ANTIGONISH, Nova Scotia – The Coady International Institute today celebrates the graduation of the first cohort in the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership (IWCL) program. The ceremony will be broadcast live over the internet at http://www.coady.stfx.ca/womens-leadership/webcast/.

The goal of the program is to engage the next generation of First Nation, Métis and Inuit leaders and provide them with practical leadership skills and experience so they can promote community development from within. Imperial Oil Foundation and the ExxonMobil Foundation fund the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program. The deadline for applications for the 2012 program is December 16, 2011. Application forms are available at http://coady.stfx.ca/womens-leadership/apply.
 
“Women’s leadership has long been a priority of the Coady Institute,” said Dr. John Gaventa, Institute director. “This new program is a tremendous opportunity to help support the next generation of Canadian Indigenous women leaders, and to highlight the value of community-based leadership.”
 
The curriculum was developed in close consultation with Indigenous women leaders and communities and includes mentorships with established leaders. The Assembly of First Nations passed a resolution at its annual general assembly in July to encourage First Nations across Canada to provide placement opportunities for future participants.
 
“We’re very proud of these young women,” says Sheila Isaac, IWCL program manager. “As the only program of its kind in Canada, we’ve been able to offer opportunities for individual and community growth. They’ve made personal and family sacrifices to complete a program of this duration, which included three-month placements over the summer in communities across the country.”
 
“These committed and capable women are now better equipped to create real, lasting and positive changes within Aboriginal communities across Canada,” said Hart Searle, vice-president, Imperial Oil Foundation. “Imperial and ExxonMobil congratulate the inaugural program graduates and the Coady International Institute on achieving this important milestone.”
 
List of 2011 graduates:
 
Elena Abel, Ottawa, ON; Kristen Auger, Fort St. John, BC; Shawna Boyer, Mississauga First Nation, ON; Tiffany Burns, James Smith Cree Nation, SK; Samantha Elijah, Walpole Island First Nation, ON; Rose Julian, Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation, NS; Helen Knott, Fort St. John, BC; Lauren McComber, Kahnawake, QC; Amanda Meawasige, Eagle Lake First Nation, ON; Karri-Lynn Paul, Woodstock First Nation, NB; Leslie Qammaniq, Pond Inlet, NU; and Vanessa Tait, O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation, MB.
 
List of mentors:

Leena Evic, Iqaluit, NU; Angela James, Yellowknife, NT; Patricia Flett, Fort McMurray, AB; Cecilia Fitzpatrick, Fort MacKay, AB; Marie Delorme, Calgary, AB; and Chief Candice Paul, St. Mary’s First Nation, NB.
  
About Coady International Institute
The Coady International Institute at St. Francis Xavier University specializes in community-based, citizen-driven development education. Since 1959, the Coady Institute has ignited leadership in people who are making a genuine and sustainable difference in the world. Today, more than 5,500 Coady graduates and partners are working in 130 countries helping millions of people in the world’s poorest neighborhoods to build better lives for themselves. For more information, visit http://www.coady.stfx.ca.

About Imperial Oil
Imperial Oil and the Imperial Oil Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Imperial Oil in Canada, have been contributing to Canadian communities for 130 years.  Our goal is to be an active member of the community and to build a life-long learning system in Canada that ranks among the best in the world.  In 2010, Imperial Oil contributed almost $15 million to various programs across Canada. The company emphasizes investment in education of math and sciences, environment, and civic and community programs where we have employees or business operations. Additional information on Imperial's corporate citizenship initiatives is available at http://www.imperialoil.ca.

About ExxonMobil Foundation
ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States.  Globally, the Foundation and ExxonMobil provides funding to improve basic education, promote women as catalysts for development, and combat malaria in developing countries.  In 2010, together with its employees and retirees, Exxon Mobil Corporation, its divisions and affiliates, and ExxonMobil Foundation provided $237 million in contributions worldwide, of which $110 million was dedicated to education.  Additional information on ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contributions programs is available at http://www.exxonmobil.com/community.
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Contacts:

Richard Perry
Coady International Institute
Tel: (902) 867-4933
Mobile: (902) 870-9662
Email: rperry@stfx.ca

Hart Searle
Public and Government Affairs
Imperial Oil Limited
Tel: (403) 237-2710

Karen Matusic
Media Adviser
ExxonMobil
Tel: (972) 444-1108