Since 2017, the Indigenous UM community has hosted a ceremony previously known as the Indigenous Awards of Excellence. This event has evolved to better represent the diverse gifts of the Indigenous students, staff and faculty on campus. In place of award categories, criteria have been expanded to ensure that anyone deserving of recognition can be nominated; and the recognition ceremony has been renamed Honouring Our Indigenous Campus Community.

UMToday spoke with Ruth Shead, director of Indigenous engagement and communications, about the changes.

UMToday: How did this change in direction come about?
Ruth Shead: We’re always learning from the people in our community. After last year’s awards, I congratulated one of the recipients for winning. They explained that they didn’t feel that ‘winning’ was the right word because they see their contributions as a responsibility that they are fortunate to be able to share. We also heard that the award categories limited who could be nominated or, in some cases, the person being nominated fit all the categories, so the selection committee discussed those comments and the purpose of the awards.

UMToday: How was the new name chosen?
RS: Since the Indigenous Awards of Excellence were first introduced, we’ve been able to recognize and thank Indigenous students, staff and faculty for creating a strong campus community, being role models and advancing change in spaces where the structures and systems have worked against us. Our goal remains the same – to honour our Indigenous campus community – so we decided to say exactly that.

UMToday: What else can you tell us about this shift in recognizing Indigenous achievement at UM?
RS: We discussed if we should use the word ‘our’ as, obviously, the university does not own Indigenous people. While anyone from UM can submit a nomination, the selection committee is comprised of all Indigenous employees and the OVPI is the host. Ultimately this recognition comes from the Indigenous campus community and many past recipients have shared how special it is to be honoured by their own community. Moving forward, we are Honouring Our Indigenous Campus Community for inspiring us and for inspiring change by sharing
their diverse and unique gifts.

Honouring Our Indigenous Campus Community is a celebration of the outstanding achievements and contributions of Indigenous students, faculty and support staff at UM. Six students, two staff and two faculty members will receive this special recognition. All student recipients will also receive $250.

The OVPI encourages all Indigenous students, staff and faculty on campus to nominate anyone they believe is helping to shape the Indigenous UM community into what it strives to be today: welcoming, encouraging, culturally and traditionally involved, inspirational, generous and giving.

Nominations will be accepted until Feb. 28, and the Honouring Our Indigenous Campus Community ceremony will be held on June 20, 2023. Please visit the Indigenous UM webpage for more nomination details.

Bunn, an Indigenous student-athlete (third-year defensive player for the Bisons women’s hockey team), has always found balance in her life through movement and activity. Wanting to find ways to help her community heal, promote education and support reconciliation, she put her energy into creating a Healing Walk in July 2021.

A MOMENT FROM THE 2021 HEALING WALK

The symbolic walk route started at the former Birtle residential school and finished at Bunn’s home community of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation. The distance is 26 km–the same distance Tréchelle’s grandfather and others who attended the school would long about running to get home.

This year, Bunn decided to move the event to September 30 to coincide with the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation while also changing the format to a half marathon, Canada’s first official run organized for that day, the Reconciliation Run.

“I believe that movement is medicine. Movement can help you stay balanced physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually,” shares Bunn. “This event brings people together from many different communities in the spirit of reconciliation.”

The run, sanctioned by the Manitoba Runners Association, followed the original route of the Healing Walk and was open to all runners and walkers, along with an option to participate virtually if you were not able to make the trip to Birtle.

To learn more about Tréchelle and the Reconciliation Run, visit reconciliationrun.ca. 

Vice-President (Indigenous), Dr. Catherine Cook hosted the event and shared these words: “It’s really important to celebrate the ways Indigenous students, staff and faculty are engaging the university. We’ve been having more and more conversations. We’ve been providing education and research that betters our understanding of Indigenous peoples and ways of knowing. Our staff and faculty do this while creating a culturally rich, safe and supportive learning and work environment. All of the work that supports Indigenous students, all the events and workshops on Indigenous matters, all of the research with Indigenous communities and all of the advocacy for policy and structural changes that ensure that Indigenous rights are honoured – all of these things that take place on campus are because of the exceptional people who make up the Indigenous community at UM.”

Laura Forsythe receiving her star blanket.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions last year, the OVPI recognized the 2021 winners in a virtual campaign by releasing daily videos of each recipient on the Indigenous Student Centre’s Facebook page over the course of two weeks. These winners chose to wait until 2022 to celebrate in-person, along with this year’s winners, receiving their star blankets and being celebrated by the Indigenous community.

