2024 Indigenous Student Achievement Awards

The 2024 Indigenous Student Achievement Awards took place on March 6 during the University of Saskatchewan's (USask) Indigenous Achievement Week to honour Indigenous USask students for their academic achievement, community engagement, leadership, research and resiliency. Congratulations to this year's recipients.

Read below about the College of Education students who were recognized. Click here for a full list of award winners.

Jewel Charles, Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP), Lac La Ronge Indian Band

Jewel Charles, pronouns she/her, is a proud member of Lac La Ronge Indian Band. As a visual artist and academic with a 85.54 % average, she in her final year of ITEP with teaching areas in Visual Arts and Indigenous Studies. Her passion for Art and Indigenous Studies allowed her to learn more about herself as an Indigenous woman. She is looking forward to empowering Indigenous youth in finding their own voice.

Alexander Tawpisim, Educational Administration, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation

Alexander Tawpisim (He/Him) is a Member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation (MLCN) located north of Saskatoon. He received his undergraduate degree from the College of Education in 2011. He has gone on to a career in teaching and has recently moved into school administration in his home community. He is a proud husband and father of two children, Keisha and Karter. He is pursuing his Masters in the Indigenous Education Leadership Cohort through the Department of Educational Administration.

Cherish Morin, Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program – Prince Albert (SUNTEP PA), Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation

Cherish Morin is in her third year at the SUNTEP, Prince Albert Program. Cherish is a proud First Nations woman from Pelican Narrows, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. She is a dedicated student who is committed to engaging in her community. As SUNTEP SRC vice-president and culture committee member she works diligently to engage fellow students in activities and team building. Cherish shows great passion for sharing her Indigenous knowledge with children in the community. Cherish is a worthy recipient of this year’s Indigenous Student Achievement Award.

Bella Stevenson, Bachelor of Education, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation

Bella Michel Stevenson is in Year 1 of the Cree Teacher Education Program in her hometown of Pelican Narrows. Bella is a proud member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and a fluent speaker of the TH dialect of Woodland Cree. Married for 24 years, she and her husband have three children and four grandchildren. Bella is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion to gain knowledge and pass it on to the younger generation. She believes in the importance of teaching children her native tongue and connecting them to the land.

Brandi Tourand, Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program – Saskatoon (SUNTEP Saskatoon), Métis

Brandi Tourand, is a proud Métis person from Saskatoon. Brandi devotes her time to her family, her studies as a teacher candidate in the SUNTEP Saskatoon program and to the greater Saskatoon community. Brandi completed a very successful extended practicum with secondary students, which prepared these young adults for the world. Brandi is creative and musically talented; she shares her music and experiences through humility and a great respect for our natural surroundings and community. Brandi wears her cultural pride with a deep sense of belonging and encourages others to follow.

Jocelyne onīmihtow-nipiyaskwew Chief, Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP), Indigenous Studies, Onion Lake Cree Nation

Jocelyne Chief (she/her) is a nēhiyaw and Métis woman from Onion Lake Cree Nation and St. Hippolyte, Saskatchewan. Her Cree name is onīmihtow-nipiyaskwew meaning “Dancing Leaves Woman.” Her leadership inside and outside the program embodies the spirit of ITEP. Jocelyne has been a mentor for Indigenous High School students for three years through the Building Intercultural Resilience Mentorship (BIRM) program. She shares her love of culture and dance (fancy shawl and traditional) with students.

Santanna DeBray, Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program – Prince Albert (SUNTEP PA), Duck Lake

Santanna DeBray is a proud member of the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan, 2SLGBTQAI+ and the SUNTEP Prince Albert community. She is currently in her second year of studies, showing leadership through her role as the President of the SUNTEP SRC and as an active member of the Culture Committee. Santanna was the lead student planner and Master of Ceremonies for the Next Generation of Leaders Symposium, which helps support students as they prepare to be leaders for the future. She continually demonstrates true leadership skills by inspiring, and supporting her peers while also bringing awareness and advocating for the Indigenous, biracial and 2SLGBTQAI+ communities.

Emma Winrow, Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program – Saskatoon (SUNTEP Saskatoon), Métis

Emma Winrow is a proud Métis person from Martensville. Emma will graduate with her B.Ed. through the SUNTEP Saskatoon program in the spring of 2024. She is a dedicated and hard-working teacher candidate presenting determination, a cultural pride and strong steward leadership skills. Emma is known for her generosity, sincerity and commitment to learning and supporting others, while persevering through family health difficulties. Emma leads by example and is a quiet, ambitious, strong and charismatic leader.

Danielle Boyer, Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program – Saskatoon (SUNTEP Saskatoon), Métis

Danielle Boyer, is a proud Métis person from Prince Albert. Danielle has successfully completed her BED when she completed her extended practicum in Saskatoon working with Kindergarten students. Danielle persevered and worked diligently, responsibly and professionally throughout our SUNTEP Saskatoon program while enduring great barriers with her personal health. Danielle’s respect and care of her students helped her achieve success!

Brett Lachance, College of Education, Big River and James Smith First Nation

Brett Lachance is from Big River and James Smith First Nations. Brett is a fourth-year Huskie Track and Field athlete who has received a Bachelors of Education Degree. Brett’s journey as a student athlete has not been without significant challenges on and off the field of play. In fact, there has not been an indoor season in Brett’s Huskie career not marred by personal family tragedy and loss which includes the James Smith Cree Nation tragedy in the summer of 2022. What makes Brett’s resilience even more amazing is having to navigate pre-existing mental health battles with anxiety and depression, something Brett has recently opened up about in efforts to help youth struggling with their own challenges.

Dallas Sutherland, Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP), One Arrow First Nation

Dallas Sutherland, from One Arrow First Nations is a loving partner to his fiancé and a dedicated father of six awesome children. Both his parents are educators and feels he found his passion as well. When Dallas first started ITEP it was right in the middle of the COVID pandemic, adjustments had to be made not only professionally, but as a parent and partner as well. This life changing decision to attend ITEP during a pandemic was challenging, but the right decision. It was the most challenging endeavor to take on in the middle of a pandemic, to not have the full on-campus experience and meeting the needs of his family and still try to present university level work on his own. It has been quite a journey not only dealing with the pandemic, but also having to deal with life situations such as, loss of a pregnancy, moving homes, loved ones passing and undergoing surgery. Dallas persevered these situations and demonstrated his commitment and dedication to the profession and will be a proud ITEP graduate this Spring.