NEWS & EVENTS
Media Release
October 1, 2019
(Markham, Ont.) -- Last Saturday, two female Indigenous students from First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) were awarded scholarships at the 11th Annual Elsie MacGill Northern Lights Gala.
First Peoples’ Aviation Technology – Flight students Doris Ipeelee (Iqaluit, Nunavut) and Zoie Michelin (Nunatsiavut, Newfoundland and Labrador) were recognized as recipients of the Jazz Aviation and Northern Lights co-sponsored Indspire Bursary.
The Northern Lights Aero Foundation aims to be recognized as the pinnacle aviation and aerospace organization that inspires, supports and promotes women in these fields. The awards are named after Canadian aviation pioneer and human rights advocate Elsie Gregory MacGill and the gala recognizes eight women in aviation across the following categories: business, education, engineering, flight operations, government, pioneer and rising star.
FNTI’s dean of aviation, Jo-Anne Tabobandung, expresses heartfelt thanks to Jazz Aviation who supported the attendance of all FNTI female aviation faculty, staff, and students at the gala.
FNTI serves 175 of 667 First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities across Canada, and 102 of 129 in Ontario. The institute welcomes approximately 300 students annually, who range from 18 to 70+ years of age and come from Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Inuit, Métis and Mi’kmaq descent.
Left to right: Brenda Harwood, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Jazz Aviation; Zoie Michelin; Doris Ipeelee; Julie Beverstein, Chief Pilot at Jazz Aviation); and Steve Linthwaite Vice President of Flight Operations at Jazz Aviation.
The First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) is an Indigenous-owned and governed post-secondary institute founded in programming rooted in Indigegogy and Indigenous ways of knowing. FNTI is a registered charitable organization, accredited by the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC), and a member of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan). FNTI has over 3,000 graduates with certificate, diploma and degree credentials issued in partnership with recognized Ontario colleges and universities and will begin the delivery of standalone bachelor’s degrees in 2020 in accordance with the Indigenous Institute Act, 2017.
For more information, please contact:
Jessica Charette
Director of Marketing, Recruitment and Community Partnerships
613.813.6893
