By TRT Staff with notes from thegenevievefund.com
HALIFAX — In recognition of the 2023 North American Indigenous Games being hosted in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) and surrounding areas, The Genevieve Francis Memorial Fund and 2023 North American Indigenous Games Host Society Red Dress Committee partnered together to create of Nikanus: The Red Dress Leadership Award.
Inspired by Jana Headrick, Nikanus: The Red Dress Leadership Award is presented to an Indigenous youth who has demonstrated strong leadership in the areas of sport, culture, and community. The applicant must identify as an Indigenous women or girl and reside or be studying within Atlantic Canada. The applicant does not need to be enrolled in post-secondary education to be eligible.
Alternatively, other individuals, communities, or organizations may nominate an individual they feel is deserving of this award. In this case, the nominator is asked to speak to the positive impact the nominee has made in the area of sport, culture, and community.
The last day to submit an application is this Wednesday, September 27 at 10:59 p.m., EST.
To apply, individuals are asked to share about the role sport and culture has played in their own journey towards a greater understanding of themselves and their community. Individuals are welcome to use inspiration from the prompts listed for their submission: a personal reflection on how the influence of sport and culture has shaped your personal identity and connection to community, a personal reflection on how you utilized sport and/or culture to create a connection to community or for personal leadership growth and a personal reflection on how you demonstrated leadership in your life in a sport or cultural setting.
Stories can be submitted by essay in 500 words or less, video, or photography. Applications that incorporate creative expression such as art or dance in their submission are encouraged, but not mandatory.
As part of the legacy of the 2023 North American Indigenous Games legacy, one award of $1,027 CAD will be given to a selected applicant annually. The award is provided to the individual to utilize for educational purposes.
