CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Visionary Sovereign Voices
YOUTH COMPETITION
On behalf of the VA250 Commission, the Virginia Tribal Nations Leadership Advisory Council, and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and in partnership with the United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund (USET SPF), we invite you to enter our Visionary Sovereign Voices competition!
VA250 is holding an event in Williamsburg, VA, on April 24-25, 2026, centering the unvarnished history and lived experiences of Tribal Nations who stewarded these lands long before the Declaration of Independence. The event, “Our Inherently Sovereign Status & Existence as Tribal Nations: Exploring and Understanding a Unique, Complicated, and Intertwined Diplomatic Relationship with the United States,” will feature five youth writers and artists reading or performing their work.
We are looking for artists and writers to respond to and be inspired by the following prompt:
What does the American 250th Semiquincentennial mean to you as a dual citizen indigenous person? What is your dream and vision as we move forward to a more appropriate and respectful sovereign-to-sovereign relationship?
Winners will be awarded $500 and invited to attend (airfare and lodging will be covered) in person the “Our Inherently Sovereign Status & Existence as Tribal Nations: Exploring and Understanding a Unique, Complicated, and Intertwined Diplomatic Relationship with the United States” event on April 24-25 to read aloud (e.g., poem or essay) or perform their art (e.g., song or interpretive dance).
Submission eligibility:
Between the ages of 18 and 24 years old (on the application deadline)
Enrolled Native American indigenous youth, or a descendant of an enrolled citizen
Submissions are due by 11:59 pm Eastern on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Late submissions will not be accepted or considered.
Learn more about the competition and about the event.
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