“The blankets are a special gift and it’s a great honour to both give and receive one. Being wrapped in a star blanket is an honouring experience and a showing of gratitude from the community,” says Dr. Catherine Cook

Prior to awarding the recipients, President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Michael Benarroch shared stories and his gratitude to the Indigenous community while recognizing the hard work that the Indigenous community does in order to continue moving forward: “Here [at the UM], we are led by members of the Indigenous community that have been working to bring real structural change to the institution and I want to recognize that this work is demanding for Indigenous scholars, staff and students and I recognize that Indigenous community members are leading the way and fixing problems that others created. They are breaking down systems and barriers and rebuilding frameworks based on Indigenous values and perspectives, and I want to sincerely thank you. The UM cannot move forward without leaders such as those that we celebrate today.”

Congratulations to the 2021-2022 Indigenous Awards of Excellence Recipients!
Please click on each individual’s name to view their video.

Student Trailblazer Award
This award recognizes two students for serving as a mentor, outstanding leadership, and visionary thinking that has resulted in advancing Indigenous engagement at UM with a continuing impact.
2021
Kayla Lariviere
Jenny Moose
2022
Charisma Castel
Sydney Levasseur-Puhach

Student Community Builder Award
This award recognizes two students for serving as a role model, building relationships and community, and demonstrating initiative in advancing Indigenous engagement at UM.
2021
Kaitlin Fosseneauve
Dylan Kensick
2022
Trechelle Bunn
Adam Kowal

Student Outstanding Achievement Award
This award recognizes two students for excelling academically, promoting a positive learning environment, and advancing Indigenous engagement at UM while walking with integrity and humility.
2021
Jesse McGreggor
Alexandra Philipott
2022
Kathleen McKenzie
Zoe Quill

Staff and Faculty Trailblazer Award
This award recognizes one staff member and one faculty member for breaking down barriers, demonstrating leadership and visionary thinking that has resulted in advancing Indigenous engagement at UM while walking with integrity and humility.
2021
Staff – Laura Forsythe
Faculty – Dr. Kyle Bobiwash
2022
Staff – Marc Kruse
Faculty – Dr. Melanie Morris (video unavailable)

Staff and Faculty Community Builder Award
This award recognizes one staff member and one faculty member for strengthening connections with Indigenous communities, creating spaces that are culturally rich, safe and supportive, and going above and beyond to advance Indigenous engagement at the UM through programs and initiatives.
2021
Staff – Dr. Moneca Sinclaire
Faculty – Elder Margaret Lavallee
2022
Staff – Melody Muswaggon
Faculty – Dr. Mandy Buss

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the OVPI recognized the community builders, trailblazers and those with outstanding achievement in a virtual campaign. From May 17, daily videos of each recipient were released on the Indigenous Student Centre’s Facebook page over the course of two weeks.

“The recipients of these awards are Indigenous students, staff and faculty who are transforming our university. They go above and beyond to break down barriers for future generations, build community, advance Indigenous pedagogy and research, and create inclusive learning and work environments,” says Dr. Catherine Cook, vice-president (Indigenous). “It is important for us to honour their work and while we wait to be able to safely do so in person, I encourage you to watch and share the videos that will introduce you to these incredible leaders.”

Congratulations to the 2021 Indigenous Awards of Excellence Recipients!
Please click on each individual’s name to view their video. 

Student Trailblazer Award
This award recognizes two students for serving as a mentor, outstanding leadership, and visionary thinking that has resulted in advancing Indigenous engagement at UM with a continuing impact.
Kayla Lariviere, Métis, Faculty of Law
Jenny Moose, member of Cross Lake (Pimicikamak) First Nation, I.H. Asper School of Business

Student Community Builder Award
This award recognizes two students for serving as a role model, building relationships and community, and demonstrating initiative in advancing Indigenous engagement at UM.
Kaitlin Fosseneauve, Cree and Métis, Faculty of Education
Dylan Kensick, Anishinaabe from Sagkeeng First Nation, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources 

Student Outstanding Achievement Award
This award recognizes two students for excelling academically, promoting a positive learning environment, and advancing Indigenous engagement at UM while walking with integrity and humility.
Jesse McGreggor, member of both Norway House and Misipawistik Cree Nations, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Alexandra Philipott, Métis, Faculty of Law

Staff and Faculty Trailblazer Award
This award recognizes one staff member and one faculty member for breaking down barriers, demonstrating leadership and visionary thinking that has resulted in advancing Indigenous engagement at UM while walking with integrity and humility. 
Staff – Laura Forsythe, Métis, Métis inclusion coordinator for the Indigenous Student Centre
Faculty – Dr. Kyle Bobiwash, member of Mississauga First Nation, department of entomology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences

Staff and Faculty Community Builder Award
This award recognizes one staff member and one faculty member for strengthening connections with Indigenous communities, creating spaces that are culturally rich, safe and supportive, and going above and beyond to advance Indigenous engagement at the UM through programs and initiatives.
Staff – Moneca Sinclaire, member of Opaskquiak Cree Nation, College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty – Elder Margaret Lavallee, member of Sagkeeng First Nation, Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences

Indigenous Engagement and the OVPI look forward to hosting the in-person awards ceremony when each recipient will be presented a star blanket when it is safe to gather in person.