By Tyrone Sitting Eagle
Dr. Daphne Mai’Stoina, Superintendent for the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Education Authority, is being recognized for her outstanding hard work through The King Charles III Coronation Medal Program. This program was established by the Government of Canada to commemorate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. Dr. Mai’Stoina, along with 30,000 other outstanding individuals, is being awarded. Among the 474 individuals from Alberta receiving this honor, Dr. Mai’Stoina is one of them, having been nominated by Demetrios Nicolaides, the Minister of Education for Alberta.
Dr. Mai’Stoina, has dedicated 36 years to the field of education, working and collaborating with numerous organizations. Currently, she sits as the Superintendent for the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Education Authority. Here, the KTCEA overseas administration of four Cree First Nations communities in north-central Alberta, from kindergarten to Grade 12. This ensures that nîhiyâwîwin (Cree) is supported by education through Cree Language and Land based learning. Additionally, she has spent numerous years working with O’Chiese First Nation and Siksika and has also worked in British Columbia overseeing their special education. In turn, now, Dr. Mai’Stoina is celebrating her 36th year in education.
Dr. Mai’Stoina’s educational journey began at Old Sun College, fostering her passion, she later then applied to the education program at the University of Calgary. Here she Majored in education and minored in special education. After earning her Bachelor of Education in 1989, Mai’Stoina began working with the Siksika Nation, which had recently taken control of its education system and was in the process of establishing schools throughout the community. At Chief Old Sun, she developed specialized programs for children with exceptional needs and later becoming the Vice Principal.
Dr. Mai’Stoina then furthered her education by attaining her master’s in educational leadership and special education, and then shortly after, became the assistant superintendent for the Siksika Board of Education and eventually became the superintendent with a 23-year period of working with Siksika Nation.
Dr. Mai’stoina has done other work such as teaching as a professor for the Blackfoot Language program at Old Sun College. During that time, she attained her doctorate in educational leadership in 2014.
Alongside the work that she does, Dr. Mai’Stoina was also a part of the Horn Society, captured to be the women for the leader bundle with Chris Mchugh, and Herman Yellow Old Women. This was an exciting time for her as the Akoka’tsin was gone for long time.
In conclusion, Dr. Daphne Mai’Stoina serves as the Superintendent for the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Education Authority. She has achieved numerous accomplishments, demonstrating great dedication and hard work in both educational and cultural fields. Through her efforts, she is paving the way for young aspiring young Blackfoot women
