Are you an Indigenous writer? Are you an enrolled member of a tribal community within Minnesota? Then you’re eligible for the Reclaiming Mni Sota Indigenous Writers Grant.

In conjunction with his forthcoming novel, Reclaiming Mni Sota, author Colin Mustful, and his press, History Through Fiction, will award one Indigenous writer a $10,000 grant to pursue the advancement of their creative writing projects, education, and career. To be considered for the grant, eligible applicants must submit proof of membership to a federally recognized Minnesota Indian community, a personal essay, and a writing sample.

Personal Essay

The personal essay should be an expression of the writer’s journey that clearly demonstrates the writer’s intentions to use creative writing to share stories about the past. It should convey the importance of historical storytelling and the value of advancing diverse narratives in historical fiction. It should be between 750 and 1,500 words long.

Writing Sample

The writing sample should be a sample of the writer’s creative writing. It can be any form of fiction or poetry and can be a complete short-form narrative or an excerpt from a longer piece. It can be the writer’s published or unpublished work. It should be between 1,000 and 2,000 words long.

To Apply

To apply for the Reclaiming Mni Sota Indigenous Writers Grant, please submit all materials through our Duosuma Submission Manager. Please attach the personal essay and writing sample as a PDF, .doc, or .docx file. Your cover letter should include your full name, tribal membership, email, phone number, and mailing address. Your writing sample should not include any identifying information. The application period begins June 15, 2023 and ends November 1, 2023.

Selection and Awarding

The awardee will be chosen through a reviewal process by Colin Mustful, History Through Fiction, and several judges who are yet to be determined. The awardee will be selected and notified December 15, 2023. The awardee will be made public on January 1, 2024. The grant will be awarded by check on a date to be determined no later than March 1, 2024.

Details and Disclaimers

This grant is an effort of Colin Mustful and History Through Fiction and is supported by its contributors and advocates. It is not directly affiliated with any other person or organization.

The full award will amount to the total earned through the GoFundMe campaign less fees and taxes. Therefore, the final total may not be equal to $10,000.

The fundraising period for this grant begins June 15, 2023 and ends December 31, 2023. There will be no further contributions made after December 31, 2023.

The application period begins June 15, 2023 and ends December 31, 2023. The awardee will be chosen through a reviewal process by Colin Mustful, History Through Fiction, and Indigenous Volunteer Judges. The awardee will be notified January 31, 2024. The awardee will be made public on February 1, 2024. The grant will be awarded by check at a public event on a date to be determined.

The awardee must be an enrolled member of one of the eleven federally recognized Indian Tribes in Minnesota.

The awardee agrees to provide the History Through Fiction and Colin Mustful bi-yearly updates on how the grant funding is being utilized. Colin Mustful will publish the updates on his blogs and newsletters. The awardee shall provide four total updates.

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Grant Advocates

Michael A. (AmikoGaabaw) Loso, an enrolled member of the Mille Lacs band of Ojibwe
Simily.co
Afton Press
Nodin Press
FatherBaraga.org
Parkway Pizza

Do you represent an organization that would like to advocate for the Reclaiming Mni Sota Indigenous Writers Grant? Email me at mnauthor@colinmustful.com