Jeanette Armstrong of the Silks – Okanagan Nation is a visionary educator who has dedicated her life to the culture, language and arts of indigenous peoples. As Founding Director of the En’owkin Centre in Penticton, Jeannette has guided the centre from its beginning as the first Aboriginal accredited creative writing program in Canada to a widely respected interdisciplinary fine arts school with cultural, ecological and leadership programs. Of particular note, is Dr. Armstrong’s promotion and development of traditional language and language teacher training courses at University of Victoria, Nicola Valley Institute and UBC Okanagan. A prolific writer, a visual artist, mentor, professor and leader, Dr. Armstrong is considered one of the great thinkers in the arts and culture of British Columbia.
BC Achievement is an independent foundation established in 2003 that honours excellence and inspires achievement in British Columbia.