The Women In Leadership Foundation (WIL), in partnership with the Squamish Nation, hosted its 5th Annual BC Aboriginal Women in Leadership Forum: Seeds for Success, was held on Friday, May 22nd.
This year’s forum, presented by Scotiabank, was attended by over 200 women from all backgrounds. This powerful forum gives Aboriginal women the recognition they deserve and inspires the next generation to be proud of who they are and where they came from.
The five inspirational Aboriginal women who told their stories were;
- Denise Brillon Hill, Entrepreneur & Winner of BC Government’s “Outstanding Aboriginal Business Awards 2009”
- Renae Morriseau, filmmaker, actress & writer
- Chief Lisa Shaver, Chief of the Penelakut Tribe
- Jessie Williams, Special projects officer, Four Host First Nations
- Michele Baptiste – Moderator – National Manager of Aboriginal Relations for Scotiabank.
Tracey Rossignol, a member of WIL’s Advisory Board, contributed a blog about the event. Click here to read more.
2009 Scotiabank Aboriginal Women Leaders Scholarship Award for BC.
In addition to the speakers, the Scotiabank Aboriginal Women Leaders Scholarship Award was presented to Gaura (Sienna) MacMillan & Jessica Reid McIntyre. This Award was created in 2007 to recognize Aboriginal women who are active in their communities and support their pursuit of education. Each woman will receive $1,000 towards for financial assistance for post-secondary education. A Selection Committee bases their decisions on Aboriginal community involvement, grades, dedication, and financial need.
Gaura (Sienna) MacMillan is currently studying Political Science & Communications at Simon Fraser University. She is a mother of 2 and recently hosted 5 Native Youth Forums, from February through May 2009, for Urban Native Youth Association.
Jessica Reid McIntyre is currently studying Cognitive Systems, Linguistics at UBC. Jessica just returned from four months volunteering with TASO (The AIDS Support Organization) in Uganda. During this life changing experience she had the opportunity to work with and spend time with HIV positive kids. [photo – Claudette Carracedo Photo-75.jpg… Jessica receives her scholarship from Michele Baptiste from Scotiabank. Photo credit: Claudette Carracedo]
Two Ontario scholarships will also be awarded at the Ontario Aboriginal Women in Leadership Forum in October 2009.
