Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
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Minneapolis, MN - L.M. (Lisa) VanEvery is the recipient of the 2002 Professional Development Fellowship. Lisa is Mohawk, wolf clan, from the First Nation community of Six Nations of the Grand River in Ohsweken, Ontario.

It was in the late 1990's that writing became a focus in her life and she began work at the community newspaper, Tekawennake (means Two Voices in the Mohawk language), southern Ontario's oldest leading Native news weekly.

It was here that she experienced journalism in a small community by writing a weekly column, doing man-on-the-street interviews, writing features, covering news stories, selling advertising and writing copy for special publications.

As a journalist, she has great respect for the ability of writers to evoke emotion in their readers and believes that every person has a story to tell.

In celebration of the literary talent on Six Nations of the Grand River, Lisa organized the first Six Nations Festival Of Words, a series of writers workshops held over the summer and fall of 2001 that allowed writers in the community to network and share their literary efforts.

From this experience, a core group of writers formed an e-mail list and writers membership that meet regularly to support, encourage one another and celebrate the creativity of writing.

Lisa has been instrumental in organizing the Six Nations writers to launch their own web site, which will take place in March 2002.

She believes that the time is now for Native people to write their own stories and continues to search out and write the stories of people from Six Nations of the Grand River.

The Professional Development Fellowship is open to Native American journalists who are current members of NAJA, non-students, working journalists for at least two years, (who make more than 50 percent of their income as a journalist).

Fellowship funds may be used for tuition expenses, fees for travel and lodging related to attending journalistic skills building seminars or classes. Fellowship funds may also be used for one-time, job related equipment purchases.

Two fellowships up to $500 (June 1 deadline) and $1000 (January 1 deadline) are available.

For more information about the Professional Development Fellowship please visit our website.