2017 Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Award recipients announced
Nine educators and one organization to be honoured at a celebration during the 2017 National Gathering for Indigenous Education
OHSWEKEN, ON, CANADA, October 12, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Hundreds of educators and supporters of Indigenous education from across Canada will gather at a ceremony in Montreal, Québec on December 1 to celebrate the recipients of the 2017 Guiding the Journey2: Indigenous Educator Awards. The Awards are presented by Indspire1, the largest funder of Indigenous post-secondary education outside the federal government, and recognize the achievements of outstanding educators of Indigenous students.Guiding the Journey honourees are acknowledged for having innovative and impactful teaching practices, advocating for resources and culturally-based curricula, and helping Indigenous students reach their full potential.
The ten recipients of 2017 Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Awards are:
Community Service:
Pauline Favel, First Nations, North Battleford, SK
Innovative Practice:
Judy Whitford, Métis, Yellowknife, NT
Culture, Language and Traditions:
Danita Lewis, First Nations, Comox, BC
Siaja Mark-Manqiuk, Inuk, Ivujivik, QC
Donald Speidel, First Nations, Whitecap Dakota First Nation, SK
Leadership:
Lorne Belmore, First Nations, Winnipeg, MB
Role Model:
Billie-Jo Grant, Métis, St. Albert, AB
Pamela Sparklingeyes, First Nations, Edmonton, AB
Partner in Indigenous Education:
Darlene Nuqingaq, Non-Indigenous, Iqaluit, NU
Indigenous Organization Award:
Northern Nishnawbe Education Council, Thunder Bay, ON
"These educators are exemplary in their innovation and dedication to supporting First Nation, Inuit, and Métis children and youth," said Roberta Jamieson, President and CEO of Indspire. "They are creating lasting change in the communities they serve and enriching the field of Indigenous education through their contributions."
The Guiding the Journey celebration is part of Indspire's National Gathering for Indigenous Education3, a conference taking place November 29 – December 1, at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Québec. Over 800 attendees from across the country are expected to take part in seventy workshops and presentations during the two-day conference. The National Gathering is a place where educators and partners can share their experiences and work together to improve the educational outcomes of K-12 Indigenous students.
Indspire thanks its presenting corporate sponsors, Suncor Energy Foundation and Suncor Energy Inc., for their support of the Guiding the Journey Awards and the National Gathering for Indigenous Education.
“Educators are essential to helping Indigenous youth celebrate and stay connected to their heritage while developing the skills needed to succeed in high school and beyond. This is vitally important – to students, Indigenous communities and our country,” said Lori Hewson, Director of Community Investment and Social Innovation at Suncor. “We are honoured to help bring together and recognize the educators who are having such a positive impact on youth and communities across Canada.”
About Indspire
Indspire is an Indigenous-led charity that invests in the education of Indigenous people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. With the support of its funding partners, Indspire disburses financial awards, delivers programs, and shares resources with the goal of closing the gap in Indigenous education. In 2016-2017, Indspire awarded $11.6 million through 3,764 bursaries and scholarships to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students across Canada. For more information about the 2017 National Gathering for Indigenous Education, visit indspire.ca.
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1 http://indspire.ca/
2 http://indspire.ca/for-educators/educator-awards/
3 http://indspire.ca/national-gathering/