INTER-AMERICA AWARD

The Inter-America Award was integrated into the Conference of the Americas for International Education (CAIE) in 2012 for the very first time. It has since held symbolic importance for the member organizations as well as for the wider inter-American community of higher education.

This prestigious award is dedicated to celebrating the outstanding achievements of distinguished individuals from the Americas with a well-recognized track-record in support of higher education, the advancement of international collaboration across the continent, and/or their commitment to the establishment of strong cultural and educational ties across nations. This distinction also recognizes the work that these outstanding individuals have carried out for the purpose of improving the wellbeing of the peoples of the Americas.

The Conference of the Americas on International Education (CAIE) is committed to such an important initiative and will continue granting this award at each new edition of its biennial conference.

In keeping with its inter-American spirit we encourage and welcome a diverse representation among the nominations from every corner of the Americas.

INTER-AMERICA AWARD

THE LAUREATES

STACEY MONTOOTH - CAEI 2023

Stacey Montooth, a citizen of the Walker River Paiute Nation, is the Executive Director of the Nevada Indian Commission (NIC). Re-appointed by Governor Joe Lombardo on January 2, 2023, Stacey is starting her fifth year as the liaison between Nevada’s 28 federally recognized Tribal Nations, Bands, Colonies, and 62,000+ Urban Indians who choose to make Nevada their second home. She is a member of Governor Lombardo’s cabinet.

During her time with the State of Nevada, Stacey has been one of the driving forces for several new laws which improve access to a free and equal education for about 4,000 or 1 percent of the statewide student population who identify as American Indian. Native learners from pre-kindergarten to professional students have been impacted by the implementation of required curricula that addresses the history and contemporary lifestyles of the first people of the land; Native American mascots can no longer be used by public schools without mutual consent from nearby Tribal governments; Regalia and items of religious or cultural significance may be worn as student matriculate in public high school graduation ceremonies; and college students from a federally recognized Tribal Nation qualify for a waiver of fees when attending any of the eight Nevada System of Higher Education institutions.

ELICURA CHIHUAILAF - CAEI 2021

Elicura Chihuailaf Nahuelpán es un poeta y escritor mapuche nacido en la Comunidad Quechurehue, ubicada en la comuna de Cunco, Provincia de Cautín – Chile.

Su trayectoria en el ámbito de las letras ha sido un valioso aporte en la aplicación de políticas educacionales bilingües español-mapudungun y en los esfuerzos por afianzar los puentes culturales que den lugar a un diálogo equitativo con los pueblos indígenas. Chihuailaf ha desempeñado el papel de mediador cultural, al ser una de las voces más representativas de su gente, reivindicando el diálogo intercultural por medio de su intensa labor como vínculo lingüístico entre el español y el mapudungun.

BROTHER CARLOS GABRIEL GÓMEZ RESTREPO - CAEI 2019

Brother Carlos Gabriel Gómez Restrepo has received extensive acknowledgement for his work as a professor, researcher and an academic demonstrated in his tireless commitment to transform Colombia through education and peace. This is a cause he is passionate about, so much so that he has even risked his own life to bring about educational opportunities in underdeveloped regions affected by guerilla warfare.

Through Brother Carlos Gabriel Gómez Restrepo’s efforts, particularly those of his Utopia Project, he has not only become a role model in the field of education, but has also managed to bring educational opportunities and new perspectives to Colombian youth most affected by war and violence.

ROBERTA JAMIESON - CAEI 2017

Roberta L. Jamieson has devoted her career to upholding the rights of the First Nations Canada through applying education as a tool for social advancement. Named as one of “Canada’s Most Powerful Women”, Roberta L. Jamieson has always been a pioneering Indigenous woman of great accomplishment. Jamieson was the first Indigenous woman ever to earn a law degree in Canada as well as the first woman to be appointed Ombudsman for Ontario. She was elected as Grand Chief of the Six Nations of the Grand River, was the first non-Parliamentarian member appointed to a House of Commons committee, and was recently promoted to an officer of the Order of Canada – and, on this occasion, again as a pioneering Indigenous Canadian woman, she will be receiving the Inter-American Award.

IGNACIO ELLACURÍA - CAEI 2015

Ignacio Ellacuría, philosopher, researcher, professor, and president of Universidad Centroamericana (UCA)“José Siméon Cañas” from 1979 until his death in 1989. Ellacuría supported higher education and sustained conceptual reflections that are related to the role of the university in improving the welfare and the living conditions of the people of the Americas.

LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA - CAEI 2013

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Ex-President of Brazil, has remarkably contributed to the enhancement of higher education in his country. During his mandate, the number of universities, higher education institutions, and technical schools had increased in an unprecedented way.

CARLOS FUENTES - CAEI 2012

Carlos Fuentes received the prize of the second edition of the CAIE. This renowned writer fought strongly for justice, solidarity, and the creation of development models that rescue both the history and the cultural roots in our hemisphere.