Sacred Feather Indigenous Student Awards

Jun. 2, 2023

Awards Overview

Sacred Feather Indigenous Student Awards recognize Indigenous students who model strength and commitment in the pursuit of their personal education paths. This award is a part of Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (YK1)’s commitment to reconciliation and is linked to the Board’s strategic priorities of celebrating Indigenous culture and language and building strong communities.

These awards celebrate the unique qualities of students who inspire their peers, teachers, education leaders, and community members while celebrating the ways of their people. Each student embraces their own gifts, strengths and potential, while respecting other students to do the same in their own ways.

Award Parameters

Sacred Feather Indigenous Student Awards are presented annually to Indigenous students selected by an awards committee. The committee will consider Indigenous student nominees who attend a YK1 school, and have been nominated by members of their educational community based on their exemplary leadership, honour, courage and commitment to their own education path. Celebrated attitudes, actions, and characteristics of nominees include:

Embracing their cultural identity and promoting the strength, beauty and value of their culture and community
Modeling cultural leadership to inspire their peers to pursue their own dreams and goals
Demonstrating honesty and honour in daily encounters with school community members
Personifies the values (or spirit) of Dene Laws
Demonstrating how to be empathetic by understanding and respecting other points of view
Understanding and sharing the Indigenous history and culture of Yellowknife
Demonstrating a commitment to taking care of the land
Demonstrating that diversity is a strength and should be understood, respected and affirmed
Demonstrating that citizenship is lived, relational and experiential

Nominations

Students may be nominated by other students, teachers, administration, school staff, district office staff, Trustees, Elders, or other members of the educational community.

Nominations should provide detailed examples related to why the student is being nominated, and how they exemplify the attitudes, characteristics, and actions outlined in the Award Parameters section of this form.

Nominations should provide detailed examples of how the student has demonstrated commitment to their culture and community. Some examples from previous recipients include: assisting with community functions, celebrations and ceremonies, volunteering in the community or school, chopping and hauling wood, traditional dancing, learning or speaking their traditional language, and teaching others about their culture.

Deadline

Nominations for Sacred Feather Indigenous Student Awards are due by 5:00 p.m. on the first Friday in May each year. An awards committee will review applications. Award recipients will be recognized at their school and during the regular board meeting in June each year.

Submission Guidelines

Nomination packages must include:

Completed Nomination Form
Letter of Nomination outlining why the student has been chosen for recognition

Nomination packages must be submitted to YK1’s District Office to the attention of Pat Thagard, Executive Assistant, either in-person or by email to yk1@yk1.nt.ca.

More Information

Executive Assistant - Communications

Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (YK1)

Phone: (867) 766-5050

Email: yk1@yk1.nt.ca