A Grade 12 student from Estevan has been recognized provincially after placing second in his age category in a poetry contest.
This Louis Riel Day Poetry Contest was organized by Metis Nations Saskatchewan, and entries were accepted last year.
The student, Cole Blondeau, says he drew inspiration from his own experience for Mstarhis inspiration.
“Mostly just because I’m Métis, knowing the past and having knowledge from, say, my grandparents telling me things since they were younger or just learning things in school and understanding better. This poem kind of allowed me to better understand my past and be able to embrace it.”
Blondeau also touched on part of his creative process, which taps into another of his hobbies.
“What I think I helped with this poetry is that I sometimes write lyrics. Writing the lyrics and then putting them on the poetry allows me to use my skills to make it more detailed and have that image that you’re trying to search. in a poem.”
He says the experience of placing so high in the competition was inspiring.
“It makes me proud,” Blondeau said. “I didn’t expect it at first, but when I got the email saying I was in second place, it kind of shocked me and held me back for a minute, but then I was just like ‘ok I got second place…enjoy it!’ It was just a big shock and I’m proud.”
Blondeau says after graduating, he currently plans to go to the Recording Arts Institute in Saskatoon for six months, with other plans to end up at the University of Lethbridge for law.
