Edmonton, AB, April 14, 2025: A commitment to the arts, culture, community involvement, service to country and community, sports, trades and technology, and justice and human rights are just some of the themes being celebrated as 16 Indigenous women are honoured at the 29th annual Esquao Awards—including this year’s Muriel Stanley Venne Leadership Award recipient Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse, MLA Edmonton-Rutherford, who will be welcomed in to the Circle of Honour. 

The event to honour these change-makers doing extraordinary work in their communities will be held on Friday, June 13, 2025, from noon to 4:00 pm at River Cree Resort and Casino in Enoch, Alberta.

The Esquao Awards recognize the achievements and contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women from across Alberta and raise awareness about the challenges and obstacles they face. Since their inception in 1995, 542 women from close to 100 communities have been honoured in what has become the single largest recognition event for Indigenous women in Canada. 

Each year, some 600 people from across the province and beyond attend the Esquao Awards. Guests include members from all levels of government, Indigenous organizations, Métis and First Nation leaders, businesses, friends, and supporters. Tickets for the Esquao Awards are $110+GST or $990+GST for a table of 10 and are available at eventbrite.ca.

Esquao, the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW), is a non-profit organization that recognizes the role, value, and achievements of Indigenous women in society and raises awareness around the challenges facing them. Esquao offers culturally respectful programming in violence prevention, achieving justice, financial literacy, healthy relationships, housing capacity building, and leadership development for Indigenous women and girls. Founded in 1994 by Muriel Stanley Venne CM, AOE, BA (Hon), the organization strives to empower all Indigenous peoples in the reinforcement and rediscovery of their language, culture, and spiritual practices.

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For more information on Esquao or the 2025 Esquao Awards, please contact 780-264-2951 or 1-877-471-2171.

Esquao is the stylized version of the Cree word for woman.