31st Annual Manitoba Indigenous Youth Achievement Awards

The 31st Annual Manitoba Indigenous Youth Achievement Awards were held at Victoria Inn on November 19, 2025. Three amazing students from Pembina Trails were recognized including:

Jorja Johnson from Fisher River Cree Nation and currently attending Oak Park High School was recognized under Community/Volunteerism Junior. Teurauna Russo from Sandy Bay First Nation and currently attending Oak Park High School was awarded for Artistic Performance. Mila Gaslard from God's Lake Narrows and currently attending Oak Park High School received the Health North award. All three recipients are members of the Oak Park High School Medicine Wheel Club with teacher advocates Roberta Anderson, Derek Fraser and Melanie Jones.

Pembina Trails Superintendent and CEO Shelley Amos and Assistant Superintendent Tori Patzer attended the awards and extended Pembina Trails' congratulations to the recipients.

The awards were founded in 1994 to combat negative images of Indigenous youth and to celebrate their achievements.

“We are so proud of the number of nominations received for the various categories and wish that we can provide awards to all of them. There are so many young people that are doing amazing work in our community, and this is one of many opportunities to continue to encourage them to continue their education and career paths.” says MIYAA Co-Chair Helen Robinson-Settee.

MIYAAs are presented to 18 outstanding Indigenous youth between the ages of 16 and 24 excelling in a variety of categories from cultural to academic. The recipients are chosen by a committee of Indigenous peers from the community.