The Indspire Awards, until 2012 the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, are annual awards presented by Indspire in Canada. The awards are intended to celebrate and encourage excellence in the Aboriginal community in Canada.
About The awards were first established in 1993, and presented in 1994, in conjunction with the United Nations-declared International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. The awards are intended to celebrate and encourage excellence in the Indigenous community. Awards may be presented in a variety of categories, depending on the particular achievements of Aboriginal people in the nominating period—14 awards are presented each year including one for Lifetime Achievement and three special Youth Awards, one each for First Nations, Inuit and Métis, that comes with a cash prize of $10,000 and 10 career categories with not all individual career categories necessarily presented annually. To be eligible an individual must be of either First Nations, Inuit, or Métis heritage. Additionally they must demonstrate outstanding career achievement, and be a permanent Canadian resident or be Canadian born. The awards are broadcast annually on the Global Television Network and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). Since 1985 Indspire through its Education Program has awarded more than $87 million in scholarships and bursaries to more than 25,00 First Nations, Inuit and Métis students nationwide.
Award categories The award categories are:
Arts Business and Commerce Culture, Heritage and Spirituality Education Environment and Natural Resources Health Law and Justice Politics Public Service Sports Lifetime Achievement Award Youth Award, First Nation Youth Award, Inuit Youth Award, Métis
Eligibility criteria Individuals of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis ancestry who have reached a significant level of achievement in their respective occupations are eligible for nomination. Any person may nominate a candidate they deem to be worthy of this recognition with reference to the following criteria:
Of First Nations, Inuit or Métis heritage Who demonstrate outstanding career achievement Of any age with the exception of the youth category Permanent Canadian resident or Canadian born Youth achiever nominees must be 15–27 years of age
Recipients Each year 14 recipients are recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in various disciplines ranging from health, law, political science, culture, arts, and others, two of which are specific recognition to one outstanding youth achiever and one lifetime achievement recipient. The awards are recognized both nationally and internationally as one of the highest honours the community can bestow upon its own achievers.
1994
William Lyall, Business Jean Cuthand Goodwill, Community Service Verna Kirkness, Education Cindy Kenny-Gilday, Environment Alanis Obomsawin, Film Murray Sinclair, Justice Bill Reid, Lifetime Achievement Susan Aglukark, Performance Thelma Chalifoux, Public Service Nellie Cournoyea, Public Service Rosemarie Kuptana, Public Service Art Solomon, Spiritual Leadership Ted Nolan, Sports
1995
Douglas Cardinal, Architecture Robert Davidson, Arts and Culture Frank Hansen, Business and Culture Louis Stevenson, Community Development Ernest Benedict, Education Marie Smallface Marule, Education Ahab Spence, Education Matthew Coon Come, Environment and Public Service Maggie Hodgson, Health Services Alfred Scow, Law and Justice Kenojuak Ashevak, Lifetime Achievement Noah Carpenter, Medicine Sharla Tiakohatéhkwen Howard, Special Youth Angela Chalmers, Sports
1996
Maria Campbell, Arts Tom Jackson, Arts Rose Auger, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality James Watson Walkus, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Marlene Brant Castellano, Education Mary Simon, Environment and Natural Resources Frank Arthur Calder, Lifetime Achievement Yvon Dumont, Public Service Phil Fontaine, Public Service Elijah Harper, Public Service Albert Charles Rock, Science and Technology Robert E. Johnson Jr., Special Youth Alwyn Morris, Sports Mary Two-Axe Earley, Women's Rights
