Li Isprii publishes reviews, critical writing, and other arts and culture coverage by, for, and about Red River Metis people. Art, beadwork, music, literature, events... as long as it's Red River Metis we're interested!

Li Isprii publishes reviews, critical writing, and other arts and culture coverage by, for, and about Red River Metis people. Art, beadwork, music, literature, events... as long as it's Red River Metis we're interested! As a publication, we are proudly old school: free from AI, click-bait titles, sponsored content, and paywalls. We pay writers and we will never charge for submissions.

We are a majority Red River Metis owned and operated small business. We have been verified by the Manitoba Metis Federation, and you can find us listed in the Red River Métis Business Directory.

We only publish work by Red River Metis Authors who meet our identification requirements.

Li Isprii: Red River Metis Arts and Culture Review

We accept reviews across a wide range of Red River Metis arts and culture subjects, including:
<div>•	Books, Chapbooks, Collections, Poetry, and Short Stories
</div><div>•	Art Exhibitions and Gallery Shows
</div><div>•	Fashion Designers and Labels
</div><div>•	Beadwork, Quillwork, Embroidery, and other Traditional Crafts
</div><div>•	Musicians, Concerts, and Albums
</div><div>•	Plays and other Live Performances
</div><div>•	Cultural Events (Metis Days, festivals, etc.)
</div><div>•	Food, Drinks, Restaurants, and Culinary Experiences
</div><div>•	Movies, TV Shows, and Video Games
</div><div>•	Radio and Podcasts
</div><div>•	Social Media Creators and Trends
</div><div><br></div><div>We prefer timely reviews because they’re more useful to readers (for example: a review of a gallery show that is ongoing, or a review of a book that has just been published). Even if a review isn’t exactly timely, newer is usually better. We are, however, open to reviews of anything we haven’t previously covered, especially if there’s a compelling reason to look back at it (for example: a new edition is available, an older movie is now available on streaming, or the artist has recently won an award for their work).
</div><div><br></div><div>Our ideal review includes background information about the artist(s) or culture maker(s) behind the work—including their connections to Red River and the nation, if those details are available—and a spoiler-free summary, or description, of the material being covered, in addition to a “review” portion providing personal opinions. Criticism is welcome (it’s kind of the whole point of the magazine), but we prefer it when negative opinions are delivered in a constructive, rather than aggressive or inflammatory, tone.
</div><div>We are willing to accept occasional reviews of work by non-Red River Metis artists and culture makers, but only if it directly discusses or depicts Red River Metis people, history, or culture. Reviews of this kind should be critical in tone. This doesn’t mean the review has to be negative (it’s great when the conclusion is, “They did a good job!”). It means we expect to see questions about the quality of representation raised within the piece and then considered from a Red River Metis perspective.
</div><div><br></div><div>Where possible, our reviews are illustrated with widely available promotional images like posters, book and album covers, etc. For art shows and events where promotional images of this kind are not available, we appreciate it when writers provide a photo or two, with captions and credits, to accompany their piece (do ask for permission before taking pictures in galleries and venues; don’t worry too much about quality, your phone camera is fine). We love images, they add a lot to a review, but we don’t require them.</div><div><br></div><div>Full guidelines at: https://www.liisprii.ca/submission-guidelines</div>

Reviews

Our “Concepts in Metis Art” series features accessible (to readers of publications like Macleans or the Walrus), well-sourced essays that demonstrate the history and use of a particular concept in a Red River Metis artistic context. The ideal “Concepts in Metis Art” piece includes a wide range of examples, across multiple art forms, and explores a complex, but widely used, idea or framework (like “countermapping” or “floral stages of growth”). We prefer essays that include historical context and cite higher quality sources (like books and papers). While we’re willing to accept shorter pieces, particularly if written by subject matter experts, essays in this category are more likely to be successful if they lean toward the higher end of our word count range.
<div><br><div>“Concepts in Metis Art” essays should include Chicago style endnote citations, with page numbers. Illustrations or images to accompany these pieces (with captions/credits, and all necessary permissions in writing) are appreciated but not required.
</div></div><div><br></div><div>Full guidelines at: https://www.liisprii.ca/submission-guidelines</div>

