The awards recognize Indigenous students, faculty and support staff who are going above and beyond to make the University of Manitoba an inclusive and supportive learning environment. The recipients will be honoured at an afternoon celebration that will take place on Monday, March 9, 2020. The nomination deadline is Monday, January 27, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.

Indigenous Awards of Excellence

Please refer to the below for details on these awards:

• Indigenous Student Awards
• Indigenous Faculty and Support Staff Awards
• Who can nominate an Indigenous student, faculty or support staff member for an Indigenous Award of Excellence?
• How do I nominate an Indigenous student, faculty or support staff member?
• What is the nomination deadline?

Indigenous Student Awards

Who is eligible?

Any Indigenous undergraduate or graduate student who is currently enrolled in classes (full-time or part-time) at the U of M. Please note that one of the categories requires full-time enrolment for your program.

What are the criteria?

Indigenous Student Award – Community Builder (up to two awards)

This award will go to an Indigenous student who:

• Serves as a role model, demonstrating high standards of integrity and respect
• Builds relationships and community through developing respect, support and trust
• Makes connections with Indigenous communities, groups and organizations on and/or off campus
• Demonstrates initiative in advancing Indigenous engagement at the U of M

Indigenous Student Award – Trailblazer (up to two awards)

This award will go to an Indigenous student who demonstrates:

• Demonstrates visionary thinking grounded in truth and courage that has resulted in advancing Indigenous engagement at the U of M
• Breaks down barriers for future generations
• Demostrates leadership by example
• Serves as a mentor
• Walks with integrity and humility

Indigenous Student Award – Outstanding Achievement (up to two awards)

This award will go to an Indigenous student who has achieved high academic standing and contributes to the community. This student must be considered a full-time student in their program during the 2019-2020 academic year, and must have obtained a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the Fall 2019 term. The student also:

• Is a role model both inside and outside of their classes
• Promotes a positive learning environment
• Demonstrates initiative in advancing Indigenous engagement at the U of M
• Walks with integrity and humility

Indigenous Faculty and Support Staff Awards

Who is eligible?

In the Faculty category, any self-declared Indigenous U of M employee in the following positions can be nominated. Up to two awards will be given to:

• Professors
• Associate Professors
• Assistant Professors
• Full-Time Lecturers
• Senior Instructors
• Instructors II
• Instructors I
• Librarians
• Associate Librarians
• Assistant Librarians
• General Librarians

In the Support Staff category, any self-declared Indigenous U of M employee who does not fall into the Faculty category may be nominated. Up to two awards will be given.

What are the criteria?

Indigenous Faculty Award – Trailblazer (up to two awards)

This award will go to an Indigenous faculty member who:

• Advances Indigenous pedagogy, research and scholarship
• Fosters a greater understanding of Indigenous knowledge, cultures and traditions amongst students, staff and faculty
• Demonstrates visionary thinking that has resulted in advancing Indigenous engagement at the U of M with a continuing impact

Up to two awards will be given: one to a junior faculty trailblazer (fewer than 10 years of service) and one to a lifetime trailblazer (10 or more years of service).

Indigenous Support Staff Award – Community Builder (up to two awards)

This award will go to an Indigenous support staff member who:

• Strengthens connections with Indigenous communities both on and off campus
• Builds a culturally rich, safe and supportive learning and work environment
• Creates a space in which Indigenous students, faculty and staff succeed
• Goes above and beyond to advance Indigenous engagement at the U of M through programming and initiatives

Who can nominate an Indigenous student, faculty or staff member for an Indigenous Award of Excellence?

Any support staff, faculty or student from the U of M may nominate an Indigenous student. You may not nominate yourself. Support letters can be from individuals outside of the U of M.

How do I nominate an Indigenous student, faculty or staff member?

Step one: Contact the candidate to receive permission to nominate them for an award. Ask if anyone else is nominating them for an Indigenous Award of Excellence. Each candidate may only be nominated once per year. Past recipients are not eligible to win again.

Step two: Please fill out the online nomination form in UMCommunityLINK. If you have not used this system before, you can sign in using your UMnetID, which will activate your account. If you experience any problems with the login process, please contact ccr@umanitoba.ca. Please provide specific examples that describe how the nominee's contributions relate to the criteria. Please provide details that demonstrate the impact the candidate has made. You may use point form to list the nominee's contributions. The selection committee will only consider information that is included in the nomination package, so please complete your nomination in full and in alignment with the awards criteria.

Step three: You may upload up to two one-page letters of support from other support staff, faculty, students, or community supporters to accompany the nomination. It is helpful to share the criteria for the award with those providing the letters so that their examples are informed by the criteria. These letters offer an opportunity to show the contributions of the nominee from different perspectives. The impact of the letter is not weighed by the status of the individual providing the letter, but more on their ability to speak about the contributions the nominee has made.

When is the deadline?

All nominations must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, January 27, 2020.