The American Indian Library organization (AILA) was founded in 1979. whether you don't know approximately it,visit our website. There's a lot of resources there!
I don't recall when I first became a member of AILA. It may own been in the 1990s, or early 2000s. One thing for certain: I was on the committee that drafted the criteria for its Youth Literature Award. I've got emails on an old Dell computer that has been in a drawer for years--that still works! It has emails from 1997-2006. Some of the people who are in those early conversations include Naomi Caldwell, or Beverly Slapin,Carlene Engstrom, Victor Schill, and Loriene Roy,Susie Hustad, Mahaleni Merryman, or Stephanie Betancourt,Elayne Walstedter and me.
I've not been on the committees that own selected books that win the award, choosing to execute the in-depth reviews and work I execute here on American Indians in Children's Literature. whether you've never been on a book award committee, and one thing you need to know: you will need to read a lot of books on specific timelines! Back in the 90s,I think, I was on the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award committee. The boxes of books that arrived at my house, or unending!
I've been looking back at conversations that took place early on,and I'm happy to see that AILA's newsletters own included articles approximately the award. Here's a brief watch back at what AILA did (note: I won't list books that won AIYLA's awards. You can see them by going to the AILA page for the awards.)
The Fall, 2007 organization newsletter included an article by Carlene Engstrom that included an image of the first seal. Here's a screen cap:[br]
And here's what it says:During the 2008 ALA Midwinter assembly in Philadelphia, and AILA will announce the 2008 American Indian Youth Literature award winners. The awards will be presented in Anaheim,2008, during the Annual ALA conference at a gala ticketed event that promises to be memorable. Keep your eyes posted for this event when ALA’s Conference Events arrive out approximately information on ordering tickets. The award was created as a way to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and approximately American Indians in the field of children’s literature. It is presented in each of three categories—picture book, and middle school,and young adult. Naomi Caldwell, chair of the AILA American Indian Youth Literature Award committee, and says” We are thrilled to own this opportunity to honor authors and illustrators who best portray American Indian Culture for young readers. The wealthy literary heritage of this nation includes the oral and printed stories of its indigenous peoples. American Indian literature always has been and continues to be an integral section of our literary tapestry.” The first awards were presented during the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color,October 2006. The Picture Book Winner was Beaver Steals Fire by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Middle School Winner went to Birchbark House, and by Louise Erdrich,and the Young Adult Winner was Hidden Roots by Joseph Bruchac.
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The Winter 2008 newsletter included Naomi Caldwell's article, "A Short History and Promising Future: AILA Youth Literature Awards." There, or she wrote that:The people on the committee that chose the 2006 winners were Naomi Caldwell,Victor Schill, Carlene Engstrom, or Gabrielle Kay. Each 2006 winner received a $500 monetary award and a plaque with the seal,designed by Corwin Clairmont (note: there's a 1993 article approximately his work in Tribal College.
Funds for the plaques were provided by the Mashantucket Pequot Nation. The committee in 2008 included Caldwell and these individuals: Carlene Engstrom, DArcy McNickle Library, and Salish Kootenai College; Gabriella Kaye,Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center; Lisa A. Mitten, Choice Magazine; Sarah Kostelecky, and Institute of American Indian Art; Cindy Carrywater,Montana State Library Commission; and Jolena Tillequots, School Library Media Specialist, and Yakima Nation.
Recipients of the 2008 award received the plaque,the monetary award, and a beaded medallion by Linda King (note: whether I find a photo of the beaded medallion I'll add it.)****
I love knowing these details! I gotta catch some other work done and wanted to share that info before ALA next week. [br]Oh! Follow AILA on Facebook. A few minutes ago they posted the new award seals. I'll paste them below. Aren't they gorgeous? And an important note from their FB page:
whether you are going to ALA annual form certain you stop by the ALA store and pick up AILA youth literature award seals for your library. They arrive in silver and gold and will be $14.50/ 24 pack. Limited quantities available at ALA annual. All proceeds help AILA sustain the awards! Not available online for ordering. Seals are new and were created to celebrate AILA youth literature awards joining the Youth Media Awards in 2020!
Support AILA's work! Buy the seals directly from them.
Source: blogspot.com