Winnipeg, MB - At a celebration last evening, Elder Carol Moar, Michael Ruta, Chief Financial Officer and Linda Burch, Director of Corporate Support Services, along with partner organizations and community members, gathered to honour our community’s future leaders at the Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak 2013 Celebration at the Ramada Marlborough Hotel.
“The 35 Aboriginal youth honoured at the Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak Celebration are Winnipeg’s future leaders,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “I am proud that our Aboriginal Youth Strategy is helping these youth to fulfill their educational and employment dreams and build a strong future for themselves and our entire city, and on behalf of City Council, I want to recognize the honourees for their achievements.”
Held since 2010, the annual Celebration event celebrates the achievements of Aboriginal youth and features the presentation of the Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak program’s Next Step Awards and Post-Secondary Scholarship Awards, this year awarded to a total of 24 youth.
In addition to the Next Step Awards and Post-Secondary Scholarship Awards, the Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak 2013 Celebration also recognized 11 Aboriginal youth who held internship positions or had work placements in City of Winnipeg departments and agencies during the year.
“Whether studying to enhance their career options, or working in a civic department or in community organizations, these young people have already enriched our city,” said Rhonda Forgues, Manager, Aboriginal Relations Division, Corporate Support Services Department.
The Next Step Award was designed by an Aboriginal youth intern who identified a gap in the existing scholarships, bursaries and other employment and education based supports currently available in the community. This Award provides support to Aboriginal youth to attend training and/or to acquire equipment, tools or uniforms required when starting a new job. This award is open to Aboriginal youth that participate in programs offered by organizations that partner with Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak. These youth are nominated to receive these awards by their host organizations. This year, 14 Aboriginal youth received a Next Step Award.
The Post-Secondary Scholarship Awards are open to Aboriginal youth living in Winnipeg and who are registered with a post-secondary institution. Scholarships are in the amount of $1,000 and are applied to tuition. This year, 10 Aboriginal youth received scholarships from Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak to further their education.
Since 2010, $39,895 in Next Step Awards and $39,000 in Post-Secondary Scholarship Awards have been made accessible to Aboriginal youth living in Winnipeg in order to enable their pursuit of higher learning and employment opportunities.
Backgrounder:
In 2008, City Council adopted Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak, the City of Winnipeg's Aboriginal Youth Strategy. It is an innovative strategy with the following mission: to give Aboriginal youth positive opportunities in the community and civic system by bridging and providing culturally appropriate programs and supports related to employment, literacy and recreation to increase resiliency, self-sustainability, pride and future opportunities.
Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak (pronounced Awsh-kay Anish-a-nob-bay nee-ga-nee-walk) is the spirit name given to the Aboriginal Youth Strategy by Elders in the community. It means Young Aboriginal People Leading and pays tribute to Aboriginal youth as leaders of today as well as tomorrow.
An annual funding commitment of $1 million by Council enables continued and effective delivery of community and civic programs. It also ensures access to culturally relevant development and learning opportunities that will have a positive and life-long impact on urban Aboriginal youth in Winnipeg.