1997
Kiawak Ashoona, Arts Gil Cardinal, Arts Graham Greene, Arts Rita Joe, Arts Billy Diamond, Business & Commerce Charlie Watt, Community Development Stanley John McKay, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Martin Gale McLoughlin, Health Chester R. Cunningham, Law & Justice Harry S. LaForme, Law & Justice Olive Dickason, Lifetime Achievement Stephen Kakfwi, Public Service George Berthe, Special Youth Darren Zack, Sports
1998
Tantoo Cardinal, Arts Daphne Odjig, Arts Tagak Curley, Business & Commerce Abel Bosum, Community Development Emily Jane Faries, Education Cornelia Wieman, Health Joe Crowshoe, Heritage and Spirituality Roberta Jamieson, Law & Justice Buffy Sainte-Marie, Lifetime Achievement John Amagoalik, Public Service Georges Erasmus, Public Service Dan E. Goodleaf, Public Service Wade R. Cachagee, Special Youth Bryan Trottier, Sports
1999
Dorothy Grant, Business & Commerce David Gabriel Tuccaro, Business & Commerce Dorothy Betz, Community Development Theresa Stevenson, Community Development Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Howard Adams, Education Malcolm King, Health Edward Kantonkote Cree, Health James Igloliorte, Law & Justice Rose Toodick Boyko, Law & Justice Allen Sapp, Lifetime Achievement James Bartleman, Public Service Lillian Dyck, Science ‘Alika LaFontaine, Youth
2000
Art Thompson, Arts John Charles Bernard, Business & Commerce Roy Albert Whitney, Business & Commerce Paul J. Birckel, Community Development Simon Baker, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Edith Josie, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Jo-Ann Archibald, Education Miles G. Richardson, Environment and Natural Resources Fjola Hart-Wasekeesikaw, Health Steven Point, Law & Justice Joseph Arthur Gosnell, Lifetime Achievement Leetia Ineak, Media & Communication Konrad Haskan Sioui, Public Service Waneek Horn-Miller, Special Youth
2001
Tomson Highway, Arts Dolly Watts, Business & Commerce Fred House, Community Development Mariano Aupilardjuk, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Freda Ahenakew, Education Mary Thomas, Environment and Natural Resources Lindsay Crowshoe, Health Harold Cardinal, Lifetime Achievement Roman Bittman, Media & Communication Zacharias Kunuk, Media & Communication Leonard Marchand, Public Service Richard Nerysoo, Public Service Nick Sibbeston, Public Service Lance Relland, Special Youth
2002
Ohito Ashoona, Arts Freda Diesing, Arts Harry Deneron, Business & Commerce Leonard (Len) G. Flett, Business & Commerce George Kurszewski, Community Development Noel Knockwood, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Roy Fox, Energy Gilles Pinette, Health Alex Janvier, Lifetime Achievement Gail Guthrie Valaskakis, Media & Communication Jonah Kelly, Media & Communication Joseph Tokwiro Norton, Public Service Jordin Tootoo, Special Youth Michael Nepinak, Sports
2003
John Arcand, Arts Tom King, Arts Mel E. Benson, Business & Commerce Gary Bosgoed, Business & Commerce Mary Richard, Community Development Charles Edward Lennie, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Leroy Little Bear, Education Simon Lucas, Environment and Natural Resources Judith Bartlett, Health Jay Wortman, Health John J. Borrows, Law & Justice Robbie Robertson, Lifetime Achievement Sophie Pierre, Public Service Matthew Dunn, Special Youth
2004
Tina Keeper, Arts Susan Point, Arts Osuitok Ipeelee, Arts Clarence Louie, Business & Commerce Basil Johnston, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Carl Urion, Education Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Environment and Natural Resources Stanley Vollant, Health Muriel Stanley Venne, Law & Justice Andrew T. Delisle Sr., Lifetime Achievement Suzanne Rochon-Burnett, Media & Communication Pearl Calahasen, Public Service Lee Wilson, Science and Technology Kristinn Frederickson, Special Youth
2005