Concepts in Metis Art

Our “Conversations” series features long form, in-depth interviews with Red River Metis artists who are farther along in their careers and have substantial insights to share. The first three questions in the interview, contextualizing the interviewee within the community, are mandatory and must be included in all “Conversations” interviews. Questions must be well researched and in-depth, and artists must be given the opportunity to edit their answers for clarity and accuracy. We aren’t looking for any “gotcha” moments. Artists should be given the space they need to fully articulate their ideas, process, etc.
<div><br><div>“Conversations” interviews must be accompanied by images (we like to have at least one or two personal or family photos, plus images of at least some of the pieces/work discussed, if the art is visual in nature), with captions and credits. Permission to print these images in both the online edition of Li Isprii (downgraded and watermarked) and in our print edition (full quality) must be received in writing from the artist, if provided by the artist, or photographer.
</div><div><br></div><div>If you’re interested in conducting a “Conversations” interview, please reach out to us with a pitch and your CV. Please include a bio (as with all other submissions), a description of the artist you wish to interview, and an explanation of your connection to, or contacts with, them.
</div><div><br></div></div><div>Full guidelines at: https://www.liisprii.ca/submission-guidelines</div>

Conversations Interviews

1,000-5,000 words
<div><br><div>This category includes a wide range of arts and culture writing. 
</div><div><br></div><div>In Creative Nonfiction, we’re seeking pieces that blend personal or creative writing with factual or informative writing to create something greater than the sum of its parts (for example: a piece that uses the author’s own experiences of attending Metis cultural events to personalize a discussion of the legal and political changes that have allowed these events to flourish in the present day). Within these constraints, feel free to play and experiment. We are serious about the “Creative” part of Creative Nonfiction. As long as the resulting work informs us about an arts and culture topic beyond your own life story (we don’t accept memoir writing in this, or any other, category), it’s fair game.
</div><div><br></div><div>Our Essay category includes more complex reviews comparing multiple works, especially ones that provide social or historical context, or an expert perspective on the subject/genre being discussed (for example: a review of multiple pieces of historical fiction, as a historian). Submissions in this category might also include career retrospectives of well-known Red River Metis artists, deep dives into a particular medium or genre, and informed discussions of cultural issues of interest. If your essay would benefit from citations, we prefer Chicago style endnotes, with page numbers. Generally, we ask that essays use higher quality sources (like books, articles, and papers), not just websites.
</div><div><br></div><div>For Articles, we’re open to coverage of recent arts and culture events, major career news, and other simpler, more journalistic pieces. A successful piece in this category might feature a brief interview or a few comments from the person, or people, covered. Examples of pieces in this category might include journalistic coverage of a Red River Metis restaurant opening, book launch, or panel event. We expect most articles will include at least basic photos (with captions/credits, and all necessary permissions in writing), though if the subject matter isn’t visual (or isn’t accessible to the writer), we don’t require them.</div></div><div><br></div><div>Full guidelines at: https://www.liisprii.ca/submission-guidelines</div>

Creative Nonfiction, Essays, and Articles

We are interested in reprinting arts and culture work by Red River Metis writers, of interest to a Red River Metis audience, that is not currently available online. We are particularly interested in pieces that have only been published in print, or in magazines, journals, etc. that have since gone dark. We’d love to make these potentially useful pieces available to a wider audience. 
<div><br><div>Please include the original publisher, date of first publication, and the current status of your reprint rights for the piece, in your cover letter. If your rights are unclear, we may have to reach out to the original publisher before accepting your work.</div></div><div><br></div><div>Full guidelines at: https://www.liisprii.ca/submission-guidelines</div>

Li Isprii: Red River Metis Arts and Culture Review

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