The campus community gathered last month to celebrate established and emerging Indigenous leaders at The University of Winnipeg.
The 2025 Honouring Indigenous Achievement (HIA) awards ceremony, presented by the Office of Indigenous Engagement, took place March 20 in Convocation Hall.
Eleven individuals—undergraduate and graduate students, staff, and faculty—were presented with an award and a star blanket made by Corey Sanderson. Master of Ceremonies Lee Mae Spence welcomed attendees to the ceremony and luncheon. Elder Dan Thomas provided a blessing, smudge, and opening prayer, while Preston Cleveland performed a closing honour song. Entertainment was provided by musicians Michael Audette and Brad Mogie.
“We are thrilled to see the growth and impact of this event, as it has become an important tradition in honouring the remarkable work of the Indigenous campus community,” said Dr. Chantal Fiola, Associate Vice-President, Indigenous. “Whether through academic excellence, community service, or dedication to culture and language, the contributions of Indigenous students, faculty, and staff are vital to our collective success.”
Congratulations to all the 2025 Honouring Indigenous Achievement award recipients!
Meet the award recipients
Melissa Anderson – Staff Award
Melissa Anderson, an Ininew mother from Fox Lake Cree Nation, received the <10 Years Staff Award. Melissa studies processing methods in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), working to optimize stroke diagnosis and treatment. In 2020, after winning three NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards and an Indigenous Summer Scholars Program (ISSP) Award, she graduated with a BSc Honours in Physics.
In 2022, Melissa completed an MSc at the University of Manitoba with UWinnipeg’s Dr. Melanie Martin, receiving two Indigenous Excellence Masters awards along the way. She is now a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at UManitoba under Dr. Martin.
Dr. Mary Jane McCallum – Faculty Award
Dr. Mary Jane McCallum received the >10 Years Faculty Award. Dr. McCallum is Professor of History and Canada Research Chair in Indigenous People, History and Archives, and a band member of the Munsee Delaware Nation in Ontario. She leads the Manitoba Indigenous Tuberculosis History Project, an Indigenous-led and community-engaged Indigenous health history research project devoted to sharing and recovering histories of Indigenous tuberculosis in Manitoba from the 1930s to 1970s.
Sandra DeLaronde – Faculty Award
Sandra DeLaronde received the <10 Years Faculty Award. She is Principal of Northern Sage Consulting, which focuses on human and organizational transformation. After earning a MA in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University, she was awarded a Doctors in Laws by UWinnipeg for her lifelong advocacy for Indigenous women and girls. Sandra was raised in The Pas with roots in Duck Bay and is a rights holder with membership in Pimichikamak Cree Nation.
Borden Moneyas – Undergraduate Award
Borden Moneyas is an Urban and Inner-City Studies major. A father of nine, he has used his stories of resilience, healing, and survival to inspire and encourage others. Dr. Jim Silver, Professor Emeritus and co-founder of the Department of Urban and Inner-City Studies, came alongside Borden as he began his post-secondary journey and broke the cycle of inter-generational trauma that had affected his earlier life.
Gracie Grift – Undergraduate Award
Gracie Grift (Brown Horse Woman) is a member of the Red River Métis Nation and a descendant of the Makwa Dodem (Bear Clan). Gracie has served five terms as President of the Indigenous Students’ Association, and three terms as Vice-President of UWinnipeg’s chapter of the Canadian Indigenous Science and Engineering Society (.caISES). In addition, Gracie volunteers as a coding instructor for youth at the Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre.
Cassidy Lamirande – Undergraduate Award
Cassidy Lamirande is a Métis student from Winnipeg with family ties to Duck Bay. She is currently completing an honours degree in Neuroscience. Her thesis measures neural activity associated with humour. Once that’s complete, she will be applying to medical school, with plans to become a physician.
Lucy Lindell – Graduate Award
Lucy Lindell is a Métis student and artist completing her Master’s thesis in Peace and Conflict Studies. She is a beadwork and digital artist and enjoys making ribbon skirts. She is also preparing her first solo art exhibit, entitled I Belong Here, at the Manitoba Museum.
Jaeda Cochrane-Murdock – Ewaaskoziig Anongoonhs (Bright Star) Award
Jaeda Cochrane-Murdock is a Grade 12 student at The University of Winnipeg Collegiate. This fall, she will begin a BSc in Physics at UWinnipeg, with an eye toward a career in astronomy. She has spent the past year reconnecting with her culture and learning beading and ribbon skirt making, and plans to incorporate her cultural knowledge into her studies.
Rocky McKay – Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre Award
Rocky McKay is a member of Berens River First Nation. He grew up in Winnipeg and completed BSc and BEd degrees at the University of Manitoba, then became a chemist in the private sector. He then embarked on a 30-year career in science education, joining Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre six years ago.
Rocky has worked with school divisions, First Nations, and inner city youth. Author of the Pearson Grade 7 Science textbook used in Manitoba schools, he was part of the team that developed the new Manitoba Science Curriculum.
Rayanne Atatise – Dr. Tobasonakwut Kinew Scholarship for Culture, History, and Language
Rayanne Atatise is a First Nation woman from Winnipeg with treaty status from Long Plain First Nation and family roots in Lake Manitoba First Nation and Gakijiwanong Anishinaabe Nation. A fourth-year student in the Integrated Education program, Rayanne will soon be a certified educator. After graduating in 2026, she plans to teach in remote Indigenous communities in Manitoba and Ontario.
Kiera Kowalski – Weweni Future Scholar Award
Kiera Kowalski is a Michif (Red River Métis) woman and citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation from Fort Frances, Ont. A PhD student at McMaster University, she is studying Red River Métis experiences of neurodiversity through digital stories. Kiera is a graduate of UWinnipeg’s MDP in Indigenous Development program, and Carleton University’s bachelor’s program in Journalism and Communication Studies. She is an experienced community-based research project coordinator in both the academy and the private sector.
