Blair Yoxall says his goal as a writer is to always to empathize with his characters and what they are experiencing. Now in his fourth-year, the English major has been recognized for his writing and is the 2016 recipient of the Striking Prose Award.

“The story is about a Cree boy reliving childhood and cultural memories with his Kokum (grandmother). It discusses the consequences of modern day prejudice directed towards Canada’s Indigenous peoples,” he says. “Although I had a variety of sources from which I drew inspiration, I wanted
to write a story to thank the Indigenous community for supporting me while also evoking empathy without pity for readers who have never felt victimized by racism.”

In addition to his writing, Blair has been active with the English Students’ Society, the Native American Students’ Association, Whetstone Magazine (a bi-annual magazine managed by students) and The Meliorist (student newspaper). He also spent the summer in Ottawa on a co-op work-term for communications department in the Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.

After his undergraduate education, he plans to go to grad school.

“I want to work with marginalized peoples in law or education,” he says. “I hope to one day walk into Chapters or a used bookstore and see a book with my name on it.”