HINCKLEY, MN- The Minnesota Indian Education Association held their 35th Annual Conference in November at Grand Casino Hinckley. The three day event featured keynote speakers. breakout sessions focused on education topics unique to Indian Country, a listening session with MN Commissioner of Education Mary Cathryn Ricker and culminated in an awards banquet.
Each year, the Minnesota Indian Education Association presents awards to deserving individuals who are working hard and doing great things in Indian Country providing us with inspiration.
This year there were seven Leech Lake Band members recognized individually at the awards banquet on Thursday night, in addition to the Northland-Remer team who won the Ojibwe Quiz Bowl.
The Leech Lake Band members who received awards are as follows:
- Chairman Faron Jackson Sr.- Tribal Official of the Year
- Leah Monroe- K-12 Teacher of the Year
- Ileana Brown- High School Student of the Year
- Avery Matthews- Female Student Athlete of the Year
- Colter Humphrey- Male Student Athlete of the Year
- Michaela Charnoski- Ojibwe Language Scholarship
- Logan Monroe- High School Scholarship
LLBO Education Director Laurie Harper wrapped up the final day with a keynote address titled “Reclaiming Our Sovereignty in Education”.
Congratulations to all of the Award Winners!
Full list of 2019 MIEA Award Recipients:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Gary Lussier Sr.
Red Lake Nation
Post-Secondary Student of the Year
Morgan Olson
White Earth Band of Ojibwe
K-12 Teacher of the Year
Leah Monroe
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
K-12 Counselor/Liaison of the Year
Jamie Delacruz
Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
Tribal Official of the Year
Chairman Faron Jackson
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
High School Student of the Year
Ileana Brown
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Female Student Athlete of the Year
Avery Matthews
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Male Student Athlete of the Year
Colter Humphrey
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Post-Secondary Counselor/Liaison of the Year
Harold Annette
White Earth Band of Ojibwe
Elder of the Year
Dr. Dorothy Olson
Fond Du Lac
Administrator of the Year
Dr. Rev Hillstrom
Cherokee
Dakota Language Scholarship $500
Ethan Neerdaels
Bdewakantunwan Dakota
Ojibwe Language Scholarship $500
Michaela Charnoski
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
High School Scholarship $500
Logan Monroe
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
College Scholarship $500
Adam Kiel
Oneida Nation of Wisconsin