Local educator receives Indigenous Educator Award
- EFN Staff | November 23, 2014
A Saskatoon woman is one of 10 educators recently awarded the Indigenous Educator Award, presented by Indspire.
Sheila Pocha was one of the recipients of the Leadership award.
More than 400 educators and supporters of Indigenous education from across Canada gathered late last week to celebrate the recipients of the 2014 Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Awards at a gala ceremony at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto. This year, the Awards, presented by Indspire, the largest funder of Indigenous education outside the federal government, recognized the achievements of 10 outstanding educators of Indigenous students.
Guiding the Journey honourees are acknowledged for having innovative teaching practices; advocatingfor updated resources and more cultural teachings in the curriculum; and helping Indigenous students reach their full potential.
The 2014 Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Awards recipients are:
- Leadership: Brad Baker, British Columbia
- Leadership: Annette BruisedHead, Alberta
- Role Model: Charlene Camillo, Ontario
- Innovative Practice: Rebecca Chartrand, Manitoba
- Community Service: Elizabeth Evans Mitchell, Newfoundland & Labrador
- Leadership: Newell Johnson, Nova Scotia
- Role Model: Gerald Mason, Manitoba
- Leadership: Sheila Pocha, Saskatchewan
- Indigenous Education Partner: John Stewart, Northwest Territories
- Language, Culture and Traditions: Janice Vicaire, Québec
"Educators are at the frontlines working hard to close the gap in Indigenous education, sometimes with limited resources and tremendous challenges," said Roberta L. Jamieson, President and CEO of Indspire and Executive Producer of the Indspire Awards. "These outstanding educators exemplify the dedication, innovation, and passion that will transform education for First Nation, Inuit and Métis children and youth."
"The Awards celebrate both the accomplishments and the critical role of our educators and demonstrate that supporting high school completion of Indigenous youth is vitally important, not only to the students and Indigenous communities, but to the whole of Canada," said Cathy Glover, Director of Community Investment at Suncor, the presenting corporate sponsor of the
Guiding the Journey awards and the National Gathering for Indigenous Education. "It is an honour to be part of this celebration that recognizes such exceptional individuals."
The Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Awards gala is part of Indspire's National Gathering for Indigenous Education conference, which is took place until November 22 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Over 400 attendees from across the country took part in 25 unique workshops and presentations during the three-day conference, which also featured a keynote address by Scotiabank Giller Prize-winning novelist Joseph Boyden.