Honouring Champions of Indigenous Education
Do you know someone who is a champion for Indigenous Education in Manitoba?
You have until April 8th to nominate them for a 2022 Full Circle for Indigenous Education Award! There are 4 awards this year, each person gets a cheque for their hard work and celebrated in person and blanketed by grandmothers and grandfathers at the Full Circle Pow Wow, Honouring Champions of Indigenous Education on May 28, 2022. Each nominee or recipient must represent the values of Full circle for Indigenous Education that are powerful and beautiful on their own, even more so when you apply them to their organization (formerly the Aboriginal Circle of Educators) and downright life and system changing when you think of how they apply to the amazing work happening in our communities. This award is open to First Nations, Metis and Inuit educators and education leaders.
A Full Circle Champion of Indigenous Education emulates Full Circle’s values:
We believe all children are a gift from Creator to be nurtured and cherished as they become well-rounded members of society. All children thrive in a learning environment that addresses their traditions, culture, interests, needs, and diversity.
We believe Indigenous education is for all people. Traditional teachings, worldview, history, and oral traditions strengthens the quality of education being offered to children and adults alike.
Learning is enhanced in an educational system that promotes, validates, and utilizes what Indigenous educators bring to the education system.
We believe everyone has a right and a responsibility to address the issues, challenges, and interests of Indigenous students and educators. When Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators demonstrate respect, reciprocity, relationship and responsibility for each other, learning can flourish.
How To Apply
Project/Initiative Requirements:
Must be connected to the Manitoba community.
There must be a focus on Indigenous ways of knowing, being, seeing, or doing.
Must be educationally relevant.
Initiatives model creative and innovative ways to inspire learning in Indigenous Education
There must be a demonstrated personal or educational impact on students, educators or community. How do you know your work is championing Indigenous Education?
Application Guidelines:
An award candidate can self-apply or a person of support can apply on their behalf. However, the candidate needs to be involved in the application process, this cannot be a surprise award.
Only complete applications will be accepted. If you have questions, please contact us at contact@fullcircleindigenous.com.
Successful candidates must attend Full Circle’s Pow Wow on May 28th, 2022 in order to receive the award. If you anticipate needing help with this part, please let us know in your application so we can work together on this.
Completed application packages are to be submitted by Friday, April 8th at 4:00pm
These are the different components of each application as identified on the fullcircleindigenous.ca website:
Personal Information: name, contact and other details about the individual applicant
People of Support: name and contact info for 2 people who will act as references. It can be from an adult and one from a student, or two adults.
Project Description: what type of work does this champion do and how does it positively impact their students?
Testimonials of Support: you’ll need 2 written letters of support from the folks identified in Step 2.
Housekeeping: double check your paperwork and application to make sure it’s complete before you submit everything.
Back in 2013 I won the trailblazer / Lifetime Achievement Award for my work trying to push new boundaries for Indigenous education, specifically connecting the classroom to community, culture and families. Let me tell you, nothing makes me feel wiser and more experienced than to say, apply for this award, that I won a lifetime achievement award from 9 years ago lol! But for real, if you know an amazing educator, or if you are that amazing educator, please check out the awards, you still have a few days to apply. Let's take every available opportunity to celebrate those who are doing the work to preserve and apply Indigenous knowledge in our classrooms, community and beyond! When I think of the life saving and earth saving knowledge that is being cared for, I know First Nations, Metis and Inuit ancestors and future generations benefit. When Indigenous knowledge is shared and celebrated, we all win.
