SaskTel Indigenous Youth Awards honour achievements of 10 high school students

Ten young Indigenous students were honoured for their outstanding achievements this June at the SaskTel Indigenous Youth Awards.

Now in its 28^th year, delivered in partnership with the Wicihitowin Foundation, the awards celebrate youth who demonstrate excellence in leadership, academics, culture, athletics, and community involvement.

A total of ten recipients across five categories were recognized at the 2026 awards:

Arts & Science: Noah McCabe, Elise Opekokew

Community & Culture: Liam Wolfe, Jarvis Obey Littletent

Leadership: Teya Brooks, Camden Scribe

Outstanding Academic Achievement: Tylan Stevenson, Jenaya Delorme

Sports & Recreation: Cruz Regal, Joley Friesen

The ten award recipients were chosen from a field of over 100 applications.

For Liam Wolfe, recipient of a Community & Culture award, it meant an affirmation that his work in the community has made an impact.

“It helps me know that people see the work I’m doing. It feels like I’m going down the right path because I’m being awarded for my actions,” said Wolfe, a grade 9 student at Bedford Road Collegiate in Saskatoon, and a member of Muskowekwan First Nation.

A young community leader, Wolfe speaks at elementary schools, conferences, and cultural centres like Wanuskewin, on the dangers of alcoholism and substance abuse.

“I like to share walking down the red road – that lifestyle of staying away from drugs and alcohol – choosing that other path without negativity or the evil spirit trying to latch on,” said Wolfe.

Wolfe also speaks to other Indigenous youth on the importance of balancing the colonial world with one’s culture.

“I believe if you want to succeed in one, you have to succeed in the other,” he said. “I know a lot of family, friends, and people in my community might not have the chance to explore their culture. I want to help them claim it back.”

Tylan Stevenson, a grade 12 student at Balfour Collegiate in Regina, and a member of Keeseekoowenin First Nation, also understands the importance of balance in his life.

Stevenson received the award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, maintaining high grades while balancing playing competitive hockey, baseball, football, golf, and basketball.

“Everything I do, I try to do 100 percent. I always prioritize the work though – education and homework comes before sports,” said Stevenson.

“My mom, who is a teacher, always taught me that with school, the better you do in your classes, the more opportunities in life you’ll get.”

Academic excellence is something that runs in the family for the Stevensons – Tylan’s sister, Danaya, won a Youth Award in 2021 for Education, and his brother Dayne won an award in 2024 for Leadership.

“We’ve always just been taught to put our full effort into everything we do,” he said.

In addition to the Academic Achievement award, Stevenson will be receiving an athletics award this week from the Regina High School Athletics Association.

In his continued pursuit of both academics and athletics, next year Stevenson will be attending the University of Regina in a joint bachelor of business administration and bachelor of sports and recreation studies.

“The opportunities you get from sports and education, I think it gives you a lot of good – you meet new friends, live a healthy lifestyle. It’s been great for my mental health.”

SaskTel set out to recognize this very sentiment of youth reaching for greatness.

“In our province, youth are not only our future leaders, but could be future employees of SaskTel,” said Jodine Smith, SaskTel corporate communications manager.

“I think the awards give youth an extra push to pursue education, to continue learning about their culture, and to network with other youth leaders.”

The Indigenous Youth Awards originally started with First Nations veterans and other advocates to help sponsor youth in the Indigenous Games. The awards have evolved to include academic, leadership, and community distinctions.

“It’s about uplifting Indigenous youth from across Saskatchewan and really highlighting their accomplishments,” said Fawn Redwood, SaskTel human resources manager for Indigenous engagement.

“I think the awards create a powerful story based off cultural pride, their commitment to their community, and all the things they bring forward as leaders,” said Redwood.

Each applicant is required to include two reference letters, and documentation to verify their ancestry.

To ensure the awards are given fairly and without bias, Redwood removes all names and locations from each applicant, before presenting them to a selection committee. Each applicant is considered for their academic or athletic achievements, as well as their community impact.

“We really promote that these are leaders of the future, or even leaders right now in how they are standing out in their communities,” said Redwood.

“If you go back and see who our award recipients are in the past and what they’re doing today, a lot of them are going on to do wonderful things. It gives them that little boost to see how far they can go.”