Pounamu Taonga Award

The Pounamu Taonga (Greenstone Treasure) Award was established by our friend and colleague Dr. Graham Smith from the Maori University, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. The purpose of this annual award is to recognize an Aboriginal (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) or Indigenous student who is graduating from UNBC, for their academic achievements, their university service and their community involvement. All Aboriginal and/or Indigenous students at UNBC who have completed their requirements for graduation are eligible. Graduate students will be given priority, but undergraduate students are eligible for nomination.

All UNBC Faculty and Staff are eligible to nominate a student for this award.*
The deadline for nominations will be May 10, 2024.
The Department of First Nations Studies faculty and the full time staff of the First Nations Centre, as well as at least one Regional Manager and the CEO of WWN, will comprise the committee that decides the successful nominee.*
The Pounamu Taonga Award is handed out at the annual First Nations Centre Graduation Ceremony.

*In order to avoid the potential for, or the impression of, a conflict of interest, faculty and staff who are full time students at UNBC are not eligible to either nominate or participate in the adjudication of this award.