Two area youth among 14 Ontarians celebrated at Annual Lieutenant Governors’ Legacy Awards Ceremony

Tim Brody - Editor

Two area youths are recipients of the James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Award.
The award is presented annually to Indigenous junior (12 years old and younger) and senior (13 to 18 years old) students for their creative writing talent in three geographic categories: Fly-In Community, On-Reserve and Off-Reserve. 
According to a news release issued by the Government of Ontario, “The recipients are chosen by an independent selection committee of members from Indigenous communities and receive a personalized certificate and a one-time award of $2,500.”
Loveena Nothing of Bearskin Lake First Nation was recognized with the award in the Junior Fly-In category, while Jersey Kakekayash of Weagamow Lake First Nation, was recognized with the award in the Senior Fly-In category.
“Loveena Nothing’s essay on volleyball shows how teammates work together to meet challenges and excel. The essay captures the value of sport in helping young people build confidence and create new friendships,” the provincial government shared in their news release, adding, “Jersey Kakekayash’s poem, “Weagamow’s Embrace,” is born from a deep love of nature. This work artfully expresses the essence of the forest, and how it informs the writer’s place in the world.”
Nothing and Kakekayash were two of 14 Ontarians recognized at the annual Lieutenant Governors’ Legacy Awards Ceremony, which took place at the Art Gallery of Ontario presided over by the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Dumont was joined by Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility, and Jill Dunlop, Minister of Education.
Awards presented during the ceremony were named after four previous Lieutenant Governors —the Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, the Honourable James Bartleman, the Honourable David C. Onley and the Honourable Hilary M. Weston.
“These awards honour the legacies of the four Lieutenant Governors in their work on anti-racism, the arts, accessibility and mental health research,” the provincial government explained.
“I am proud to further the legacy of my predecessors by presenting these awards that bear their name to 14 worthy recipients,” said Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. “Through their creativity, leadership and determination to improve the lives of others, they have made impressive and inspirational contributions to their communities and to our province.”
The 14 recipients recognized at the Lieutenant Governors’ Legacy Awards ceremony were:
Lincoln M. Alexander Award: Established in 1993, the 2024 award recognizes young people who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in eliminating racial discrimination and promoting equity and inclusion.

• Lladaneyah Gayle
  
• Given Messam-Harris
  
• Rukshika Krishnamoorthy
  

James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Award: Established in 2008, the 2024 award recognizes Indigenous youth for their creative writing talent.

• Loveena Nothing
  
• Jersey Kakekayash
  
• Amethyst Richard
  
• Noah Faucher
  
• Michael Taukei
  
• Tatum Naveau
  

David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility: Established in 2014, the award recognizes Ontarians who have gone above and beyond to improve accessibility and the quality of life of people with disabilities.

• John Leadston
  
• Prasanna Ranganathan
  
• Jolie Gan
  

Hilary M. Weston Scholarship: Established in 2002, the 2024 scholarship recognizes graduate-level social work students for their contributions to mental health research.

• Robyn Mahood
  
• Ngaire Rasmussen