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Updated as of Feb. 7, 2020:
A new crop of Indigenous achievers will be celebrated at the 2020 Indspire Awards ceremony in Ottawa on March 6. The Indspire Awards are presented by Indspire, a national Indigenous charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
The 2020 recipients are:
Youth – First Nation
Ta’Kaiya Blaney
Tla’amin First Nation, BC
Internationally Recognized Activist, Actor & Musician
Youth – Inuit
Alicia Aragutak
Umiujaq, Nunavik
Innovator, Community Leader & Founder of Qarjuit Youth Council
Youth – Métis
Alana Robert
Manitoba Métis Federation, MB
Governor General’s Award Winner, Law Student & Human Rights Advocate
Arts
Cowboy Smithx
Piikani and Kainai First Nations, AB
Filmmaker, Director & Supporter of Indigenous Youth in the Arts
Business & Commerce
Dawn Madahbee Leach
Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, ON
Expert on Indigenous Economy-Building, Community and Business Leader
Culture, Heritage, & Spirituality
Claudette Commanda
Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, QC
Elder, Professor, Cultural Advisor & Champion
Education
Candice Lys
Fort Smith Métis Council, NT
Health Educator, Governor General’s Award Winner & Honorary Naval Captain
Health
Karen Lawford
Lac Seul First Nation, ON
Aboriginal Midwife, Registered Midwife, Professor, Community Advocate & Policy-Shaper
Law & Justice
Marian Jacko
Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, ON
Public Service
Gina Wilson
Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, QC
Senior Associate Deputy Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Youth, Canadian Heritage, Partner in Truth & Reconciliation Efforts, Lifelong Public Servant
This award has been suspended.
A statement from Nick Foglia, Inspire’s vice president, communications and marketing, reads:
“Indspire learned yesterday afternoon of the serious allegations concerning Johnny Issaluk. It moved quickly to suspend his 2020 Indspire award. The original nomination will be reviewed by the Indspire awards jury.”
See our story here: https://windspeaker.com/news/windspeaker-news/serious-allegations-has-inspire-suspend-award-recipient
Sports
Johnny Issaluk
Igluligaarjuk, NU
Award-Winning Athlete, Actor, Arctic Ambassador & Advocate for Youth
Lifetime Achievement
Jeannette Corbiere Lavell CM
Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, ON
Lifelong Activist, Cultural Champion, Precedent-Setter & Human Rights Advocate
For full bios on each of the recipients, please visit https://indspire.ca/events/indspire-awards/laureates/
“The Indspire Awards celebrate and honour First Nations, Inuit, and Métis individuals who are not only having a profound impact on their communities and the country, but who also serve as positive role models for Indigenous youth,” said Roberta Jamieson, president and CEO of Indspire and executive producer of the Indspire Awards. “In all they do, these individuals are deeply inspirational, and as leaders in their respective fields, they are motivating young Indigenous people to strive for success.”
This year, each recipient will be presented with a gold pin featuring a Canadian diamond unearthed from the Diavik mine in the Northwest Territories and supplied by Rio Tinto. The Indspire Awards celebration takes place directly after Soaring, Indspire’s annual empowerment gathering for Indigenous youth, which is scheduled for March 5 and March 6 at the Westin Centre in Ottawa.