2025 Indigenous Student Achievement Awards
Honouring Indigenous USask students for their academic achievement, community engagement, leadership, research and resiliency.
The 2025 Indigenous Student Achievement Awards took place on March 10 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.
Academic Excellence
Deltine Brown (She/Her), Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP), Peter Ballantyne First Nation
Deltine Brown is from Sandy Bay, SK of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and Cree of the ‘TH’ dialect. She lives in Saskatoon and is married with four children and five grandchildren. She in her fourth year of the Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP). She has enjoyed the positive, welcoming experiences in ITEP as she completes an education degree. Once she graduates, she’s hoping to be an early years (kindergarten) teacher working in a Cree immersion elementary school.
Peter Olver (He/Him), Saskatchewan Urban Native Education Program (SUNTEP), Métis Nation
Peter Olver is a proud Métis gentleman from Saskatoon. He is an outstanding student with averages over the course of his four-year degree in great distinction. Peter is a very gracious and humble gentleman, a candidate teacher, husband and father of three children. Peter recognizes and values whole-heartedly what it means to mentor, support and guide young people to help them become the best they can possibly be.
Saffron Powell (She/Her), Saskatchewan Urban Native Education Program - Prince Albert (SUNTEP PA), Lac LaRonge Indian Band
Saffron Powell is currently finishing her third year in the SUNTEP Prince Albert program. She is a bright, articulate, self-motivated student teacher. Academically, Saffron is committed to excellence. She arrives early for class and stays late working diligently on her assignments. She takes time to seek out conferences with instructors using feedback for her own personal growth as a student. She has been the recipient of numerous scholarships based on her academic performance and leadership.
Community Engagement
Sanford Strongarm (He/Him), Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP), Kawacatoose First Nation
Sanford Strongarm Jr. is from the Kawacatoose First Nation and has lived in Saskatoon his entire life. He has a wife and three beautiful children. He worked at the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre for 15 years before entering the ITEP Program in Fall 2024. His dad always taught him to share their culture and to be involved in every opportunity he could. He enjoys sharing his culture and meeting new people. Sanford tries to help everyone as much as he can. The one thing he would like to leave with everyone is ahkamēyimok (don’t give up, keep trying, persevere all of you).
Leadership
Treaty 6 Indian. Powwow dancer/singer. Student. Actor. Role Model. Friend. These are things that make up Johnny Tootoosis (Cross). Johnny was raised traditionally in Plains Cree territory since early age by his late grandparents on the Poundmaker Cree Nation. He is currently in his second year of the Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP) after switching from Arts and Science. A quote he wants to share with all of his fellow Indigenous students is, “When one of us wins, we all win.”
Brennan Dupre (He/Him), Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP), Lac LaRonge Indian Band
Brennan Dupre is a proud Lac La Ronge Indian Band member in his third year of education in the Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP). At the university, Brennan demonstrates leadership in various ways, including as a member of the ITEP Student Executive Council, a peer mentor for College of Education learning communities, a Building Intercultural Resilience through Mentorship (BIRM) mentor, a member of USask Indigenous Student Leaders, and a volunteer for the wâhkotôwin programs hosted by ITEP.
Isaac Hedstrom (He/Him), Saskatchewan Urban Native Education Program (SUNTEP), Métis Nation
Isaac Hedstrom is a proud Métis gentleman from Saskatoon. He is a graduate of Aden Bowman Collegiate and their International Baccalaureate School; he continued to excel in the SUNTEP program and the College of Education. He has been a great part of the student representative council and leads with great humility, respect and selflessness. Isaac is known for his determination, collegiality and supporting others.
Shawn Laliberte (He/Him), College Of Education Bachelor Of Education, Early/Middle Years Program (Community Based Cohort in Beauval, SK), Meadow Lake Flying Dust First Nation
Shawn Laliberte lives in Beauval, SK with his wife and children. He’s in his first year of the Northwest Teacher Education Program (NWSTEP). For 14 years, he worked as an educational assistant at Valley View Community School, where he discovered his passion for education. Mathematics is one of his strengths. He enjoys problem solving; it feels like a game. The satisfaction of understanding a challenging concept, whether for himself or his students, fuels his passion for both math and technology.
Roxanne Stewart, College Of Education Bachelor Of Education, Early/Middle Years Program (CTEP - Community Based Cohort in Pelican Narrows, SK) Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, Sandy Bay
Roxanne Stewart, from Sandy Bay, SK, is a member of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. She is currently in her second year of the Cree Teacher Education Program (CTEP) in Pelican Narrows. She is a wife and a mother to eight children. For her, it has been a busy year trying to balance her family and university. When she heard that the CTEP was offered in Pelican Narrows, she thought she had better take the opportunity to apply for the program. She has worked in her community school in Sandy Bay for decades as a substitute teacher and educational assistant.
Abby Tiessen (She/Her), Saskatchewan Urban Native Education Program - Prince Albert (SUNTEP PA), Métis Nation
Abby Tiessen is a proud Métis woman pursuing her Bachelor of Education degree at SUNTEP in Prince Albert. Abby has immersed herself in the SUNTEP community, taking on a leadership role as the professional development representative with the SRC. She has also contributed significantly by volunteering to lead and organize multiple school events. Beyond her academic achievements, Abby is a dedicated student-athlete serving as captain of her USask rugby team.
Resiliency
Nevada Gunn (She/Her) Saskatchewan Urban Native Education Program (SUNTEP) English River First Nation
Nevada Gunn is a proud Dene and Cree woman from English River First Nation. She is a devoted mother of four children who has persevered through great adversity during the past six years to attain her Bachelor of Education. Nevada’s determination to learn and do well for her family shone through; she was never one to miss a class, even when she experienced tumultuous times with child-care and finding a good home for her family.
Avery Natewayes (She/Her) Saskatchewan Urban Native Education Program - Prince Albert (SUNTEP PA), Sandy Bay First Nation
Avery, a resilient SUNTEP student from Sandy Bay, overcame the challenges of transitioning to city life to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. Facing loneliness, cultural differences, and academic struggles, she remained determined, drawing strength from her roots and leaning on new friendships. Each setback fueled her perseverance, and every success reaffirmed her purpose. Now close to finishing her degree, she serves as a role model, proving that resilience can turn dreams into reality.