AWARDS
The Barry J. White Memorial Award
Established in honor of Barry White (1950-2011), a member of the Turtle clan of the Seneca Nation who devoted many hours of service to his Native community, Barry White was a Native American Community Services (NACS) board member, on the Seneca Nation Library Board of Trustees, and the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum Board. During his career, he contributed to several initiatives in Seneca language and culture preservation, taught in the American Studies program at the University at Buffalo, and worked for the Center for the Development of Human Services of the S.U.N.Y. Research Foundation at Buffalo State. The Barry White memorial award is presented to an individual selected in recognition of exemplary service to their community, to Indigenous education in higher education. This award is presented in recognition of outstanding contributions of individuals who continually strive for the advancement of Indigenous peoples at the university or college level in New York State.
2025 Barry J. White Memorial Award Winner
Dr. Theresa McCarthy
Dr. Theresa McCarthy, an Onondaga Nation, Beaver Clan citizen of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies at hte University at Buffalo. She authored IN Divided Unity: Haudenosaunee Reclamation at Grand River, which won the 2017 Native American and Indigenous Studies Association's Best First Book Prize. Her work spans community-based research, including an archival project repatriating ethnographic materials from Six Nations and co-producing a documentary on Haudenosaunee land reclamation.
Recognized as Associate Professor/Iakorihonnién:ni of Indigenous Research at Six Nations, Theresa directs Indigenous@UB, a hub for Indigenous research and student engagement. She co-founded the UB Haudenosaunee-Native American Studies Research Group and has championed Haudenosaunee language revitalization efforts at UB.
Currently, she leads projects funded by the Mellon Foundation, including a $3.2-million grant supporting a new Indigenous Studies Department and the establishment of the Haudenosaunee Archive and Resource Collection (HARK). Theresa remains committed to strengthening Indigenous education and language learning while embracing her work and life on Seneca Nation Territory.
The Noreen “Kim” Hill Memorial Staff Award
Established in honor of Noreen “Kim” Hill, a member of the Turtle clan of the Mohawk Nation from Six Nations for her lifetime career and dedication to Native American children, families, and communities. Kim Hill was employed with Native American Community Services (NACS), and served as the Project Director for Indian Education for the Niagara Falls Board of Education for 2 decades. Noreen’s volunteer service included the National and New York State Indian education associations, the Niagara Falls Boys and Girls Club, the Niagara Falls Human Rights Council, and the Indian Defense League of America. She earned multiple awards and honors, including the 2020 Community Leader Award from the National Federation for Just Communities, a 2020 Congressional Award from U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins. The Noreen “Kim” Hill Memorial Staff award is presented in recognition of outstanding contributions of individuals who continually strive to support the needs of Indigenous children, families, and communities in New York State.
2025 Memorial Staff Award Winner
Jessica Forgette
Jessica is an English 9 teacher at Niagara Falls High School in Niagara Falls, NY. She is currently a board member for Friends of The Niagara Turtle and serves on the fundraising committee for NAIEA/NY, which she has been a member of for 2 years. She is a graduate of Buffalo State College with a Master's degree in Literacy Education 5-12 and is currently attending Arizona State University for her second Master's degree in Indigenous Education. Jessica is Cayuga, a Bear Clan of the Six Nations of the Grand River, born and raised in Niagara Falls, NY. She started the Native Heritage Club two years ago at Niagara Falls High School, where both Indigenous and non-Indigenous stduents actively participate in Indigenous activism and cultural learning. She hopes to one day develiop a comprehensive district-wide Indigenous program for Niagara Falls City School District where Indigenous Knowledge is valued and shared through land-based education.
