b'Message from the President & CEODear friends,Never underestimate the power of familiarity. Theres a comfort in familiar rhythms that holds great power andas we saw all too clearly during the COVID-19 pandemicthat can cause equally great chaos when disrupted.As we know from the classroom, students need a firm, dependable, safe place to flourish, explore and expand their skills. Successful teaching and parenting practices are rooted in this consistent approach. I would like to venture that Indspire is such a place. For over 30 years, it has reliably and consistently enabled First Nations, Inuit and Mtis learners toHEAD OFFICEBox 5, Suite 100 pursue their educational dreams and goals, celebrating and propagating50 Generations Drive Indigenous excellence in a variety of ways.Six Nations of the Grand River Ohsweken, Ontario N0A 1M0 Thats why Indspire is pleased to be hosting the National Gathering forFax: 866.433.3159Indigenous Education in Winnipeg for the next three years, creating aTORONTO OFFICE 555 Richmond Street West, Suite 1002 forum for powerful change in a place where Indigenous peoples have comeToronto, Ontario M5V 3B1 together for millennia to create good relationships. Fax: 416.926.7554 indspire.caOf course, familiarity doesntand shouldntgo hand in hand withPublished by:complacency. Indeed, familiarity is often a catalyst for growth and, ultimately, change. We are continually looking at ways to better serve our communities and our people, tailoring our programs with a flexibility thatmediaedgepublishing.comwill ensure they maintain strong roots even as they are able to adapt to the33 South Station Street prevailing winds of cultural, economic and environmental shifts. In this issueToronto, OntarioM9N 2B2 of Indspiration, Kate Espina, Indspires VP of Development, discusses howToll Free: 1-866-480-4717 Indspire has been able to create this growth with the help of a wide varietyrobertt@mediaedge.caof partners and stakeholders. NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF PUBLISHING Maurice LaBordeYoull also hear from Indspire Youth Laureates Adam Gauthier and TracieEDITOR Lost, who share their insights about the factors that support the success ofRoma IhnatowyczNATIONAL SALES EXECUTIVES Indigenous studentsfrom the perspective of Indigenous young people whoBill Biber, Derek de Weerdt,are making education and youth support their own areas of focus.Kristine Dudar, Ashley Huston,Pat JohnstonAnother important voice in the conversation is 2024 Indspire EducationSENIOR DESIGN SPECIALIST Laureate Kanonhsyonne Jan Hill, who shares insights on how shes been ableMarisa GiesbrechtDESIGN SPECIALIST to make the post-secondary landscape a more familiar, more welcomingBethany Giesbrechtplace for hundreds of young Indigenous teachers. PRESIDENT Kevin BrownMaking the classroom a safe, familiar place takes workbut it alsoSENIOR VICE PRESIDENT requires inspiration. Regular contributor Mike Hager, Indspires CommunityRobert ThompsonOutreach Co-ordinator, explores how the stories from Spirit Journeys, theSALES / BRANCH MANAGER 2024 Indspire Awards show, can be used within the classroom to igniteNancie Privcuriosity, fuel imagination, and offer profound lessons on resilience, culturePublished November 2024and connection.Publication MailAgreement #40787580As we share this issue of Indspiration, we invite you to consider the impor- All rights reserved. The contents of this tance of familiarityand to join us in using its power to create a brighterpublication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior future for Indigenous students across Turtle Island. written consent of the association.Chi miigwech, Printed on 10% post-consumerFSC certified paper using soya based inks. When necessary to mail an issue in an Mike DeGagn enclosure, we use an environmentally-President & CEO, Indspire friendly, 100% oxo-degradable poly-wrap.10indspiration2024'