline for submissions is the end of April 2009 and the only criterion Morin is imposing is that anyone submitting must be a woman of the North. There is no word limit and Morin is open to receiving any kind of writing.

“It’s whatever you want to talk about that’s important to you as a woman in the North,” she said. “We all have stories. We are all writers in our way.”

Morin, who is based in Yellowknife, explained: “Our stories are different from those women in other parts of Canada, other parts of the world. We are unique and have a perspective worthy of sharing. From stories of growth and isolation to challenges we face as parents, community builders and mentors, we have much of which to be proud.”

Submissions she has received so far range from a humorous account of living for the first time in a small Northern community to overcoming alcohol addiction.

“We want to read short stories, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essays, humour, satire. Every emotion which embodies the psyche of Northern women. Our voices ought to be heard. The anthology is one opportunity.”

Also known as a singer and drummer, Morin’s own writing projects currently include a play and a re-write of her novel, plus projects for CBC that will broadcast both on radio and television.

“Right now I’m writing a story for CBC that will air over the Christmas season. It’s about a raven who advises Santa on who should be on the naughty and the nice list.”

Morin is also working on a series called The Arctic Book Club that will focus on aboriginal books as well as books about the North.

“It’s dark and cold for so many months and we really should be reading,” she said.

While Morin says her favourite quote is by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, who said, “Well-behaved women seldom make history,” it’s clear she also abides by words uttered from her own mouth: “You can’t just sit around and wait for things to happen.”

Submissions (preferably double spaced) and queries should be sent to [email protected] or Carol Morin, Box 1052 Stn Main, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2N8.

All proceeds from the sale of the anthology will go toward breast cancer research.

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