Young aboriginal role models honoured

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Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award recipients, 2009. First row, from left: Julian Seymour, Kateri Phillips, Trisha North, Elora Anderson. Second row: Dustin Merasty, Justin Campbell, Hanwakan Whitecloud, Vanessa Kozak, Janelle Pierre-Folster. Third row: Allyssa Bird, Soloman Harper, Mathew Shorting, Kyle McClintock (DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS )

Fourteen dedicated and successful young people were honoured Thursday night at the 16th annual Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Achievement Awards at Winnipeg's Victoria Inn.

The recipients, between the ages of 16 and 24, each received a $1,000 scholarship.

The awards were first presented in 1994, and since then 200 exceptional young people have been honoured.

"At that time, there were several young people who excelled in their activities, were an important part of the community, and needed to be recognized and encouraged for their achievements," notes MAYAA Co-Chair Darlene Daniels.

"These aboriginal youth were important role models and their spirit and perseverance remains to represent what the awards program is all about."

Anishinaabe Oway-Ishi Inc., a non-profit community based employment and training preparation program, hosted the event.

The 2009 recipients are:

Allyssa Bird, Cultural Female -- Bird is a 17-year-old Anishinabe, Cree and Nakoda youth originally from Peguis First Nation. She is in Grade 12 at Maples Collegiate and has consistently made the honour roll throughout high school.

Dustin Merasty, Athletic Junior -- Merasty is a 17-year-old Métis youth and is the only Aboriginal member of his rugby team. He is also captain of the football team at school.

Elora Anderson, Artistic Visual -- Anderson is 19-year-old Ojibwa woman originally from Pinaymootang First Nation. Anderson has used her artistic skills to help promote events in her home community, has mentored children and looks forward to learning new career and people skills with upcoming volunteer opportunities at Art City and Urban Shaman Gallery.

Hanwakan Whitecloud, Business/Entrepreneurship -- Whitecloud is a 23-year-old Dakota-Ojibwa man originally from Sioux Valley First Nation. Upon acceptance into the Asper School of Business, he became the chief financial officer for the Association of Aboriginal Commerce Students. Whitecloud also has a part-time job at the Winnipeg Public Library and works for UCrew, the U of M's recruitment program.

Janelle Pierre-Folster, Community/Volunteerism Junior -- Pierre-Folster is a 16-year-old Anishinabe Ikwe youth from Roseau River First Nation. Janelle is in Grade 11 at the University of Winnipeg Collegiate Model School Program. Her first summer job at age 14 involved working with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg. This past summer, she worked as a youth recreation leader with the Eco U Camp at the U of W.

Jordan Guiboche, Cultural Male -- Gioboche is an 18-year-old Anishinabe youth originally from Dauphin. He graduated with honours from the Helen Betty Ininiw Education Resource Centre in Norway House. Last year, Guiboche participated in a volunteer science academy, achieving valedictorian status

Julian Seymour, Academic Junior -- Seymour is a 16-year-old Anishinabe Ikwe youth originally from Hollow Water First Nation. He has worked on his leadership skills and did some career development work at Native Communications Incorporated. Seymour wants to become a doctor.

Justin Campbell, Athletic Senior -- Campbell is a 19-year-old Aboriginal youth originally from Thompson. In 2007, Justin began attending the U of W Collegiate's Model School on a full scholarship. His collegiate experience has helped him to grow academically and to be a part of a provincial basketball team.

Kateri Phillips, Academic Senior -- Phillips is a 23-year-old Ojibwa woman from Hollow Water First Nation. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at the U of M in 2008 and will earn a Bachelor of Education next year. With Phillips' most recent GPA sitting at 3.92, she is no stranger to the dean's honour roll.

Kyle McClintock, Personal Achievement Senior -- McClintock is a 24-year-old Métis man from Swan River. Despite the demands of university and parenting, he is maintaining an excellent GPA and received the 2009 ACCESS Program award for academic perseverance.

Matthew Shorting, Personal Achievement -- Shorting is a 19-year-old Aboriginal youth originally from Little Saskatchewan First Nation. Shorting experienced abuses as a child in foster care and has worked hard to overcome the negatives in his life. He is part of the Paul Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative Entrepreneurship class and is currently developing a small business he plans to open in 2010.

Soloman Harper, Employment in a Traditional Field -- Harper is a 19-year-old Oji-Cree youth from Wasagamack First Nation. He is in Grade 12 at George Knott School and his favourite subject is social studies. When Harper is not in school, he helps to support his family and community through his work as a commercial fisher, using a variety of nets to catch fish.

Trisha (Sadie) North, Artistic Performance -- North is a 19-year-old Anishinabe, Cree and Bunibonibee woman originally from Oxford House First Nation. With an album entitled Boomboxx Sounds released earlier this year, Sadie is nominated for an Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award for Best Gospel Album. She also looks forward to launching a music video.

Vanessa Kozak, Community/Volunteerism Senior -- Kozak is a 21-year-old Cree and Dene woman, originally from Alberta. She won a scholarship from the University of Winnipeg, served on Argyle's Student Leadership Council and on the MB4Youth Advisory Council, and was involved with the Winnipeg School Division Student Advisory Program. In 2007 Vanessa was awarded a Young Humanitarian Award from the Manitoba Teachers Society and in 2009 she attended the Global Young Leaders Conference where she participated in the United Nations World Youth Summit.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 30, 2009 A2