American Indian Youth Literature Awards

History

Criteria

• Authors must be recognized by the Native community of which they claim to be a part and be connected to the people of that community.
• For anthologies, at least ⅔ of the authors must be recognized members of the community to which they claim affiliation.
• Books must have been published after October of the year before the last awards were given.
• Indigenous-language text and audio materials are encouraged, and every effort will be made to provide accurate translation for the committee when possible, but the committee’s common language is English.
• Books may be nominated for consideration by the AIYLA Jury, publishers, librarians, authors, illustrators, and others.
• The Awards go beyond merely naming the best creator of a particular art form in a certain year to representing the ideals of our multiple communities. Native authors and illustrators are role models for young people. For that reason, AILA does not endorse authors who appropriate other cultures or who behave in ways that dishonor others.

Recipients