2005 Youth Award Winners accept their awards during the annual Keewaywin Chiefs Assembly, held two years ago in Mishkeegogamang FN

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 26TH ANNUAL KEEWAYWIN YOUTH AWARD WINNERS!

The awards were handed out during the banquet dinner held in Aroland First Nation.  The winners are:

Lorraine Shewaybick of Webequie First Nation - Academic Award
Terrence Cheechoo of Constance Lake First Nation - Athletic Award
Serene Spence of Marten Falls - Cultural Award
Brittany Angeconeb -Leadership/Community Involvement Award

Nominate an Achiever!

Each year the Decade for Youth & Development Office honours young people with the Decade for Youth Keewaywin Youth Awards program. Winners receive their awards at the annual Keewaywin Chiefs Assembly. For 2007, the awards will be handed out in August in Aroland First Nation. The purpose of the awards program is to encourage youth to accomplish their goals and to promote youth role models. There are five categories for the awards. Give us a call at 1-800-465-9952 for more info or to have a nomination package sent to you. You can also download a nomination form in MS Word format Click Here or an awards poster Click HereThe deadline for submitting your nomination form is Monday, July 23, 2007 at 5pm, EST. You can fax the forms to the Decade office at 807-623-7730 or by email to

DEADLINE IS EXTENDED UNTIL WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2007 AT 5:OO PM EST. NOMINATE A YOUTH YOU FEEL THAT NEEDS TO BE HONOURED!

The awards criteria for the other five categories are as follows:

• must be at least 15-29 years of age
• must be a member of a Nishnawbe Aski Nation member First Nation
• promotes a healthy lifestyle and is a role model for peers and younger children

A nominee can meet some but not necessarily all of the following criteria;

Academic Award

• Demonstrated outstanding achievement in academics including consistent high grades, attendance and/or improvement, or has overcome adverse circumstances to excel in education

Athletic Award

• Demonstrated excellence in a sport or series of sports, demonstrated teamwork, and demonstrated skills, or has overcome adverse circumstances to excel in athletics

Leadership/Community Involvement Award - Named Stan McKay Memorial Award

Stan McKay from Wapekeka First Nation was a champion in the area of youth development and suicide prevention in his community, and within NAN Territory. Stan was instrumental in the development of the Suicide prevention program in Wapekeka, and was always willing to contribute to the development of youth and suicide prevention intiatives in our communities. On February 4th 2006, Stan McKay passed away. In honour of his commitment to his work in suicide prevention and his support for youth, the NAN Decade Youth department has named the award for youth leadership and community involvement the Stan McKay Memorial Award.

• Involvement in community as a volunteer, demonstrated leadership skills
• Working with youth organization or organizing activities for youth and children in their community

Cultural Award

• Has demonstrated knowledge of traditional skills or teachings, promotes traditional practices, promotes respect for land and resources, demonstrated passion for learning cultural skills/teachings

Youth Council Award

• Has promoted the development of a local youth council, demonstrated commitment to a youth council, demonstrated leadership skills, or has contributed to the development of the NAN Decade Youth Council

Nishnawbe Aski Nation 26th Annual Keewaywin Awards

You can also nominate NAN Women, Elders, and Leaders through the NAN Annual Keewaywin Awards. For the criteria of these awards, please click here and for the nomination form, please click here. If you would like more information and find out who to contact, please check out the Nishnawbe Aski Nation website.