Indspire Awards showcase Aboriginal contributions, achievements

Indspire Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Elsie Yanik epitomizes a life of giving and kindness. At age 97, altruism is at the core of her being. “I love people,” she said. “I never look at their colour; I look at their heart.”

Yanik was recognized for her commitment to health, education and Indigenous heritage, exemplified by her service as president of Voice of Native Women of Alberta, 10 years of work with the Young Offenders Board, and her continued work as an Elder with Keyano College. For these contributions to her community, she has received a blessing from Pope John Paul II, a Governor General’s Commemorative Medal and, most recently, an honourary Law Degree from the University of Alberta.

Yanik was one of 14 recipients of the 22nd annual Indspire Awards, the highest honour bestowed upon First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people, celebrated at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary on Feb. 27. Chosen from hundreds of nominations by a jury of past recipients, five of this year’s award recipients are Albertans.

In addition to the crowning award of Lifetime Achievement, the Indspire Awards recognize outstanding individuals for their extraordinary accomplishments, dedication, and excellence in the areas of the arts; business and commerce; culture, heritage and spirituality; education; environment and resources; health; law and justice; politics; public service; sports; and youth.

As founder, president and executive producer of Prairie Dog Film and Television, Ron E. Scott was recognized in the arts. Scott has received numerous awards for his productions, and is well-known for the award-winning television show Blackstone, going into its fifth season this spring.

“It came unexpected to me, and I’m just honoured and humbled to be included in what this means in the community and what it means to non-Native Canada when it’s broadcast on TV,” said Scott.

Scott takes pride in introducing young aspiring actors and producers to the industry and mentoring them.

“What we do on the TV series Blackstone is we aggressively look for production people, who are younger, who want to come on the show and want to learn. We mentor them on set,” he said. “It’s really part of what I like to do to give back to the community.”

Known widely for his work with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Dr. Wilton Littlechild, of the Ermineskin Cree Nation, was recognized in the area of law and justice. In 1976, he became the first Treaty First Nation person to receive a law degree from the University of Alberta.  He was a Member of Parliament from 1988 to 1993 for the riding of Wetaskiwin-Rimby, served on many senior House of Commons’ committees, and was the parliamentary delegate to the United Nations.

“For me I think I can only really thank my grandparents, who raised me to pursue education, because they didn’t have that opportunity, so it was up to me I suppose to take that challenge on, so it’s been really a blessing,” said Littlechild, who is also recognized for his pioneering work in Indigenous rights globally.

For Littlechild, law and sports go hand in hand. He is not only a dedicated athlete, but also a builder of sports, he says. For his sports prowess, he has won more than 70 provincial, regional, national and international championships and was inducted into seven sports Halls of Fame. As a builder, he founded the North American Indigenous Games, the Alberta Indigenous Summer Games, the Western Canada Winter Games and the World Indigenous Games, which will take place for the first time this upcoming September in Brazil.

“Now, we’ve accomplished a sense of what I always thought was possible which was to showcase our athletes – that we can compete with anyone else in the world,” said Littlechild.

The other two Alberta recipients were Brenda La Rose and Gabrielle Fayant. La Rose was recognized in business and commerce for creating her own highly successful employment search firm, Higgins International, specializing in placing Indigenous executives in senior management roles, board, and executive positions in many sectors and industries. Youth recipient Fayant, co-founder of youth led organizations, works with a number of national Aboriginal organizations, including the Canadian Commission of UNESCO’s Youth Advisory Group. As a psychologist, she works to bring traditional healing to bear upon mental health.

Photo caption: Elise Yanik accepts her Lifetime Achievement Award from  Roberta Jamieson, Indspire President & CEO