Ace student provides inspiration to Aboriginal leaders.

An honour roll student from northwestern Ontario said education is the key to bringing about transformational change for the next generation of Aboriginal youth.

Erickson Owen, a 17-year-old high school student from Poplar Hill First Nation, delivered his remarks to a gathering of prominent Aboriginal business and political leaders at the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association Canada annual national conference in Montreal, Feb. 17.

His essay earned him an Aboriginal Youth Financial Management Award.

"My parents always taught me that getting your education is the key to having a good life," said Owen, who will be the first member of his family to graduate high school and advance to post-secondary education.

The 17-year-old achieved a perfect 100 per cent in his studies last semester at Pelican Falls First Nations High School, near Sioux Lookout. He attended elementary school at Abe Scatch Memorial School in his Anishinaabe community, 120 kilometres north of Red Lake.

"Education can increase your knowledge and knowledge is power. If every Indigenous person pursued their education we can make a difference ... for our future generations," Owen wrote...