Indigenous student earns Rotary award

By Maurice Switzer

NORTH BAY – Indigenous student Halley Baker is the 2023 recipient of a $1,000 Rotary Club Indigenous Professional Development Bursary.

“My passion is continuously fuelled by witnessing and experiencing the large disparities Indigenous communities and marginalized individuals face in education, access to support, legal initiatives, and culturally-driven services,” says Halley, who has completed her third year of a four-year Honours degree majoring in Equity, Diversity, and Human Rights at Laurentian University. “This disparity… has not only interrupted the evolution and self-governance of [Indigenous] communities, but has also hindered the ability to heal from the acts of colonialism that the nation feels so deeply.”

Rotary Club of Palgrave president St Iyke Ndubuisi sent the cheque to the Rotary Club of Sudbury where Halley lives and President John Down and District Governor Richard Denton presented the bursary cheque to Halley in a ceremony.

“I am an active volunteer within my community, taking advantage of both in-person and virtual outreach and support,” says Halley, who serves as one of 10 directors for Laurentian University’s Student General Association and as vice-president of Laurentian’s Law Society.

She is one-to-one Peer Mentor for the Ontario Caregiver Association, working with individuals with lived experiences caring for loved ones with mental health, cognitive disabilities, and addiction related diagnoses, and helped establish a sharing circle to support students struggling with family dysfunctionality, community, and belonging.

“My love and passion for giving back runs deep and I will work everyday to improve the lives of marginalized individuals and youth,” says Halley. “It is my belief that, while my change may be small, my impact will be large.”

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, “in our communities, and in ourselves.”

The Rotary Club of North Bay’s primary focus is towards helping children and youth overcome adversity since 1923. Whether it be building handicapped access, mechanical lifts, medical financial assistance, or honouring academic excellence, Group Study Exchanges, scholarships and much more, Rotary is there when required.