Bernice Sayese named Prince Albert Citizen of the Year

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Prince Albert's 2002 Citizen of the Year, Bernice Sayese, has certainly earned the title as the busiest woman in Prince Albert. And she also has the distinction of being one of only a handful of women, as well as the first Aboriginal woman, to win this award.

Known to the youth of Prince Albert as "Mama Bear," Sayese was honored at an awards dinner at the Prince Albert Travelodge on January 24. She was nominated by her daughter Shauna who felt that, because Sayese never blows her own horn, it was time for the City of Prince Albert to blow it for her.

The list of organizations and committees that Sayese is an integral part of is almost as long as the list of people who call her friend. For over a decade, she has been involved with the Play and Learn Daycare, the Prince Albert Hunger Committee, the Saskatchewan Child Nutrition Network, the Won-Ska Cultural School, the Community Networking Coalition, the Metis Fall Festival, the Saskatchewan Police Commission, the Advisory Committee for CTV television's Indigenous Circle, and many other organizations as well.

She has been with the Prince Albert Indian Metis Friendship Centre for more than 12 years, and at the time of this interview was busy putting the finishing touches on this year's edition of what has become one of her signature works, the Voices of the North Aboriginal talent show, held during the Prince Albert Winter Festival which runs from Feb. 8 to 23.

Despite this great catalogue of achievement, Sayese was curious as to why she was chosen as Citizen of the Year.

"It's a very humbling experience," she said. "I immediately thought, 'Why me?' There are other deserving people who have done just as much as I have. I immediately thought of those people behind the scenes who do a lot of work as well," she said.

"I didn't realize the difference in the number of men and women who have won this award. It's good for women to be cast in a positive light, for it shows that women can make a difference in this community. That is something that I've always known within."

The Prince Albert Daily Herald and the Kinsmen Club of Prince Albert have been recognizing outstanding citizens since 1958. This year's awards ceremony featured many leaders in government praising Sayese for her outstanding contributions to society. Honored speakers included Prince Albert Mayor Don Cody, provincial Minister of Industry and Resources Eldon Lautermilch, who is the MLA for Prince Albert Northcote, and Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Senator Eugene Arcand, who himself received the Citizen of the Year Award in 1993.

For Sayese, this award has brought more than public recognition for her works.

"This award is going to give a positive image of the work being done in this community by Aboriginal people. People have been phoning me, saying that they are very proud of having an Aboriginal woman win this prestigious award."

As always, Sayese's final thoughts go out to the youth, not only of Prince Albert, but youth everywhere.

"Please respect all people. That includes family, schoolmates, and other people in the general public that you may interact with. By showing respect, you will gain respect in return," she said.

"Life is a two-way street. The youth in general need to recognize the importance of harmonious relationships between all cultures. If that can be accomplished, the future will see that people can be equal members of society. The spin-off effects can lead to more employment opportunities for the youth. If this ideal can be met, I believe that it will have an impact on the number of youth in conflict with the law. It could mean equal opportunity for all youth, and young people wouldn't have to steal, for they would be making money. That would be nice."