Nominees sought for Calgary Award

The posters are up and the local newspaper ads have already run, calling for nominations for this year's Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award. The annual award, presented on Chief David Crowchild Day during Calgary Native Awareness Week every May, honors the qualities and work of the late Tsuu T'ina chief.

"It is an award that tries to amplify the man and what he did with Native and non-Native people," said Allen Giroux, chairman of the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee.

During his lifetime, Crowchild worked to build bridges between the Native and Non-Native communities as well as to promote Native culture and life.

The award, which is open to Native and Non-Native individuals and organizations, was initiated in 1985 by the committee's predecessor, the Native Urban Affairs Committee.

Besides receiving a bronze plague during a special ceremony on David Crowchild Day, recipients also have their names carved into a special memorial beam in the foyer of Aboriginal Opportunities Calgary's municipal building.

Last year's recipient was humanitarian, singer and actor Tom Jackson, who stars on CBC's North of Sixty, filmed in Bragg Creek, west of Calgary. Other award recipients include the Calgary Indian Friendship Centre and the Aboriginal opportunities committee of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

"[Nominees] don't have to super-models," said Giroux, referring to the national stature of Jackson. Nominees will be judged for their unique contribution, he added. "They say the mark of a great leader is one who walks as fast as the slowest person in his or her band."

Whatever their contribution, all nominees, however, need to model the three values of the respected Tsuu T'ina chief:

? building bridges of understanding between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal cultures

? promoting Aboriginal culture

? supporting Aboriginal people in education, employment and training.

All nominees also must be Calgary area residents.

For more information about the Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award, please contact the City of Calgary at 268-5181.