Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Awards
November 19, 2025 | Winnipeg, MB
The Guiding the Journey (GTJ) Awards recognize Indigenous educators, one Indigenous organization, and one non-Indigenous educator who have made valuable contributions to community-based education and who honour the principles of Indigenous knowledge.
GTJ Award recipients receive a complimentary ticket to the 2025 National Gathering for Indigenous Education, a gift of $1,000 to be used towards classroom needs, and an expense-paid trip to the awards ceremony in Winnipeg, MB, November 19-21, 2025.
2025 Guiding the Journey Recipients
Bryan Bellefeuille
Indigenous Educator Award
Bryan Bellefeuille (Waabi Maskwa) is a parent of three children, a partner to Laura Mayer, and a Lake Nipissing fisherman. In 2022, Bryan was appointed as an adjunct professor with Nipissing University as part of the Arts & Science Faculty. He is also on the Science Program Committee for Science North. Currently, he works full time at W.C. Eaket Secondary School in Blind River as an Anishinaabemowin language and Indigenous STEM teacher. Partnering with the Lassonde School of Engineering k2i academy, he co-developed and delivered an inaugural Indigenous Engineering, Technology, & Innovation by Design program.
Maclane Cardinal
Indigenous Educator Award
Maclane Cardinal is a Red River Métis educator, researcher, and artist who lives and works in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Maclane is currently a practicing teacher in Pembina Trails School Division, where he teaches Indigenous Studies and Theatre Arts. Maclane’s work seeks to decolonize public education systems so that they foster a sense of hospitality for Indigenous youth through authentic land-based learning and arts-based pedagogies. As an in-demand writer and presenter, Maclane has been across Turtle Island sharing his research on Indigenous Hospitality, land-based learning, and decolonized education at numerous universities, school divisions, and organizations. Current projects include: implementing Canada’s first ever Advanced Placement Land-Based Learning course, published work on Water and Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, and a developing theatre work exploring land, bodies and the Red River.
Tanya McCallum-Sylvestre, Dip IRM, B.Ed., M.Ed., IPK Ph.D. candidate
Indigenous Educator Award
Tanya is an esteemed Indigenous land-based educator at Muskoday First Nation Community School and a dedicated advocate for cultural and linguistic preservation. A proud member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and a Rock Cree nehithow from Pelican Narrows, Saskatchewan, Tanya brings a wealth of traditional knowledge and academic expertise to her teaching. She holds a Master’s degree in Land-based Education from the University of Saskatchewan and a Bachelor of Education from the Gabriel Dumont Institute SUNTEP program, graduating with great distinction. Currently pursuing her Doctorate at Blue Quills University, Tanya integrates experiential outdoor learning with curricular goals, ensuring students are deeply connected to their cultural roots while gaining the skills to navigate contemporary society. Raised by her grandparents, she embodies the traditional Cree way of life, fluently speaking nehithow and expertly leading land-based activities such as camping, fishing, hunting, and canoeing. Her commitment to Indigenous education has earned her national recognition, including the prestigious Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. Tanya’s passion for bridging traditional knowledge with modern education empowers her students to walk confidently in multiple worlds with cultural pride and resilience.
Eric Grimstead
Partner in Indigenous Education
Eric Grimstead has dedicated over 20 years to education in the Cree Nation of Chisasibi. A graduate of Queen’s University’s Faculty of Education in the Artist in Community Program, Eric began his teaching journey in Chisasibi, where he developed a deep connection to the community and culture that continues to guide his work today. Over the years, he has served as a teacher, guidance counsellor, and high school principal, and now leads as the Centre Director of the Adult Education and Vocational Centre. Supporting the preservation of language and culture through the school has been one of Eric’s main motivators, and his commitment to lifelong learning and community-centered education continues to inspire students, colleagues, and community members alike.
Education Team – Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba
Organization
Cynthia Bird, Amanda Simard, and Connie Wyatt-Anderson work in the Education Department at the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba (TRCM) where they aim to strengthen and enhance treaty education in Canada. Together, they develop and design teacher resources like lesson plans, facilitate treaty education workshops, and created a treaty-focused high school course. The TRCM team facilitates professional development opportunities for educators in addition to their annual Summer Institute, where they provide deeper learning on specific aspects of treaty education such as Indigenous storytelling and traditional territories. Amanda, Connie, and Cynthia are tireless in their efforts to educate the public while developing unique and relevant resources for educators in Manitoba and have trained over 8,000 educators.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Awards, please contact us at educatorawards@indspire.ca or visit our FAQ page.
