Indspire announces the 2025 Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Awards recipients and prepares for its largest-ever National Gathering for Indigenous Education

Wednesday, November 12, 2025 – Ohsweken, ON – Indspire is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Awards, which will be presented at the 2025 National Gathering for Indigenous Education on November 19-21, 2025.

Taking place in Winnipeg, MB, the National Gathering is the largest national event of its kind. Bringing together over a thousand teachers, school administrators, Elders, and community partners, the Gathering serves as a national forum to share innovative practices, celebrate Indigenous success, and strengthen reconciliation in classrooms across Canada. With a proven record of advancing educational outcomes and facilitating Indigenous student success, Indspire continues to lead the way in transforming Indigenous education.

Sponsored by the Suncor Energy Foundation (SEF), Indspire’s Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Awards recognize Indigenous educators, one Indigenous organization, and one non-Indigenous educator who have made valuable contributions to community-based education and who honour the principles of Indigenous knowledge.

“Each year, Indspire’s National Gathering for Indigenous Education highlights the strength, dedication, and vision of Indigenous educators who are creating lasting change in classrooms and communities across Turtle Island,” said Mike DeGagné, President & CEO of Indspire. “It is both a celebration and a call to action for all of us: to honour our shared commitment to supporting Indigenous learners through culturally grounded education. In the spirit of that commitment, I would also like extend my sincere congratulations to the 2025 Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Award recipients, whose leadership and innovation continue to guide us all toward a brighter future.”

The 2025 Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Award recipients are:

Indigenous Educator Award
Bryan Bellefeuille
Nipissing First Nation

W.C. Eaket Secondary School
Blind River, ON

Indigenous Educator Award
Maclane Cardinal
Red River Métis

Pembina Trails School Division
Winnipeg, MB

Indigenous Educator Award
Tanya McCallum-Sylvestre
Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation

Muskoday First Nation Community School
Muskoday First Nation, SK

Partner in Indigenous Education
Eric Grimstead
Adult Education and Vocational Centre
Cree Nation of Chisasibi, QC

Organization
Education Team – Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba
Headingley, MB

Learn more about the recipients here.

Indspire would like to gratefully thank the following sponsors of the 2025 National Gathering, whose investment in this initiative has a transformative impact on Indigenous education and on the lives of Indigenous students, their families, and their communities.

• Lead Partner: Government of Canada/Employment and Social Development Canada
• Presenting Corporate & Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Awards Sponsor: Suncor Energy Foundation
• Teacher Education Supporter: Fondation Rideau Hall Foundation
• Climbing the Mountain Reconciliation Workshop Sponsor: Shell Canada Limited
• Regional Host Sponsor: Government of Manitoba
• Technology in Education Sponsor: Imperial
• Lunch Sponsor: Bell
• Supporting Sponsor: Scotiabank

Learn more about the National Gathering for Indigenous Education here.

About Indspire

Indspire is an Indigenous national charity that celebrates Indigenous excellence and invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. With the support of its funding partners, Indspire provides financial awards, delivers programs and shares resources so that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students will achieve their highest potential. In 2024-25, Indspire provided more than $31.6 million through over 8,800 bursaries and scholarships to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students across Canada.

Contact

Mallory Rose
VP, Communications, Marketing, and Student Success
mrose@indspire.ca
(416) 861-8507

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