The SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards are designed to celebrate success and courage in young people like Mario Ahenakew.

Mario was almost lost to the gang life. Arrested 10 times before he was 12, he was on the fast track to becoming a statistic. Now, the grade 11 student at Holy Cross High School is an active student and  role model who speaks about the perils of the gang life. His courage and progress earned him the SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Spirit Award. 

Mario Ahenakew receiving the Spirit Award.

The 18th Annual SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards took place Friday May 27th at TCU Place. 89 outstanding youth were nominated for 12 category awards, and their families and the community were proud witnesses to their achievements. 

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• PHOTO GALLERY: 2015 SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards
• PHOTO GALLERY: 2014 SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards

“These awards have become so important to not just the youth, but their families and communities for the inspiration the awards and recipients generate,” organizer Colleen Cameron said, explaining in her speech that celebrating youth was an effective part of the TRC’s Calls to Action. “It is a privilege to read your stories and many of you share truth and honesty with us...we understand your story and we thank you for sharing it. All of you are deserving of an award.”

She explained that the winners are the ones who follow the nomination process most closely, because it is hard for the committee to select one winner from among such excellence. 

The first award recipient was Victoria Penner of Ahtahkakoop First Nation, who won a new Saskatchewan Polytechnic Award, covering her first year of tuition and books as a registered nurse at Sask Polytechnic. 

Check out our Photo Gallery of all the award winners.

Jodi Delorme won the Community Service Award, while the Education Award went to Shayna Uhryn with an average of 99.3% — the highest average of any past award recipients — and the Culture Award to Maggie Eastman. 

Shayna Uhryn earned the highest average of any past Education Award winners: 99.3%

Joshua Fandry received the Science and Technology Award, and Emily Noon was recipient of the Fine/Performing Arts Award.

The Spirit Award was created for students with inner strength which helps them overcome obstacles, and each nominated youth deserves it, noted Cameron. Recipient Mario Ahenakew was achieving academic success when he got mixed up with the wrong crowd, becoming sidetracked in criminal activity and an unhealthy lifestyle. He managed to turn things around again, using supports like STR8UP, and is now finishing his Grade 11 year at Holy Cross High School in Saskatoon while sharing his story about why not to join gangs. His goal is to become a defense attorney for those who need legal assistance.

“I feel that with all the mistakes you’ve made in life, you can still change the negative into the positive...life is what you make it,” said Ahenakew afterwards. “I feel really honoured, I just came out here for the experience, and it’s a really big thing. Considering where I come from and what I’ve been through, it makes me feel really good about myself. What really helped me was STR8UP and self motivation — I knew that I deserved better than this.”

Emily Noon receiving the award for Fine Performing Arts.

When asked what advice he would give to other youth who find themselves in trouble, he said that no matter what happens in life, you can make the best out of it.“And no matter what struggle you’re going through, keep your head up and have faith,” said Ahenakew. “Anything is possible.” 

Kaylan Muir received the Female Sports Award, while Thomas Johnston was recipient of the Male Sports Award. Leah Boyer, from Lloydminster, received the Leadership Award, while Outstanding Male was won by Liam Cummins. Outstanding Female Isabel Gagne had, among her many achievements, raised over $10 000 in a shoe drive for kids who couldn’t afford athletic footwear in inner city Regina, after she noticed the need during a volleyball game.

The Indigenous Ensemble group from the Saskatoon Public School Board provided some traditional dancing at the end of the banquet, while drumming for the Grand Entry, the Ensemble, and all Honour Songs was provided by the Wild Horse Drum Group. MC Donny Speidel kept things running smoothly, and greetings and congratulations were brought by many dignitaries including the Lieutenant Governor of the Province, FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron, STC Chief Felix Thomas, MNS President Robert Doucette, and Mayor Don Atchison.

The Wicihitowin Foundation responsible for the Awards was created in 1995, fifty years after the Second World War, as a legacy to Aboriginal veterans, honouring them by nurturing Aboriginal youth. Wicihitowin, a Cree word meaning “helping each other”, reflects the foundation’s overall mission. 

The SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards is the culmination of the foundation’s efforts to seek out and recognize today’s excelling Aboriginal youth who are becoming strong role models.