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2026 Evening of Honouring Indigenous Excellence

June 19, 2026 News Story
2026 Evening of Honouring Indigenous Excellence Honourees

The 3rd annual Honouring Indigenous Excellence celebration brought together students, families, caregivers, staff, and community members to recognize Indigenous excellence across Winnipeg School Division. Through awards for Academic Excellence, Athletic Excellence, Program Excellence, Traditional Excellence, Overall Indigenous Excellence, and Leadership Excellence, the evening celebrated achievement, leadership, culture, language, and community contributions while affirming the importance of creating spaces that honour identity and strengthen our collective sense of belonging.

Congratulations to all of this year's honourees, and thank you to everyone who joined in celebrating their accomplishments and the many ways they inspire our schools and communities.

This year's recipients in each award category are as follows:


Academic Excellence:

Academic Excellence – Early Years | K-3:

  • Clariss Spence – Strathcona School
  • Corbin Wood – Machray School

Academic Excellence – Middle Years | 4-8:

  • Joshua Courchene – Prairie Rose School
  • Frankie Lerat – Lord Selkirk School

Academic Excellence – Senior Years | 9-11:

  • Aniya Bear – Elmwood High School
  • Kenzie Larocque – Sisler High School

Academic Excellence – Graduating Students:

  • Aiden Temmerman – College Churchill High School
  • Orlando Blackbird – Gordon Bell High School


Athletic Excellence:

Athletic Excellence – Early Years | K-3: 

  • Malik Morin – Glenelm School

Athletic Excellence – Middle Years | 4-8:

  • Anthony Nabess-Swampy – Strathcona School

Athletic Excellence – Senior Years | 9-12:

  • Dale Turcotte – Tec Voc High School

Athletic Excellence – Community Programming:

  • Leland Clarke – St. John’s High School


Program Excellence:

Teacher Leader of Tomorrow, Build From Within: Sarah Dover, Cohort 2

Build From Within Cooperating Teacher: Mary Jane Napolitano, Lord Selkirk School

Medical Professional of Tomorrow (MCEP): Alexis Ironwing, St. John’s High School

Cree Speaker Grade K to 8: Lena Talley-Taylor, Isaac Brock School

Cree Speaker Grade 9 to 12: Rielle Bittern, Children of the Earth High School

Ojibwe Speaker Grade K to 8: Cassidi-Anne Mccoy, Isaac Brock School

Ojibwe Speaker Grade 9-12: Ava Meconse, Grant Park High School

Michif Speaker Grade K to 8: Emily Brinkworth, Kent Road School


Fiddling Grade K to 8: Myah Akpalo, John M. King School; Don (Benjamin) Henriquez De La Fuente, Pinkham School; Cassidy Grenier, Shaughnessy Park School.

Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP): Heather Nepitabo, Tec Voc High School

Professional Network of Indigenous Educators (PNIE) Member of the Year: Tamara Prince, Niji Mahkwa School

Indigenous Ally Educator of the Year: Michelle Bevan, College Churchill High School

Indigenous School Leader of the Year: Keith Bousquet, Argyle Alternative High School

Indigenous Ally School Leader of the Year: Jeremy Midford, Strathcona School

Indigenous Caregiver: Cecelia (Marie) Pelletier, Niji Mahkwa School


Traditional Excellence:

Language Grade K to 12: Jordan Shorting, Children of the Earth High School

Culture Grade K to 12: Cory Kiyewakan, Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute

Land Stewardship Grade K to 12: Arin Millar, Grant Park High School

Artist Grade K to 12: Jersey Siebrecht, Grant Park High School


Build From Within Graduates:

  • Malaihka Siemens
  • Rainey Raven
  • Kailynn Kopychanski


CATEP Graduates:

  • Sheena Dreger
  • Lana Dawn Bouteiller 


Isaac Brock School’s Bilingual Language Program Graduates:

  • Korley Brightnose-Smith
  • Trevor Laquete
  • Alicia Moneas
  • Ezekiel Monkman
    Gabriel Monkman
  • Kaylee Spence


Special acknowledgements:

  • Ashlyn Anderson-Williams, Elmwood High School
  • Donna Harris-Kirby, Keewatin Prairie School


Overall excellence:

  • Graduating Student: Kaniq Allerton, Kelvin High School
  • Graduating Student: Laira Warren Williams, Grant Park High School

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