Twelve Indigenous achievers will be honoured at the 2024 Indspire Awards later this month.
The awards ceremony will be broadcast on CBC, CBC Gem, APTN, and APTN Lumi on June 21 at 7 p.m. and represents the highest honour the Indigenous community bestows upon its own people. The awards recognize Indigenous professionals who demonstrate outstanding career achievement on a national level in a variety of fields, including the arts; business and commerce; culture, heritage and spirituality; education; health; law and justice; public service; sports; and lifetime achievement. Three Youth Award winners are also being honoured for their accomplishments, serving as role models to other First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth across Turtle Island.
This year also marks the presentation of the very first Language Award, a significant moment for Indspire as well as for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
The recipients of the 2024 Indspire Awards are:
Youth Recipient – Adam Gauthier
Youth Recipient – Braden Kadlun
Youth Recipient – Dr. Jayelle Friesen-Enns
Arts – Eden Robinson
Business & Commerce – Victoria LaBillois
Culture, Heritage and Spirituality – Edna Manitowabi
Education – Kanonhsyonne Jan Hill
Health – Lea Bill
Language – Ronald Eric Ignace
Law & Justice – Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin
Public Service – Jocelyn Formsma
Lifetime Achievement – Thomas V. Hill
“Recognizing and celebrating Indigenous excellence is a collaborative endeavour,” said Indspire President and CEO Mike DeGagné. “This year, as we extend our celebration into new channels with a new format, we are looking forward to sharing the outstanding achievements of these 12 Indigenous leaders with even more people across Turtle Island. A moment which wouldn’t have been possible without the combined assistance of new and established partners.”
The 2024 Indspire laureates received their awards during an in-person gala ceremony earlier this year in Ottawa. This year’s show was produced by Indigenous Geographic, helmed by co-founders Matt LeMay and Crystal Martin. Indigenous Geographic is an Indigenous-owned video production company and educational platform that amplifies Indigenous voices and shares Indigenous stories from across Turtle Island and around the world.
According to a June 5 release from Indspire, focusing on each recipient’s story with innovative new elements serving as a culturally-rooted framework, the 2024 Indspire Awards broadcast will be a simultaneous celebration of tradition and Indigenous excellence.
“Working with Indspire to showcase the lives and achievements of the 2024 Laureates has been a profoundly moving experience, and our whole team welcomed this inspiring project,” said LeMay.
Martin said she is grateful to all of the laureates who invited the production company into their homes and communities to share their stories and is looking forward to sharing them with Turtle Island.
“We’re excited about the new approach Indspire has taken this year, from the addition of the Language Award to the incorporation of traditional knowledge and storytelling in the awards program,” said Sally Catto, general manager of entertainment, factual and sports for CBC. “We look forward to celebrating the achievements of this year’s laureates on June 21 along with our partners at the Indspire Awards, APTN, our new production partners at Indigenous Geographic, and with audiences across the country.”
“At APTN, our commitment goes beyond partnership; it’s about amplifying Indigenous voices through our platform,” said Adam Garnet Jones of APTN. “Airing the 2024 Indspire Awards allows us to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary accomplishments of these Indigenous leaders, celebrating their resilience, and inspiring communities across the country.”
Indspire is an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. With the support of its funding partners, Indspire provides financial awards, delivers programs and shares resources so that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students will achieve their highest potential.
From 2022 to 2023, Indspire provided more than $27.5 million through 7,500 bursaries and scholarships to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students across Canada.
For full bios on each of the recipients, visit indspire.ca.
