Aboriginal achievers to be recognized

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Fourteen exceptional people will be honored in Ottawa March 28, as the tenth annual National Aboriginal Achievement Awards are handed out at the National Arts Centre.

This year, two awards will be given out in the arts and culture category, with both Metis fiddler John Arcand and writer Tom King receiving the honor.

Arcand has worked to preserve Metis music from the past, and help promote it among future generations.

King has written four best-selling novels, although he is best known for CBC Radio's Dead Dog Cafe Comedy Hour.

Dr. Judith Bartlett will receive the health services award. A Metis doctor from Manitoba, Bartlett is chairperson of the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO).

The award for business and commerce will be given out to Mel E. Benson, currently a director with Suncor Energy Inc..

John J. Borrows will be receiving the award for law and justice. A member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation, Borrows has taught more than 400 Aboriginal law students, and has helped non-Aboriginal students see law from an Aboriginal perspective.

The award in science and technology goes to Gary Bosgoed, an engineer from Saskatchewan's Peepeekisis First Nation.

Charles Edward Lennie will receive the heritage and spirituality award. Lennie is founder of the Northern Games.

The award for education will be given out to Leroy Little Bear, who counts founding the Native American studies department at the University of Lethbridge among his accomplishment.

Chief Simon Lucas of the Hesquiat First Nation in B.C. will receive the award in the environment category, for his work in the area of fisheries conservation.

St. Mary's Chief Sophie Pierre has been named recipient of the award in the public service category, for her work over more than two decades on behalf of her community.

The award for community development goes to Mary Richard for helping preserve Native languages, establish Native housing, and promote Aboriginal business.

Dr. Jay Wortman has been selected to receive this year's award in the medicine category, in recognition of his work in the fight against AIDS. The youth recipient is Matthew Dunn, a fourth year student in the mechanical engineering program at the University of Saskatchewan.

The lifetime achievement award this year will be given to Robbie Robertson. The musician and singer from Six Nations reserve in Ontario first rose to prominence in the 1960s as a member of The Band. More recently, he has begun to explore his Aboriginal roots in his solo recordings.