SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards of Excellence

The SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards of Excellence are a celebration of achievement by Saskatchewan Aboriginalyouth in ten categories:

1. Outstanding Achievement

• Two awards in this category: Male and Female
• Lead a balanced lifestyle based on foundation of strong cultural and spiritual values
• Exceptional academic success
• Physically active
• Demonstrates leadership
• Inspires, supports and respects others with honor and dignity, education or career goals

2. Leadership

• Inspires and motivates others; identifies need, initiates action, finds solutions
• Demonstrates positive attitude and respects diverse cultures
• Supports others
• Academic success
• Education or career goals

3. Education

• Exceptional academic success
• Average of 80% or higher
• Clear post-secondary education and career goals
• Demonstrates leadership in extracurricular activities

4. Enterprise

• A group or individual who is in a business or entrepreneurship class/or group,
• Career goal in business,
• Academic excellence

5. Community Service

6. Culture

• Actively demonstrates and promotes Aboriginal values and language in school and community
• Includes all traditional dance, song and storytelling that reflects Aboriginal cultures
• Academic success
• Education and career goals

7. Sports and Recreation

• Significant achievement in competitive organized sport
• Academic success
• Education and career goals
• Initiates, develops, improves and encourages community activities that promote healthy lifestyles

8. Fine Art/Performing Arts

• Create artistic expression that portrays Aborginal people through the arts
• Academic success
• Education and career goals

9. Technology/Science

• Clear post-secondary education goals leading to career
• Excellent academic skills in sciences and/or technologies
• Demonstrates interest in applied science, health, industry and/or technology

10. Spirit

• Demonstrates personal characteristics that show ability to overcome adversity
• Resiliency leads to a healing journey through cultural/spiritual values
• Shares knowledge with others for the betterment of community
• Education and career goals

• Demonstrates concern for others in the community
• Generously gives of time and energy promoting the wellbeing of others
• Academic success

• Demonstrates personal characteristics that show ability to overcome adversity
• Resiliency leads to a healing journey through cultural/spiritual values
• Shares knowledge with others for the betterment of community
• Education and career goals

For more information on what is required in each of the categories, please see the website here.

Nominations for these awards are open to any youth who...

• is of Aboriginal ancestry;
• is between 13 and 19 years of age as of May 27, 2011;
• is a resident of Saskatchewan; and
• has demonstrated outstanding commitment and or ability in one of the nine award categories.

or any group that...

• meets the above criteria.

Anyone can nominate a youth (except parents). But, each nomination must be supported by two references: community leader, educator or elder, not related to the youth. Also, youths can only be nominated in one category.

To nominate someone you must send in:

• A completed nomination form.
• Reasons for nominating this youth.
• His or Her (or Group) accomplishments, in point form.
• Two (2) letters of reference from, an elder, community leader, educator, coach (can not be related to the youth).
• Nomination form filled in completely.
• Nominee must complete and submit a 200 word autobiography explaining how he/she or group fit criteria of the particular award category. Also include goals, objectives, and beliefs, and reasons why you feel you deserve this award.
• A 5x7 picture.

Note: All documents or pictures submitted will become property of the Wicihitowin Foundation and will not be returned. All documents or pictures must be submitted together at one time.

Mail, fax, or e-mail everything to:

SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards of Excellence
Attention:

Terry Bird
11th flr. 410 22nd Street East
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7K 1W8
Toll Free: 1-866-931-6205
Fax: (306) 931-5950
e-mail: aboriginal.youthawards@sasktel.sk.ca

Deadline for application is Midnight, April 8, 2011

Some helpful tips!

• A youth can only be nominated in one category.
• Give complete answers to all of the questions asked.
• Provide lots of detail about the nominee and accomplishments.
• Remember, the judges do not know the nominee yet.
• The judges are most interested in personal sacrifice, determination, effort, commitment, attitude, demonstrations of leadership, sense of Aboriginal culture and language.
• Past award winners are not eligible to be nominated.