Cousins from Teslin, Yukon heading to Winnipeg after winning award promoting reconciliation

Two cousins from Teslin, Yukon are heading to Winnipeg, Manitoba next month to accept the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation's (NCTR) 'Imagine a Canada' award at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

'Imagine a Canada' is an educational program offered at some schools throughout the Yukon.  The program asks students across the country to envision a reconciled Canada and make something that reflects their vision through artwork, an essay, or a community project that promotes reconciliation.

Grace McLeod, 12, and Dylan Smarch, 11, are members of the Teslin Tlingit Council, and attend the Khàtìnas.àxh Community School. Their drawing titled 'Imagine a Canada where you can be yourself' was chosen for the award.

"Me, and Grace were looking at the human rights contracts," Smarch said. "So me and Grace decided 'let's do where you could be yourself because nobody should be able to tell you what you can or cannot do.'"

In theme of reconciliation, the two thought it was important to reflect and honour those who went to residential schools.

"It's about residential school and the kids who went there," McLeod said. "It's for the kids who couldn't speak their language and went to those schools. Imagine a Canada where every kid could have a family."

This is not the first time the two will be going to Winnipeg to accept this award. McLeod and Smarch also won the award in 2023.

"It feels good," McLeod said.

"It feels pretty awesome," Smarch said. "Don't ever give up on your goals and dreams. There might be rough spots but remember the big goal."

Making their families proud

Smarch's mother, Jari Smarch, said the first time they went to Winnipeg the experience was "pretty overwhelming" for the two but this time will be a little different.

"They know what to expect," Jari said. "They know they've got to go in front of a bunch of people and say their speech and tell them what their story is about. I think they're way more prepared this time."

"You're just overwhelmed with pride when they're up there speaking and telling their story."

Grace's father Phillip McLeod said he and his wife are extremely proud of Grace and Dylan and how they're already becoming role models within the community at such a young age.

"When they first told me Grace had won I thought 'oh yeah okay I'll go to the school and we'll get the award and they're like no you're getting ready to go to Winnipeg, and I'm like what?!'" McLeod explained while chuckling.

"I totally didn't believe it was a Canada wide thing until I started learning about it."

McLeod said he never had the chance to travel across Canada before so to be able to see the country with his family, especially for this reason, is a dream come true for him.

"You know they're creating a trail for the future generations even though they're young," Phillip said."You know they're showing the younger kids in their school that it is achievable if you put your mind to it and your heart to it you can achieve what you want."

The two will be accepting the award on May 23.