Order of Gabriel Dumont medals will be given out at the Gabriel Dumont Institute's upcoming 40th Anniversary Cultural and Educational Conference. (Submitted/Gabriel Dumont Institute)

By Alison Sandstrom

Métis Nation

Six P.A. students to be inducted into the Order of Gabriel Dumont

Jan 15, 2020 | 3:06 PM

Six young people from Prince Albert are set to receive one of the Métis Nation’s highest honours.

The group will be among those awarded the Gabriel Dumont Bronze Medal at a ceremony in Saskatoon on Feb. 6.

The Bronze medal recognizes Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI) students who have distinguished themselves through leadership, community involvement and overall achievement.

“They were chosen from a number of different fields,” GDI Executive Director Geordy McCaffrey told paNOW.

“We wanted to profile and promote people who have met challenges head on and have succeeded in their studies and really made us proud of them.”

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McCaffrey explained it was important to honour the students, not just to reward them for their hard work, but to inspire others.

“We also want some of the younger generation to see that you know, we all have obstacles and challenges, and these people have met them. So it’s very inspiring to see that we can have success even though sometimes things don’t always go our way.”

The medals will be presented during GDI’s upcoming 40th Anniversary Cultural and Educational Conference on Feb. 6-7 in Saskatoon.

Gold and silver Order of Gabriel Dumont medals will also be awarded to community members for outstanding contributions and service to the Métis Nation.

Among the Prince Albert nominees is Rhonda Roberts, a grandmother and respected community role-model currently completing the Gabriel Dumont College Justice studies program.

Another honouree, Luke Smith, completed his basic education at Dumont Technical Institute while taking care of his daughter and sick partner. McCaffrey said he is now a model student in the practical nursing program.

Ashley Smith has served in a variety of student leadership roles including vice president of the Student Representative Council. As a student teacher she started a traditional storytelling month at the school where she interned.

Will Crawford, a student currently completing the heavy equipment truck and transport program at DTI will be honoured as well. McCaffrey said he was proud of Crawford for overcoming a great deal of adversary.

A graduate of the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program, Taylor Carriere, will receive the medal for an autobiographical account she created that documents her journey towards promoting reconciliation in the classroom.

Deans list justice studies scholar Gwen Hardy Munro has also been selected. She has completed Corrections Services Canada training that will enable her to work in healing lodges across the country. She is also an active community volunteer.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom