The awards were founded in 1994 to combat negative images of Indigenous youth and to celebrate their achievements. “We are so proud of the number of nominations received for the various categories and wish that we can provide awards to all of them. There are so many young people that are doing amazing work in our community, and this is one of many opportunities to continue to encourage them to continue their education and career paths.” says MIYAA Co-Chair Helen Robinson-Settee. “The community will come together to celebrate Indigenous youth and as they share their messages of hope and resilience, to inspire us all to be better community members.” says Darlene Daniels, MIYAA Co-Chair. MIYAAs are presented to 20 outstanding Indigenous youth between the ages of 16 and 24 excelling in a variety of categories from cultural to academic. The recipients are chosen by a committee of Indigenous peers from the community. Since their inception, the MIYAAs have given out 426 awards, thousands of dollars in scholarships through the generosity of many sponsors and reached over 2000 attendees annually.

- MIYAA PRESS RELEASE, 2025