About this prize, which is becoming prestigious, the history of its establishment and expectations for this year’s competition, we talk to the chairman of the board of the Canadian Lithuanian Foundation (KLF), Dr. Arūnas Pabedinskas, KLF Council Executive Director Gražina Ignaitis, KLF Council Treasurer Violeta Jonušonis and KLF Council Member Danguola Baltrušytė-Sher.
– How did the idea of creating the Dausi family literary prize come about?
Grazina Ignaitis: To establish the Lithuanian literature prize in memory of his family was Mr. Aldona Dausaitė-Empakerienė’s wish, which she expressed in her will back in 1968, when she was only 38 years old. After Mr. After Aldona’s death, the Canadian Lithuanian Foundation was asked to coordinate this matter. The Foundation Council discussed the request and agreed to carry out this important work, supporting the Lithuanian language and culture.
– What could you tell us about the founder of the prize, Mrs. Aldona Dausaite-Empakerienė? What is known about the Daus family?
Dr. Arūnas Pabedinskas: Aldona Judita Dausaitė-Empakerienė, daughter of Alfonso and Machalina Dausė, was born in Riga in 1930. on April 24. Alfonsas Dausa, born in 1890. September 7 In Utena County, for some time he held a position in the service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and worked as a secretary of the Lithuanian Consulate in Riga. During the German occupation during the Second World War, the Lithuanian gymnasium in Riga was restored with the efforts of Alfonso. In addition, Alfons was a referent at the Latvian Ministry of Education for Lithuanian school affairs. He was active in Lithuanian organizations, founded the Lithuanian students’ society.
Michalina Didžiulytė-Dausienė was born in 1904. November 21 in Riga. He attended elementary school in Riga. Finished Lichtarovit gymnasium, studied pharmacy at Riga University. She was a zealous figure in the public life of Riga’s Lithuanians. While on the board of the Riga Lithuanian Women’s Committee, she organized summer recreation camps for the children of poor Lithuanians on the Riga seaside. For three years, she was the secretary of the Riga Lithuanian Gymnasium, she constantly helped Lithuanian newspapers and the library. In the evenings, he taught the Lithuanian language in courses for adults. Belonged to Lithuanian students “Vilties-Šviesos” and Latvian-Lithuanian unity societies.
At the end of the war, the Daus family moved to Germany, where their daughter Aldona studied at the Lithuanian high school of the Hanau refugee camp. After Aldona finished high school, in 1948 The Daus family came to Canada and settled in the province of Ontario.
After completing a one-year internship in a pharmacy, in 1951 Aldona entered the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. He graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and received the University’s PT Moisly Prize for the History of Pharmacy.
Aldona Dausaitė-Empakerienė worked all her life according to the specialty she acquired. She and her husband Mečius Empaker were active members of the Lithuanian community in Toronto. Aldona was also an active member of the Lithuanian Martyrs chapter of the Catholic Lithuanian Women’s Society of Canada, and Mečys was for some time a member of the board of the North American Lithuanian Physical Education and Sports Union and the head of the skiing branch.
Alfons Dausa died in 1967. April 15 in a sudden fire in his own house in the Schomberg area near Toronto. Michalina Dausienė, who suffered burns in the same fire, settled with her daughter Aldona. Michalina died in Toronto in 1993. July 18 and was buried next to Alphonsus St. John’s Lithuanian Cemetery in Mississauga.
Aldona Dausaitė-Empakeriene died in Toronto in 2012. on May 21, at the age of 82, and her husband Mechys Empakeris died almost exactly two years later in 2014. on May 28, at the age of 89.
– Why do you think the Dausi family prize is focused on literature? How do you, representatives of the foreign Lithuanian community, assess the significance of literature for the nation and its identity?
