May 9, 2024
Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey(MK) is honoured to be selected as a recipient of a National Indigenous Good Governance Award from Honouring NationsCanada (HNC).
HNC is an initiative of Fulbright Canada that was created to recognize, celebrate and share stories of Indigenous achievement. They encourage and support good governance inIndigenous communities and have developed national awards to recognize those who are working towards building brighter futures.
The inaugural biennial National Indigenous Good Governance Award program will recognize finalists in the following 7 categories;
· Building Sovereignty/Nation Building
· EnvironmentalStewardship and Climate Action
· Partnershipsand Collaboration
· CulturalRevitalization
· CommunityGovernance/Programming
· NorthernNation Building
· Bill Montour Legacy Award.
Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey was selected to win the Bill Montour Legacy Award. William(Bill) Montour was a member of the Mohawk Nation from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. He played an important role in the creation of HonouringNations Canada through his longstanding relationship with the founding directors of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development back in the 1990s. Fulbright Canada established this award in his name to honour his legacy and lifelong commitment to Indigenous education and Indigenous-led economic development.
“Being selected as the recipient of the Bill Montour Legacy Award is such an honour for our organization”, said Blaire Gould, Executive Director of MK. “Our success is the result of all 12 of our member communities working together to actively promote excellence in Mi’kmaq education. This recognition belongs to all of us.”
Chief Leroy Denny, Chair of MK’sBoard of Directors of stated, “on behalf of the Board of Directors, we are excited to be selected to receive this award. Our focus has always been working together as a collective while celebrating our uniqueness in order to provide our youth with the best possible education.”
The awards ceremony took place in Ottawa on May 9th. There was a knowledge sharing session taking place at the National Arts Centre from 1:30PM TO 5:00PM, which was open to the public.
To learn more about the inaugural award program, including other honorees and recognition categories, visit the Honouring NationsCanada website. https://www.fulbright.ca/2024/04/hnc-national-good-governance-awards-finalists-announced.