b'LEADERSHIP & MOTIVATIONInspirational ROLE MODELSBy Charnel Anderson & Sarah B. HoodCCABs IWIL Award winners illustrate the extraordinar y potential of Indigenous women, empowering others to aim high A s life-givers and caretakers, Indigenous womenThis year marks the first time the award ceremony took place have always held vital roles in their communities.virtually, as a result of restrictions put in place due to the Despite a century of colonial policies that haveCOVID-19 pandemic. It was held during CCABs Business marginalized and discriminated against them, theyRecovery Forum this past Septembera forum that took the have not only persevered but have found a wayform of a virtual conference with a live stage and panel sessions to thrive and become some of the most successful leaders inheld on a digital platform. The uniqueness of an award cele-Canada, be it in business, government or social development. brated in this manner was well received and we were excited to learn that it drew a large audience from across Canada and It is these women that CCAB celebrates with its annualbeyond, says CCAB president and CEO Tabatha Bull.Indigenous Women in Leadership (IWIL) Award. Launched in 2017, the IWIL Award recognizes Indigenous women fromThis years recipient was Dr. Deborah Saucier, president and across the country who have shown exemplary leadership invice-chancellor of Vancouver Island University. She has also their chosen fields. served as president of MacEwan University in Edmonton and as provost and vice president (Academic) at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Oshawa. In her virtual acceptance speech from the Nanaimo Campus of Vancouver Island University, Saucier, who is of Mtis heritage, outlined the important strides made by Indigenous people and the need to remain determined moving forward.Indigenous people have a long history of being resilient and tenacious; this is how we have made as many gains as we have, said Saucier. Although many things (climate change, pandemic, anti-racism protests) are colliding right now, now is not the time to give up. Now is the time to continue to push forwardour ancestors hard work is just around the corner.Saucier is the latest in an illustrious roster of IWIL Award recip-ients. The inaugural award went to former Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould, who today is an independent Member of Parliament for the British Columbia riding of Vancouver-Granville. In 2018, Roberta Jamieson, CEO of Indspire, a charity investing in education for Indigenous youth, received the acco-lade, and in 2019, the award was presented to Nicole Bourque-Bouchier, president and co-owner of the Bouchier Group, an integrated services provider active in the Athabasca oil sands development region. Dr. Deborah Saucier If anything, the pandemic highlights the need for Indigenous President & Vice-Chancellor, women to remain all the more resilient and tenacious. It also Vancouver Island University underscores the need to celebrate role models and shine a 2020 IWIL Award Recipient spotlight on their achievements so they can continue inspiring the next generation, especially during these challenging times. 14A CCAB PUBLICATION2020'