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Belinda Daniels

Eyes on the prize

A University of Saskatchewan alumna and sessional lecturer has been shortlisted for one of the world's top honours in the field of education.

Belinda Daniels (BEd'98, MEduc'05), a teacher of Cree and Indigenous Studies at Mount Royal Collegiate and a PhD student in the U of S interdisciplinary studies program, is included in the top 50 for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize. The final ten candidates will be announced in February, and the winner chosen in March at a special ceremony in Dubai.

The only Canadian to make the short list, Daniels is an Indigenous professional who has demonstrated outstanding career achievement, serving as a role model for her public school students, her educational colleagues and all Indigenous peoples.

In the classroom, Daniels believes in the strong connection between language and identity, and seeks to create pride and self-esteem in her Cree students by teaching their history, traditional knowledge of the land, and proficiency in their language and texts. She is also the founder of Nehiyawak Language Camps, a land-based language and culture camp to create experiential learning and teaching opportunities centered in Indigenous ways of knowing and being.

See more at Global Saskatoon.
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