Danguolė Baltrušytė-Sher: I think that the literary prize of the Dausi family was established and focused on literature precisely because of the long-standing patronage traditions of this family in the field of education. For them, the Lithuanian language and its cultivation was a way to support and preserve Lithuania, especially during difficult times for Lithuania, when Lithuanians were scattered around the world en masse. Language is preserved in written form or in songs. And as long as the language is alive, so is the nation.
This is probably why the Dausi family prize is dedicated to works of fiction, with the aim of nurturing the Lithuanian language and culture, preserving the values of the nation, and passing it on from generation to generation. Various life norms, ideals, past or future dreams are conveyed through literary creation. It is an essential part of the nation’s identity, which forms and supports the nation’s identity and protects its history. Literary works help a nation to realize itself, unite and survive.
Prose works created by expatriate Lithuanians are a bridge and connection connecting all writers with Lithuania. Writers living not only in Lithuania, but also outside of Lithuania can become laureates of the Dausi Family Literary Prize.
– What are your impressions after the first competition? How do you assess the results of the competition?
Dr. Arūnas Pabedinskas: Taking into account the fact that the Lithuanian Foundation of Canada’s Dausi Family Literature Prize was awarded for the first time last year, we were satisfied with the results. With the help of the Lithuanian Writers’ Union, the process of collecting and evaluating applications for the selection of the first laureates went smoothly, although we only received applications in two of the three award categories. In our opinion, Valdas Papievis and Ieva Dumbrytė, the first laureates of the Dausi Family Prize, really deserved the awards.
However, we also saw a few things that we think could be improved, including the timing and location of the awards ceremony, as well as clearer guidance for the judging panel on what to consider when evaluating applications. We hope that by gaining more and more experience in awarding the annual prize, we will be able to raise the prestige of the Canadian Lithuanian Foundation’s Dausui Family Literary Prize so that it becomes one of the most sought-after awards for Lithuanian writers.
– How do you see this award and its influence on Lithuanian art and culture in the future?
Danguolė Baltrušytė-Sher: The literary prize of the Dausi family is an important contribution to the cultural life of Lithuania. We believe that this award will promote the creation and recognition of new talents, motivate budding authors to create, improve, and seek international recognition. We hope that the winners of this prize will become known not only in Lithuania, but also abroad. Perhaps they will become a part of the literary canon, and their works – an important legacy of the nation’s culture.
– Why is the bonus awarded in three categories? How are these categories chosen?
Grazina Ignaitis: For Mr. Aldona Dausaitė-Empakerienė’s legacy generates quite a large amount every year, so the funds are enough for more than one bonus. Our foundation wanted to take into account the fact that there are Lithuanian and writers of Lithuanian origin all over the world, not only in Lithuania, as well as the fact that most writers in the diaspora do not write in Lithuanian. We wanted writers of Lithuanian origin, living in any country in the world and writing an original work in Lithuanian or another language, to have the opportunity to present their work for this prize and receive recognition. That is why the first two bonus categories appeared. We also wanted to encourage new and budding writers, whatever their age. Thus, it was decided to award the third prize for an original book published by a beginning author – a debut work.
– Last year, candidates were submitted for the award in only two out of three categories. What do you think caused this?
Violeta Jonušonis: The Dausi Literature Prize was established only last year, so the prize is not yet well known, especially among Lithuanians living abroad. Last year, no candidates were submitted for a book translated into Lithuanian. This category will probably always be the narrowest, because there are fewer Lithuanian writers writing books in other languages than those writing in Lithuanian.
– What would you like for this year’s competition?
Violeta Jonušonis: We hope that this competition will perfectly reveal the vision of the founders of the prize, supporting Lithuanian writers for their merits in the field of Lithuanian literature. We hope that the competition will reach the widest possible group of writers, reveal artistry, originality and creative diversity.
We remind you that applications for bonuses can be submitted until 2024. October 15 including to the Lithuanian Writers’ Union (K. Sirvydo st. 6, Vilnius) or e-mail by mail [email protected]. Read more in the invitation.
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