In celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the 21st of June, Heritage Winnipeg’s Executive Director, Cindy Tugwell, was honoured by the Southern Chiefs’ Organization and the Province of Manitoba by receiving a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. Tugwell received the award for her efforts in advocating for the protection, conservation, and rehabilitation of the Winnipeg’s built heritage, as well as her dedication to reconciliation through this work.

The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Manitoba) was created to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty’s ascension to the throne. Tugwell was one of the 1,000 Manitobans who were awarded with this medal. Designed specifically for the occasion, the medal itself is suspended on a blue, white, and red ribbon and features the profile of the late Queen Elizabeth II on one side and the official emblem of Manitoba on the other.

Winnipeg is located on Treaty 1 Territory, the original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. It is important that the Indigenous Peoples are recognized alongside the history that has been built on the land. We would like to acknowledge that while the medals are awarded to honour Her Majesty’s service to Canada, efforts and contributions towards reconciliation is the major criteria for one to be bestowed with this commemorative award.