Weweni Future Scholars Award
The Weweni Future Scholars Award is awarded to an Indigenous University of Winnipeg alumnus/alumna who is entering a PhD program. If the recipient remains in good standing at their institution, this award is renewable once. The award can be held for a maximum of 2 years. The intent of this fund is to help Indigenous students further their knowledge and expertise in their field of study without financial constraints. The award is valued at $12,750.
Ashley Hayward (pictured left) – JMP Peace and Conflict Studies Alumna
Being a two-time recipient of the Weweni Future Scholars Award is a tremendous achievement that I am humbled to receive. This award is given annually to an Indigenous University of Winnipeg alum to help further their knowledge and expertise in their field of study without financial constraints. The heart of the Weweni Future Scholars Award is the financial freedom it provides to recipients to engage in ethical and useful research. Since winning this award, I have been able to undertake research that has led to publications, network at various conferences, and participate in learning from AMUPAKIN, a collective group of Kichwa (Indigenous) midwives based in Ecuador.
My interest in Indigenous health stems from being a Métis mother. I want my children to have better health outcomes than the statistics would predict based on their identity, and I want them to grow up knowing who they are with a strong connection to their culture. I work with a large Indigenous research team on a community-led project created in partnership with the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre of Winnipeg (AHWC) and the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSSM). The project is called Pii m(o) saa yung (She Walks with Me): Supporting Urban Indigenous Expectant Mothers with Culturally-Based Doulas. This project is led by my co-supervisor Dr. Jaime Cidro, Canada Research Chair in Health and Culture, UWinnipeg Professor, and Director of the UWinnipeg Master’s in Indigenous Development Program. This project will be the first Indigenous doula research project that focuses on urban Indigenous women and families in Canada, and it will inform organizations and decision-makers on ways to improve the experiences and health of Indigenous women and families throughout pregnancy, birth, and post-partum.
It is with deep gratitude that I accept this honour and look forward to the future community created by the Weweni Future Scholars Award.
Ashley Hayward epitomizes what the Weweni award. She undertakes her research with careful consideration of her relationships, and integrates different ways of knowing, being and doing into her scholarship. Ashley's work is personal in nature and as a Métis mother of two girls, she wants to ensure that her girls have every opportunity to engage in Métis culture and activities. This type of positionality and research is important because she is not a distant observer, but a community member with a vested interest in ensuring Indigenous women have positive pregnancy and birthing experiences. Congratulations to Ashley on receiving this meaningful award.
Dr. Jaime Cidro (pictured right)
Director, Master’s in Development Practice: Indigenous Development