Spirit Ink

The New Quarterly is delighted to announce the beginning of Spirit Ink: a TNQ Initiative that’s dedicated to supporting emerging Indigenous writers.

Through a combination of mentorship, writer-in-residence placements, and bursaries, we aim to provide not just publishing opportunities but a platform for Indigenous storyteller to hone their craft and share their voices with the world.

Introducing our 2025 Writer-In-Residence:
Chyana Marie Sage

Chyana Marie Sage is a Cree, Métis, and Salish writer from Edmonton, Alberta. Her essay “Soar” won first place in the Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest, then won Silver in the National Magazine Awards. She holds an MFA in creative nonfiction
from Columbia University, where she taught as an adjunct professor. Her journalism has appeared in HuffPost, The New Quarterly, and The Toronto Star. She teaches Indigenous youth how to foster self-love and healing for Connected North and models in her spare time. When she isn’t working, she is travelling and seeing nature around the world.

“I am beyond excited for this opportunity. It feels like such a full circle moment—I had my literary debut with TNQ, and now to be able to take on the role of mentor fills me with such gratitude. I’ll be helping TNQ expand their Indigenous voices by mentoring emerging Native writers throughout the year and I’m honoured to be able to share all I have learned throughout the years with my mentees and with TNQ!” – Chyana Marie Sage

Meet Spirit Ink's Mentor: Helen Knott

Helen Knott is a Dane Zaa, Nehiyaw, Métis, and mixed settler descent woman who is the author of two
memoirs, In My Own Moccasins, and Becoming A
Matriarch. Her work has won a BC Yukon Book
Prize, has been longlisted for the RBC Taylor Prize,
selected as one of Indigo’s top ten books of 2023, and
made the best sellers lists for the Globe and Mail, CBC, and the Toronto Star.

Stay tuned for our first published pieces in the Spirit Ink series in our Winter 2025 issue.

Thank you to the Sponsor of Spirit Ink,
Pam Dillon

This initiative is made possible through the generous support of Pam Dillon, whose commitment allows us to take an intentional and meaningful approach in empowering Indigenous writers.