The largest non-governmental funder of Indigenous Education will be honouring 14 outstanding Aboriginal Canadians in February, including one from Saskatchewan.
The 2015 Indspire Awards will be presented to acknowledge the First Nations, Metis and Inuit achievers.
Kendal Netmaker, of the Sweetgrass First Nation, will receive an award in the youth category for his entrepreneurship. Netmaker is the owner and founder of thriving clothing company Neechie Gear.
Other notable recipients include Dr. Wilton Littlechild and NHL player Gino Odjick. Odjick spent 12 years in the NHL wear he earned the nickname as the “Algonquin Enforcer”.
Littlechild has the distinction of being the first treaty First Nations person to acquire his law degree from the University of Alberta in 1976.
The following is a list of all recipients:
Lifetime Achievement: Elsie Yanik – Métis – Alberta
Arts: Ron E. Scott – Métis – Alberta
Business & Commerce: Brenda LaRose – Métis – Manitoba
Culture, Heritage, & Spirituality: Peter Irniq – Inuit – Nunavut
Education: Paulette C. Tremblay – Six Nations of the Grand River – Ontario
Environment & Natural Resources: Gerald Anderson – Inuit – Newfoundland & Labrador
Health: William Julius Mussell – Skwah First Nation – British Columbia
Law & Justice: Dr. Wilton Littlechild – Ermineskin Cree Nation – Alberta
Politics: Kim Baird -Tsawwassen First Nation – British Columbia
Public Service: Madeleine Redfern – Inuit – Nunavut
Sports: Gino Odjick – Kitigan Zibi First Nation – Quebec
Youth – First Nation: Kendal Netmaker -Sweetgrass First Nation – Saskatchewan
Youth – Inuit: Jordan Konek – Nunavut
Youth – Métis: Gabrielle Fayant – Alberta
All of the recipients were honoured in the House of Commons today.
An awards gala will be held in Calgary on February 27th.