The Honouring Spirit: Indigenous Student Award is sponsored by Keyera and recognizes 12 First Nations, Métis or Inuit students (Kindergarten – Grade 12) who attend a school in Alberta, operated by an ASBA member school board, who model strength and commitment in the pursuit of their personal education paths.

Each recipient is presented with: 

• An award certificate and congratulatory letter;  

• A unique hand-crafted Star Blanket; 

• A one-time scholarship, sponsored by Keyera. 

Honouring Ceremony 

One of the highest honours for many Indigenous communities is to be presented with, and wrapped in, a special blanket. At the guidance of ASBA’s Indigenous Advisory Council members, star blankets are created for each student recipient. Each recipient is presented with an Honouring Spirit certificate containing an individually designed star blanket logo in the language of their family, community or Nation and wrapped in a star blanket made for them. An Honour Song is then rendered to complete the honouring ceremony. 

In total, 12 awards are distributed each year to First Nations, Métis or Inuit students (Kindergarten – Grade 12) who attend a school in Alberta, operated by an ASBA member school board, who model strength and commitment in the pursuit of their personal education paths. 

Award categories are divided into three regions: North, Central and South. In each region, awards are divided into the following grade categories:

• Kindergarten to Grade 3; 

• Grades 4 to 6;

• Grades 7 to 9; and,

• Grades 10 to 12.

Recipients can be nominated by: 

• Teachers

• Principals

• Superintendents

• Trustees

• School staff or liaisons

• Elders and Knowledge Keepers

• Any other member of the education community

2022-2026 SPONSOR 
Thank you to Keyera for sponsoring our 2022-2026 awards. As part of this sponsorship, Keyera provides a one-time $2,500 scholarship to each student recipient to acknowledge their achievements, support their educational journeys and celebrate their incredible potential as leaders of tomorrow who will shape key industries.