Joe Jacobs, Arts Gerald McMaster, Arts Douglas Golosky, Business & Commerce Judy Gingell, Community Development John Joe Sark, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Eber Hampton, Education Emma LaRocque, Education Andy Carpenter Sr., Environment and Natural Resources Thomas Dignan, Health Bertha Allen, Lifetime Achievement Brenda Chambers, Media & Communication Lolly Annahatak, Social Services Fauna Kingdon, Special Youth Sharon Anne Firth, Sports
2006
Jane Ash Poitras, Arts Bernd Christmas, Business & Commerce Wendy Grant-John, Community Development Gladys Taylor Cook, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Taiaiake (Gerald) Alfred, Education Billy Day, Environment and Natural Resources Herb Belcourt, Housing James (Sakej) Youngblood Henderson, Law & Justice Jim Sinclair, Lifetime Achievement Myra Cree, Media & Communication George Tuccaro, Media & Communication Tony Belcourt, Public Service Andrea Dykstra, Special Youth Shirley Firth Larsson, Sports
2007
Joane Cardinal-Schubert, Arts Jack Poole, Business & Commerce Alestine Andre, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Joe Michel, Education David Walkem, Environment and Natural Resources Joseph Couture, Health Hugh Braker, Law & Justice Bertha Clark Jones, Lifetime Achievement Lisa Meeches, Media & Communication Fred Carmichael, Politics Lewis Cardinal, Public Service James Makokis, Special Youth Wegadesk Gorup-Paul, Sports Monica Peters, Technology & Trades
2008
Shirley Cheechoo, Arts Jim Boucher, Business & Commerce Hubert Skye, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Marie Ann Battiste, Education Elizabeth (Tshaukuesh) Penashue, Environment and Natural Resources Jeff Reading, Health David C. Nahwegahbow, Law & Justice Norval Morrisseau, Lifetime Achievement Paul Andrew, Media & Communication Joe Handley, Politics Sylvia B. Maracle, Public Service Boyd Wesley Benjamin, Special Youth Reggie Leach, Sports
2009
Melanie Jackson, Arts Dennis Jackson, Arts Allan C. McLeod, Business & Commerce Stephen J. Augustine, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Cecil King, Education Gordon W. Prest, Environment and Natural Resources Candace Grier-Lowe, Health Delia Opekokew, Law & Justice Stan Cuthand, Lifetime Achievement Carol Morin, Media & Communication Paul Okalik, Politics Joan Glode, Public Service Chelsea Lavallée, Special Youth Adam Sioui, Sports Mervin J. Dewasha, Technology & Trades
2010
Kananginak Pootoogook, Arts Ellen Melcosky, Business & Commerce Tom Crane Bear, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Raoul J. McKay, Education Danny Beaton, Environment and Natural Resources Madeleine Kētēskwew Dion Stout, Health Donald Worme, Law & Justice William Commanda, Lifetime Kenneth Atsenhaienton Deer, Media & Communication Eric Robinson, Politics Edith Cloutier, Public Service Skawenniio Barnes, Special Youth Monica Pinette, Sports Doug Henry, Technology & Trades
2011
Corrine Hunt, Arts Joseph F. Dion, Business & Commerce Paingut Annie Peterloosie, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Margo L. Greenwood, Education Ronald Edward Sparrow, Environment & Natural Resources Marcia Anderson DeCoteau, Health Roger Jones, Law & Justice Lillian McGregor, Lifetime Jean LaRose, Media & Communications Audrey Poitras, Politics Cindy Blackstock, Public Service Teyotsihstokwáthe Dakota Brant, Special Youth Frederick G. Sasakamoose, Sports Duncan Cree, Technology & Trades
2012
Adam Beach, Arts Victor S. Buffalo, Business & Commerce Dave Courchene, Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Leona Makokis, Education Richard Stewart Hardy, Environment & Natural Resources Janet Smylie, Health Violet Ford, Law & Justice Gerry St. Germain, Lifetime Richard Wagamese, Media & Communications Leona Aglukkaq, Politics Edward John, Politics Minnie Grey, Public Service Richard Peter, Sports Earl Cook, Youth Candace Sutherland, Youth
2013
Jacqueline Guest, Arts Charlie Evalik, Business & Commerce Winston Wuttunee Culture, Heritage & Spirituality Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, Education Lloyd (Sonny) Flett, Environment & Natural Resources Ruby Jacobs, Health Viola Robinson, Law & Justice Alex Van Bibber, Lifetime Achievement Duane Smith, Politics Gail Cyr, Public Service Theoren Fleury, Sports