Congratulations Alana Pawley for the Aboriginal Graduate Award of Excellence

Congratulations to Alana Pawley on receiving the Dr. Valio Markkanen Aboriginal Graduate Award of Excellence for 2017. This is an annual award given to an Aboriginal graduate student (First Nations, Metis and/or Inuit ancestry), who has achieved excellence in academics, and has also been actively contributing to the Aboriginal/Indigenous community. Alana is Ojibwe from Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation and she is the representative for Indigenous Students on the King’s University College Students’ Council.

A Saunders Secondary School graduate, Alana anticipates graduating with an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree with a Specialization in Social Justice and Peace Studies. She is also taking a Major in Global Development from Huron College.

Alana was also announced as the recipient of the Applied Indigenous Scholarship for excellence in academics, as well as the recipient of the Award for Academic Excellence in Social Justice and Peace Studies.

At the end of April, Alana will be starting a new position at At^lohsa Native Family Healing Services Inc. as the Cultural Justice Coordinator. She will be working with Indigenous elders to provide healing to families that have experienced acts of family violence in Indigenous communities in the London area.  

“I am so incredibly grateful and honored to have been selected for these awards,” says Pawley. “I would like to thank the myriad of people who have made these awards available to encourage youth to pursue justice work in Indigenous communities. Additionally, I would like to thank my amazing professors and professional mentors that have encouraged me to apply for these opportunities, and written me endless reference letters! Lastly, I am eternally grateful to my family, friends, and members of my Indigenous communities that have shared their knowledge with me and provided me with emotional and spiritual support, allowing me to reach my highest potential. These awards will allow me to continue to pursue graduate education in Indigenous Governance where I hope to work directly with Indigenous communities.”

Well done Alana!