Annual awards celebrate outstanding youth

Page 10

The fifth annual SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards were held at Saskatoon's Centennial Auditorium on Oct. 25, once again recognizing and rewarding the outstanding achievements of First Nations and Metis teenagers from across the province. In partnership with the Wicihitowin Foundation, and supported by dozens of corporate and community organizations, the gala event demonstrated the immense talents of Saskatchewan's young people, and their commitment to building a stronger and more prosperous future for all of Saskatchewan's Aboriginal people.

"It's an amazing thing, the abilities of our youth. Too often, we don't really take the time to celebrate our youth, and to really watch their accomplishments," said keynote speaker Buckley Belanger, MLA and Minister of both Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management and Northern Affairs. "You have our confidence, you carry our hopes and dreams with you."

The award for community service led off the ceremony, with Rachel Stonechild of the Muskoday First Nation taking the trophy. Stonechild, 17, attends the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College in Regina. Having graduated high school with a 96 per cent average, Stonechild is now using her impressive intellect not only to succeed academically, but also to help her fellow First Nations people through extensive volunteer work. She recently organized a 30-hour famine for over 200 participants in Regina, and she also helps out regularly for the MS Society, Wascana Rehab, and several other community service groups.

In the education category, 15-year-old Kelly Morin of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation took top honors. Currently in Grade 12 at Reindeer Lake high school in Southend, Morin completed Grade 11 with a 93 per cent average, while still finding time to participate in sports, music and various cultural activities. He is fluent in Cree, and plans to pursue a civil engineering degree after graduating.

The trophy for culture was presented to 15-year-old John Carriere of Cumberland House. A Grade 11 student, Carriere is of Metis descent, and has embraced a traditional outdoor lifestyle through hunting, trapping and sled dog racing. One of his goals is to take part in the Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race.

Krystal Bigsky, a 17-year-old Metis student at Scott Collegiate in Regina, took the trophy for fine arts. An accomplished performer and dancer (she danced for the Prince of Wales on his recent tour of the province), Bigsky is also a talented artist who does paintings and pencil drawings.

The sport category featured the most crowded field of the night, with 14 nominees. Prince Albert's Rose Brass, a competitive swimmer and member of the Special Olympics organization, took the trophy for her performance at this summer's North American Indigenous Games in Winnipeg, where she won 7 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals.

The recreation award was presented to 15-year-old Danna Henderson, a Grade 12 student at Burt Fox school in Fort Qu'Appelle, and member of the Pasqua First Nation. Henderson was a recent recipient of a Prince of Wales scholarship, and she is also very involved in her community, acting as a role model, peer counsellor and volunteer.

Regina's Ashley Norton took home the leadership trophy for her work with the Regina Friendship Centre. Interacting directly with other youth, Norton has developed many innovative and cost effective programs at the centre, and she is also pursuing a bachelor of education degree, with the intention of becoming a Native studies teacher.

Only minutes after wowing the crowd with an outstanding vocal performance, 14-year-old Teagan Littlechief of the White Bear First Nation won the performing arts award. Littlechief began taking voice lessons at the age of six, and has been singing regularly at school and community events ever since.

In the broad category of outstanding achievement, 15-year-old Mika Rai Carriere took the honors. Carriere, a Metis student at Deschambault community school, seaks fluent Cree, English and French. She is actively involved in many aspects of her community, and has already won numerous awards in sport, culture and recreation, providing an excellent example for her peers.

The final presentation of the night was the Spirit Award, a new category introduced for this year's ceremony. As explained by Joan Beatty, SaskTel chairperson for the event, the award is meant "to recognize youth who have shown strength, determination and perseverance, despite the difficulties they have faced in life." The deserving recipients were the organizers of the E-Gadz Youth Centre's Day of Mourning initiative. Through the efforts of six young Aboriginal women who personally experienced the lifestyle they now fight against, August 14 has been recognized across the province as an official day of mourning and remembrance for all the young people who have lost their lives through the sex trade.

As tangible tokens of respect and admiration, this year's winners received white buffalo trophies designed by sculptor Arthur Jack, as well as bursaries of $200. Much more valuable, though, were the intangible benefits shared by all winners and nominees-the honor of recognition, the obvious support given them by their peers and Elders, and the knowledge that through their efforts, the future of Saskatchewan's Aboriginal community will be in good hands.