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The fifteenth annual SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards, presented by the Wicihitowin Foundation, once again recognized the province’s highest achieving young people.
Over 900 people attended to witness the record number of nominees — 120 exceptional youth.
“We have had a record number of nominees and the momentum leading up to gala each year is growing,” noted committee chairperson Colleen Cameron, adding that the awards were important not only to the youth but their families and communities, “for the inspiration the awards and recipients generate.”
The Awards were presented May 24 at TCU Place in downtown Saskatoon.
Every youth is highlighted on the stage with a bio before the winners are announced, so after supper, the nominees were all applauded and lauded before the final winners were presented with their awards, scholarships, and custom star blankets, made each year by Eva Lizotte.
Donny Speidel was emcee for the program, including a half-time dance interlude featuring three of his daughters, and three other male dancers, all in a variety of styles.
Winners of the Community Service Award this year were an entire group, the Chief Paskwa Education Centre High School from Pasqua First Nation, who created a film on the after-affects of drinking and driving.
Zachary Thomas from Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, who attends the Reindeer Lake School in Southend, took home the Culture Award.
The Education Award was presented to Logan Sanderson of James Smith First Nation, who attends Carlton Comprehensive in Prince Albert.
Skylar Meechance of Red Pheasant First Nation, attending North Battleford Comprehensive, won the Enterprise Award.
Gayle Morris, widow of Randell Morris and Ken Keesey, VP of Business
Sales and Solutions for SaskTel presented Jarrod MacDonald with the
Randell Morris memorial Award at the
SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards of Excellence.
(Photo by John Lagimodiere)
By Andréa Ledding
For Eagle Feather News
June 2013
Volume 16 Number 6
Eagle Feather News
is a division of
ACS Aboriginal
Consulting Services