Lloydminster’s Mike Young is still in shock after receiving the 2024 Okimaw Award for Humility.
The third-annual Okimaw Awards took place at Edmonton City Hall on Nov. 16. The awards celebrate and acknowledge Indigenous men throughout Alberta for contributions in various fields.
Seven disciplines associated with the award include humility, honesty, respect, courage, wisdom, truth, and love.
The Okimaw Award for Humility honoured Young for the work he does to empower others, specifically Indigenous people.
“The award is recognition for making a difference in people’s lives, especially Indigenous people,” said Young on Nov. 19, explaining the word Okimaw means Chief or leader.
“I just want to improve the quality of life of our Indigenous people, and I’m doing that by trying to help them out of that generational rut Indigenous people are in,” he said.
Young explained the work of his company, Empowered Knowledge Working Academy (EWKA), got him on Okimaw’s radar through a nomination process.
“I teach and empower people to work in the oil and gas industry and support them in their new careers,” he said.
“My company trains people, but we also bring any related equipment to the reserve and train people in the comfort of their own homes. We guarantee employment at the end of training. With that employment comes post-employment training that goes indefinitely.”
According to Young, EKWA holds a 72 per cent success rate with the Indigenous people they work with. Post-employment training is something Young sees great value in.
Award meaning for Young
“When it comes to post-employment mentorship, I’ll work around the clock … I’ve even had a guy call me at 2 a.m. He was nervous about starting a new job in the morning and couldn’t sleep. I talked to him for about 45 minutes to provide some comfort,” said Young.
“I talked to him the next day and was told ‘You had taught me everything I need to know about the job, so I was prepared for it.”
In addition to an Okimaw plaque, Young explained he was also gifted an eagle’s feather.
“This award is very meaningful to me, and they gave me an eagle feather,” he said.
“To me, an eagle feather means I’m doing something good in our communities. It means I have to keep doing what I’m doing to lift our people.”
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