Indigenous Business Students' Society wins 2021 Canadian Association of Business Students Award
The CABS Awards are presented annually and designed to celebrate the excellence of business students and business student associations. Award recipients are nominated by their peers through general membership and voting for each award is completed by the CABS Leadership Team.
The Edwards Business Students Society (EBSS) nominated an inter-council Edwards club, the Indigenous Business Students Society (IBSS), for their impact in enhancing the undergraduate experience.
When the student group formed its purpose was to show Indigenous students that they have a place in the Edwards School of Business and to give Indigenous students a place to find like-minded students with similar backgrounds on a large campus.
Since the IBSS’s inception in 2018 they have been able to partner, consult and make long-lasting connections by providing support to rural and remote communities.
“The IBSS also does a lot to go beyond their borders and help whoever they can, for example by connecting students with different organizations like FHQ, Nutrien, SIGA, etc. and hosting events that are open to all university and high school students” said Aubrey-Anne Laliberte Pewapisconias, one of the club’s founders.
One of the IBSS’s major contributions involved helping create the EBSS Indigenous Initiatives which was a huge part of their nomination. These initiatives work to create an environment where Indigenous culture and tradition is celebrated, respected and evident.
“The Indigenous Initiatives document was adopted last year by the EBSS, and at the time Edwards was the only business school who had an Indigenous group who was following it. Fortunately, it is now being shared with other schools and hopefully it will be implemented,” said Laliberte Pewapisconias.
Both the IBSS and the EBSS do not collect student fees or receive funding directly from tuition. No additional funding means all the events hosted by these student groups are much harder to put together, when compared to most other Canadian business schools who do receive funding.
Receiving the 2021 CABS Associate and Subsidiary Club Award truly demonstrates just how hard the Indigenous Business Students’ Society is working to enrich the Edwards student experience, especially given their recent inception.
The University of Saskatchewan and Edwards School of Business congratulate the Indigenous Business Students’ Society on this achievement.
More information about the IBSS:
• Currently consists of 24 members but expects to have 30 after recruitment in fall 2021.
• Hosts anywhere from 4-7 events a year, some of which have included:
o Case Competitions
o A Round Dance
o Business Panel
o Galas
o Galas