A Grade 12 student from Estevan has been recognized provincially, after coming in second place in his age category for a poetry competition.

That Louis Riel Day poetry contest was put on by Metis Nations Saskatchewan, with entries being accepted last year.

The student, Cole Blondeau, says he drew from his own background for Métis inspirations.

"Mostly just from being someone who's Métis, knowing the past and having knowledge from, say, my grandparents telling me things from when they were younger or just learning things in school and understanding better. This poem kind of let me understand more from my past and be able to embrace it."

Blondeau also touched on part of his creative process, which draws on another of his hobbies.

"What I think kind of helped with this poetry is I sometimes write lyrics. Writing the lyrics and then putting it over the poetry kind of let me use my skills to make it more detailed and have that image that you're trying to look for in a poem."

He says the experience of placing so highly in the competition was inspiring.

"It makes me feel proud," said Blondeau. "I wasn't expecting it at first but when I got the e-mail saying I was in second place, It just kinda put me in shock and made me hold back for a minute, but then I was just like 'ok I got second place... enjoy it!'. It was just a big shocker and I feel proud."

Blondeau says after he graduates he currently plans to go to the Recording Arts Institute of Saskatoon for six months, with further plans to end up at the University of Lethbridge for law.

Cole Blondeau's poem.