Another award for Mohawk athlete

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Alwyn Morris is no stranger to awards. Since his gold-medal

performance in the two-man 1,000 m kayak event at the 1984 Olympic Games

in Los Angeles, Morris has received wide acclaim, both for his athletic

performances and his work off the field

The National Aboriginal Achievement Award for sports was given to

Morris, who lives in Kahnawake, Que., for "both his accomplishments and

the light of his example." Morris believes in the power of example, and

that was very apparent, in his comments after the ceremony in Winnipeg.

"I think the one word to describe this tonight would be 'magnificent,'

he said. "I'd like to keep it to one word, and let your actions speak

for themselves." Actions, have marked Morris's career from the

beginning.

Morris's most famous action probably followed his Olympic win. On the

medal podium, he held aloft an eagle feather, which symbolized for many

Aboriginal Canadians, hope, pride and a sense of accomplishment. The

eagle feather represents honor, friendship and life.

He followed up his gold-medal win with a second medal performance,

winning bronze in the 500 m kayak event. It was the best single Olympic

performance ever for a First Nations athlete from Canada.

After 13 years on the Canadian National Canoeing Team, Morris moved on,

first serving as a role model for the National Native Alcohol and Drug

Abuse Program. The role-model poster which was circulated all over

Canada featured his famous medal pose, and it provided encouragement to

Aboriginal youth to dream, to never give up, and to succeed.

Morris was awarded the prestigious Order of Canada, in 1985 for his

outstanding service and achievement. More recently, he has established

the Alwyn Morris Education and Athletic Foundation, and continues to

coach kayaking, canoeing and hockey for the youth of Kahnawake.

He has also been involved in a large number of athletic organizations,

including the Canada Games Council, the Canadian Sport Council, the

Sports Federation of Canada and the First Nations Sports Secretariat.

He is currently active in the national Aboriginal sport governing body,

The Aboriginal Sports Circle.

During the Meech Lake and Charlottetown constitutional rounds, Morris

was selected by former prime minster Joe Clark to be his special policy

advisor for Aboriginal people and the constitution. He was later

special advisor to the minster of Natural Resources.

Morris was selected for the achievement award from among 12 nominees,

the others being Eugene Archand of Saskatoon; Brent Lloyd Blankned of

Wemindji, Que.; Radford Leo (Peter) King of Thunder Bay, Ont.; Robert

(Shawn) Martin of St Regis, Que.; Lester Mianskum of North Bay, Ont.;

Gino Okjick of Vancouver; Wally Rabbitskin of Mistissini Que.; Fred

Sasakamoose of Shell Lake, Sask.; William Starr of New Hazelton, B.C.;

Colleen Venne of Vancouver and Darren Zack of Garden River, Ont.