William “Buster” Mitchell Educator of the Year Award
This award was established to honor William Mitchell’s deep, abiding commitment to the field if Indigenous education and the advancement of Native youth and adults. Buster Mitchell, a Mohawk from Akwesasne, was instrumental in the founding of NAIEA/NY. His rich legacy laid the groundwork for this association’s mission, vision, and goals. An elementary teacher for 12 years, Buster Mitchell furthered his education eventually becoming one of the first Native American school principals in New York State. He served as principal at the St. Regis Mohawk School for 18 years, leaving a lasting, positive impact and legacy. The William Buster Mitchel Educator of the Year award is presented in recognition of the outstanding contributions of individuals who have made an enduring impact on the success and well-being of Indigenous peoples pursuing educational advancement in New York State.
2025 Educator of the Year Award Winner
Ryan Ransom
Akwesasne Mohawk
Ryan Ransom, an Akwesasne Mohawk, serves as Assistant Director for the North Country Science & Technology Entry Program and Adjunct Instructor for Mohawk Language and Culture at SUNY Potsdam, and the My Brother's Keeper Indigenous Education Grant Coordinator at Massena Central School District. His work with NCSTEP allows him to help students who want to pursue a career in STEM and licensed professions. Ryan received a B.S. in Biology from St. Lawrence University and an M.S. in Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences from the University at Buffalo/Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Ryan’s educational work in cancer research contributed to several publications: “A Genome-Wide RNAi Screen Identifies FOXO4 as a Metastasis-Suppressor through Counteracting PI3K/AKT Signal Pathway in Prostate Cancer,” “Off-target analysis of RNAi screens identifies microRNA seed sequence contributing to metastatic invasion,” and “Identification of Genes Regulating Breast Cancer Dormancy in 3D Bone Endosteal Niche Cultures.” His focused has now shifted towards integrating Indigenous Knowledge with STEM knowledge which led to co-authoring a recently published paper titled “O’nón:na: A curriculum for Land-Based Language Learning.” He is currently working on a chapter on Indigenous STEM education in a book series on Indigenous education.
Ryan’s experience in the medical research field and science background have proven to be valuable skills in the STEM education field, where he has worked for 12 years. His experience has helped guide students interested in STEM and medical research and provided them with valuable insight, leading them to obtain careers in health care, engineering, and medical research. His work with My Brother’s Keeper lead to the development and implementation of a college mentor program for high school students, summer STEAM and cooking camps, mentor support for Indigenous summer school students, culture-related activities and programming, wooden lacrosse stick and pack basket programs for seniors, and most recently, an MBK Community for Massena Central and induction of their first male junior MBK Fellows.
Ryan has always had a passion for STEM and is now working to integrate indigenous knowledge with STEM curriculum because "Indigenous knowledge is STEM knowledge." He is an active member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) and currently serves as the President for the AISES Lake Erie Professional Chapter and serves on the AISES PK-12 Education Committee. He also co-coordinates the annual NYSED My Brother’s Keeper Indigenous Education College and Career Fair. He swears he has a life outside of work.
NAIEA Teacher of the Year Award
NAIEA established this award to recognize a classroom teacher who has demonstrated excellence in teaching in a P-12 environment, has shown incredible dedication to the teaching profession while creating strong connections to Indigenous communities. Award recipients serve as exemplars among their peers and an inspiration to their students. This award recognizes teachers who have consistently distinguished themselves for understanding the needs of P-12 students, for instilling in students the desire to learn and achieve, for fostering relationships with their colleagues and the Native community, and for demonstrating outstanding leadership. The NAIEA Teacher of the Year award is presented in recognition of these outstanding contributions of individuals who continually strive for the improvement of Indigenous students in a P-12 setting in New York State.
2025 Teacher of the Year Award Winner
Margaret LaFrance
Akwesasne Mohawk
Margaret Kanatiiosta LaFrance is a member of the Wolf Clan of the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne. She is a third generation educator in her family, with her aunt and grandmother both preceding her as educators who also served the Salmon River Central School District.
Her educational journey includes earning a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Ottawa, and a Master's Degree from the State University of New York at Potsdam. She has been proudly serving the Salmon River Central School District as an educator since 2002.