Congratulations to Amber Frick on winning the 2021 History and Classics Truth and Reconciliation Committee's Indigenous Essay Prize!

Future educator Amber Frick has a passion to teach children the histories and significance of Indigenous peoples in what is now known as Canada in a truthful, respectful, and meaningful manner. Currently in her final year of a combined elementary education and Native Studies degree, Frick completed an exceptional final essay in Dr. Sarah Carter's Native Studies 404 course - Expert Witness Claims Work, proving she is well on her way to that goal.

The essay, Pasqua First Nation Economic Entitlements Final Report, has been awarded the 2021 History and Classics Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s Indigenous Essay Prize for the best undergraduate paper about Indigenous histories in Canada. Frick’s essay is an in-depth examination of Treaty Four negotiations, agreements, and outcomes, and draws on extensive primary source research including Indian Affairs’ records and federal government Sessional Papers. Frick painstakingly traces the promises and practices of Treaty Four exposing the federal government’s consistent failure to uphold its promises outlined in the treaty, and ultimately suggests the government viewed Treaty 4 as a way to seize and secure Indigenous lands for their nation building project. The selection committee was impressed with the depth of Frick’s research, her ability to centre Indigenous voices in the historical record, and the originality of her work. Frick attributes some of her success to her dual training, explaining that taking Native Studies alongside education has been such an informative experience and has taught me so much.

 This prize is given annually and comes with $1000 from funds raised by the student-led History and Classics Truth and Reconciliation Commission Committee, and the successful paper is also published in Constellations undergraduate journal.

Congratulations, Amber!