Ayisi impressed the panel of judges, consisting of Regina community leaders, who awarded Ayisi the first place prize of $1,500 and a trip to the Western Regional competition in Winnipeg where Ayisi will compete against graduate students from 23 other universities.
Three Minute Thesis is an internationally recognized competition for thesis-based graduate students that challenges participants to present their research and its impact concisely and creatively to appeal to a non-academic audience.
"It's a great exercise in communication to help graduate students build their presentation skills," said Benjamin Freitag, Manager of Graduate Engagement and Special Projects with the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research."We have piles of training for these students throughout the entire process to help build their presentations and apply skillsets that will not only help them in this competition, but future presentations as well."
Ayisi's research is focused on the development and implementation of Cowessess First Nation's historic Miyo Pimatisowan Act. The act was passed under Bill C-92, which empowers Indigenous communities to reclaim jurisdiction over their child welfare.
"The message of Indigenous children in child welfare is an important one for people to not only listen to what I have to say, but to go and read about it for themselves and find what they can do to ensure that we don't send the next generation of Indigenous children to child welfare," said Ayisi.
To learn more about the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, visit their website.