The spirit of awards show alive and well

The 16th annual National Aboriginal Achievement Awards (NAAA) gala took place on March 6 at the Centennial Concert Hall in downtown Winnipeg and this year's theme was "spirit."
Both the Cree and Ojibway people of the Winnipeg area use that to describe Manitoba. The Ojibway refer to Manitoba as Manitou­the embodiment of spirit. The Cree say Manitou Ah Beh­where the spirit lives.
The awards night was hosted by Aboriginal television and movie stars Adam Beach and Tina Keeper, and had a wide array of other guests, including local favorite Eagle and Hawk.
"Well, it was just an incredible evening of performance, of celebration, of just wonderful, positive energy and electricity," said Roberta Jamieson, president and chief executive officer of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation.
Jamieson said one of her favorite parts of this year's awards show was that she got to present the lifetime achievement award to the Reverend Stan Cuthand.
"His story is one of perseverance and just wonderful generosity of heart and spirit."
"This is a man who took up post-secondary education at a time when the residential school system was going full throttle and its aim was, of course, to assimilate our people; and Stan Cuthand turned that intent of education right around and really found a way of making it a tool to extend culture and language of the Cree people and became quite a bridge of both culture. So that story for me was particularly compelling," she said.
What Jamieson also found compelling about Cuthand was that even at his age, he shows no signs of slowing down.
"I called him and told him the news and asked him if he would be willing to accept it and I said 'How should I stay in touch with you, Reverend Cuthand?' You know, he's 90 years old, and he said 'Send me an email,'"laughed Jamieson.
"He's so well versed and he's so full of energy and at the awards venue it was just such a delight to have him."
Jamieson also made note of their special youth award recipient as she has quite of story of her own.
"From 90 years to 17, I think Chelsea Lavallée is the youngest youth recipient we've had. So it's an amazing span."
Lavallée, an avid volunteer, is a Grade 12 student who has been described as a master of the Red River jig, and also dabbles in square dancing as part of the St. Ambroise Youth Steppers Square Dance Team. Lavalee uses dance as a means of cultural promotion.
No stranger to accolades, Lavallée won the Métis Miss Teen Manitoba in 2005, the National Métis Youth Role Model Award in 2006, the National Aboriginal Role Model Award for 06/07, and the 2007 Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award.
The awards show aired on APTN and Global on March 21, and Jamieson was thrilled to have the national exposure continue for great Aboriginal people and their stories.
"We know that generations of our people have made incredible contributions to Canada and really this exposure on Global and APTN allows us to bring those stories into the living rooms of all Canadians," said Jamieson.
She said it was a nice change of pace from the consistent negative stories that bombard the pubic.
"We all see page one, page two and know that sad circumstances abound in the media and it's just wonderful to be able to share the rest of the story, which is overwhelmingly positive. Break some stereotypes."
Plans are already being kicked around for next year's awards, Jamieson said, but "for the moment we're going to savor this success and enjoy the broadcast and begin once again in earnest for next year's show."
The 2009 National Aboriginal Achievement Award Recipients are:

The Rev. Stan Cuthand -
Lifetime

Chelsea Lavallée -
Special Youth Award

Melanie Jackson and
Dennis Jackson -
Arts (shared)
Allan C. McLeod -
Business & Commerce

Stephen J. Augustine -
Culture, Heritage & Spirituality

Cecil King -
Education

Gordon W. Prest -
Environment and Natural
Resources

Candace Grier-Lowe -
Health

Delia Opekokew -
Law & Justice

Carol Morin -
Media & Communication

Paul Okalik -
Politics

Joan Glode -
Public Service

Adam Sioui -
Sports

Mervin J. Dewasha -
Technology & Trades