TORONTO - JOSEPH Boyden, a New Orleans resident who was raised in Toronto, has won the prestigious Scotiabank Giller Prize for his book 'Through Black Spruce.'

'I'm am so deeply humbled to be counted among the writers here,' Boyden, 41, told a packed ballroom as he accepted the C$50,000 (S$61,560) award on Tuesday night.

The Giller Prize is considered one of the most prestigious in Canadian literature. Past winners have included Margaret Atwood, Mordecai Richler and Alice Munro.

Boyden's book is a portrait of contemporary aboriginal life and family struggles that ensue after a beautiful young woman goes missing. Boyden, a Canadian with Irish, Scottish and Metis roots, writes exclusively about Canada and First Nations people.

'It lets us see First Nations communities in a way we've never seen them before,' Atwood said.

Competing against Lam were Rawi Hage for 'Cockroach,' Mary Swan for 'The Boys in the Trees,' Anthony De Sa for 'Barnacle Love' and Marina Endicott for 'Good to a Fault.'

The Giller was created in 1994 by businessman Jack Rabinovitch in memory of his late wife, literary journalist Doris Giller. It honors the best in Canadian fiction. Judges this year included Atwood and politician Bob Rae. -- AP