杏吧原创 Indigenous Leaders Honoured with King Charles III Coronation Medal
Two Indigenous leaders from 杏吧原创 University have been awarded the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Indigenous education, advocacy and community engagement in Canada.
Dr. Kahente Horn-Miller, Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Teaching, Learning and Research and Benny Michaud, Director of the Centre for Indigenous Support and Community Engagement, received the honour, which commemorates the coronation of King Charles III and celebrates Canadians who have made notable and lasting impacts in their communities and across the country.
The Honourable Andrew Cardozo, Senator for Ontario, presented the award to Dr. Horn-Miller, praising her 鈥済roundbreaking work in Indigenous studies and storytelling鈥 and her role in 鈥渁dvancing cultural understanding and reconciliation.鈥 A 3M National Teaching Fellow, Dr. Horn-Miller has pioneered innovative educational tools which support inclusive, Indigenous-led learning across post-secondary institutions. 鈥淗er dedication to preserving and promoting Indigenous knowledge and advocacy for Indigenous methodologies in academia has profoundly influenced Canadian higher education and national dialogue on Indigenous rights and representation,鈥 said Cardozo.
鈥淚鈥檓 honoured to have received this award alongside so many inspiring colleagues across the country,鈥 said Horn-Miller. 鈥淢y work is rooted in my experiences as an Indigenous mother, community member and former student in the Canadian education system. I do this work because I love to teach and I want to create spaces where Indigenous students are seen, supported and successful鈥攕o they can bring that strength and knowledge back to their communities.鈥
Benny Michaud was recognized by the M茅tis Nation for their work as an educator and advocate for Two-Spirit M茅tis people across the Homeland and for their commitment to the revitalization of the Michif language. Michaud is a proud Michif tasta-iiyinew (person in between) from St. Boniface, Manitoba and is a founding member of Mahwiiyahk Nakatakashoo, the National M茅tis Two-Spirit Circle. They are currently working towards a PhD in Canadian Studies which will focus on the self-actualization of Michif Tastawiiyinawak.
As Director of the Centre for Indigenous Support and Community Engagement, Michaud leads efforts to advance the 41 calls to action outlined in 杏吧原创鈥檚 Kin脿m脿gawin Report, fostering opportunities for education and dialogue within the university community. This summer, Michaud will be teaching a land-based learning course entitled 鈥淭wo-Spirit/Indigiqueer Worldviews and Relationships with the Land鈥濃攖he first time such a course has been offered at 杏吧原创.
鈥淭here is no greater form of recognition than that which comes from your own community,鈥 said Michaud. 鈥淎s a survivor of conversion therapy, the life I currently lead is one I never imagined possible. I鈥檝e dedicated my life to reclaiming and sharing Two-Spirit M茅tis teachings, traditions and ceremonial practices and I鈥檓 forever humbled by the work of those Two-Spirit ancestors and elders that have, and continue to, create a path forward for myself and others. I will keep listening and learning from Two-Spirit relatives across the M茅tis homeland and sharing those teachings with Two-Spirit students at 杏吧原创.鈥
The King Charles III Coronation Medal honours the long-standing Commonwealth tradition of recognizing citizens who have demonstrated exceptional service and leadership during times of national significance. The recognition of Horn-Miller and Michaud affirms the transformative power of Indigenous leadership, education and community resilience.