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Congratulations to first-year Schulich Law student Neylan Stevens, one of four recipients of the 2024 Nikanus Red Dress Leadership Award presented last month by the Genevieve Francis Memorial Fund.

This prestigious award recognizes Indigenous women and girls in Atlantic Canada who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in sport, culture, and community, providing a monetary prize to be used towards their education.

“I am thrilled to receive this award,” says Stevens, a member of Schulich Law’s Indigenous Blacks and Mi’kmaq Initiative. “This scholarship will support me in my first year of law school and help me on my path to becoming a future Mi’kmaw lawyer.”

The Nikanus Red Dress Leadership Award, named after the Mi’kmaq word for youth ambassador, was established as part of the legacy of the 2023 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), hosted in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) and its surrounding areas. The award celebrates the crucial role of sport and culture in shaping leadership, identity, and connections among Indigenous youth.

A former NAIG athlete herself, competing in swimming in 2017, Stevens has also been dancing since the age of two and credits both sport and dance for providing her countless opportunities to engage with, represent, and give back to her community.

“Leadership, to me, means inspiring and empowering others while staying grounded in my Mi’kmaq values,” she shares. “This award will help me to continue to lead by example, paving the way to inspire Indigenous youth to reach their goals and create meaningful change for future generations.”

Raised in Eskasoni First Nation on Cape Breton Island, she is deeply committed to using her education to uplift her Mi’kmaw community and to preserve and protect her culture and land. Her future aspirations include returning home to open a family law clinic one day.

"I am incredibly grateful for the support and opportunities my community has provided me,” says Stevens. “I’ve always wanted to use my career to help people, and I’m eager to eventually be able to give back, using my legal knowledge and expertise to create positive change."