The NorthWords organizing committee was born on a snowy day in February, 2006. Conversations at literary events in Yellowknife, NWT, had led a number of writers and readers to the conclusion that there should be a summer literary arts festival in the community to showcase and support Aboriginal and Northern writing and storytelling.

Following the fabulous success of first festival in 2006, the NorthWords Festival Society was incorporated on May 18, 2007. We had another great festival in 2007, and now, in addition to the annual summer event, NorthWords is sponsoring literary events in Yellowknife throughout the year. This is a festival whose time has come.

Over the years, there has been an increase in northern writers: people who live and work here, and increasingly, Aboriginal writers who are now telling their stories. It is particularly important to foster Aboriginal writing, as the move from an oral storytelling tradition to print form allows these stories to be heard across the North, as well as far away.