Ontario organization honors achievement

Page

Like his father and grandfather before him, Stanley Sarazin of the Algonquins of Golden Lake near Pembroke, Ont. makes birch bark canoes. Now he's teaching his sons the age-old skill.

"My father was my teacher and now I'm passing it down to my sons. It's a tradition but I can't see that it's that remarkable," said Sarazin.

However that's not how the nominating committee of the Union of Ontario Indian's Lifetime Achievement Awards sees it. Sarazin was honored, along side chiefs, veterans, teachers and Elders, as one of 20 recipients of the lifetime achievement awards at a glittering ceremony at Casino Rama at the Mnjikaning First Nation on June 24.

Sarazin makes about three canoes a year and spends many hours in the woods searching for materials, but he doesn't have to search for customers - they come looking for him.

Ron Boissoneau of Ketegaunseebee, who is considered by many to be the father of the concept of First Nation self government, was also a lifetime award recipient.

The high point of his life was the day his people on the remote northern Ontario reserve turned on the taps and "we all had indoor plumbing," he told the crowd of about 800 who attended the award ceremonies.

The low point of his life was when he traveled to England to "reaffirm our treaties with the Queen, but she was too busy to see us."

One of the highlights of the evening was when Ernest H. Bisaillon of Thessalon First Nation arrived on stage to an enthusiastic standing ovation. At 98 years old, Bisaillon was the oldest recipient, and is still active in Native Affairs.

"I'm surprised. I'm not sure what I've done. I want to thank the people who put me here," he said to the cheering crowd.

Anishinabek Nation Grand Chief Vernon Roote said he hoped the awards, established to mark the Union of Ontario Indian's 50th anniversary, would become a regular event.

"We don't do this kind of thing as often as we should. We deal with a lot of internal problems but there's a lot of good work out there that should be recognized like this," he said.

"This is a very proud day for our nation," said Roote. "For many years I have dreamed about this day, where we would have the chance to honor these fine [men and women] in a ceremony that adequately reflects their service to their communities and service to their nation."

Recipients include the late Lorenzo Big Canoe from the Chippewas of Georgina Island. A beloved former chief, Big Canoe served his community in many ways. He was chief for 16 years, as well as band administrator for 15 years. He was also a member of the Indian Advisory Committee of Ontario and the National Advisory Council of Canadian Indians, and one of the founding fathers of the Union of Ontario Indians.

John (Jack) Loukes of Alderville First Nation was also a recipient. With determination, Loukes overcame adversity to become one of the first Aboriginal people in the province to obtain his Grade 13 diploma. From humble beginnings as a schoolteacher in the 1930s, Loukes dedicated his career to education and assisting young students with their educational goals. A First World War veteran, Loukes is considered by many to be a wise Elder and is well respected in the community of Alderville.

The 50th Anniversary and Lifetime Achievement Awards was organized by the Anishinabek Nation Seventh Generation Charities, which was created to provide a fund-raising base for Anishinabek Nation charitable initiatives.

The 1999 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are:

The Late Ben Wawia Sr., Red Rock First Nation

Tim Esquega, Gull Bay First Nation

Louis Kwissia, Pic Mobert First Nation

William Sault, Red Rock First Nation

Ernest H. Bisaillon, Thessalon First Nation

Ron Boissoneau, Ketegaunseebee

Alfred C. Debassige, M'Chigeeng (West Bay) First Nation

The Late Ernest L. Debassige, M'Chigeeng (West Bay) First Nation

The Late Mary Lou Fox-Radulovich, M'Chigeeng (West Bay) First Nation

The Late Ether Deleary

William B. Dolson

The Late James Mason

The ate Omer Peters

Fred Plain, Chippewas of Sarnia

Dorothy Commanda

The Late Sarah Lavalley, Algonquins of Golden Lake

Stanley Sarazin, Algonquins of Golden Lake

John (Jack) Loukes, Alderville First Nation

The Late Lorenzo Big Canoe, Chippewas of Georgina Island

The Late Elsie Knott, Curve Lake First Nation