National Aboriginal
Achievement Awards
COVER:
Thomas
Prince
Canada's
Forgotten Aboriginal War Hero
NATIONAL ABORIGINAL
ACHIEVMENT AWARDS:
Dr. Freda Ahenakew
Mariano Aupilardjuk
Roman
Bittman
Dr Harold Cardinal
Dr. Lindsay Crowshoe
Tomson Highway
Fred House
Zacharias Kunuk
Richard Nerysoo
Lance Relland
Nicholas Sibbeston
Mary Thomas
Dolly Watts
BUSINESS:
Bankers Call Shots
A bank is calling the
financial shots on one of Manitoba's largest First Nations
CULTURE:
Debate
Rages Over Native Alcoholism
Gwishalaayt
The Spirit
Wraps Around You
EDUCATION:
Agreement Solidifies Ties Between Valley Schools and First Nations
Education Critical to Moving Forward
Education is Failing Aboriginal Students
MODERN TREATIES:
Atlantic
Chiefs Demand Action on Template Agreements
...the
Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs are demanding a meeting
with DFO minister Herb Dhaliwa...
Cash-strapped Tribal Police Winding Down Operations
First Nations communities
in Cape Breton will no longer be policed by their own...
HUMOUR:
Support Your Local Native
OBITUARY:
Chief Simon Baker
POLITICS:
One
Dead Indian
Referendum
Circus Coming Soon to Your Town
20,000 Survivors of Residential Schools to Seek Compensation
Dr. Freda
Ahenakew (Hon.)
"Teach
the children." These three words sum up the message that Freda Ahenakew
has been carrying by word and deed throughout her adult life.
This retired professor of Native Studies is recognized as one of the country's
leaders in the recognition and revitalization of Aboriginal languages
in Canada. Ahenakew learned Cree as a little girl during a childhood spent
on the land in Saskatchewan. She was taught by her grandfather in the
very shadow of residential schools.
Ahenakew went on to become a pioneer in Native language curriculum development
and a much sought-after professor and lecturer at universities across
Western Canada. Her university thesis, 'Cree Language Structures,' has
been reprinted 17 times. Ahenakew helped design Cree language courses
that feature authentic indigenous texts; documented and analyzed Cree
medical terminology; and recorded and documented the life experiences
of elderly Cree women. The list could go on.
Now retired, she has received the Order of Canada and other national,
provincial and local honours. The impact of her life's work is destined
to be felt for decades.
"Perhaps Dr. Ahenakew's most important contribution, which will outlast
all others in the long term, is that she has, nearly single handedly created
a written literature for a language which is increasingly under threat
of extinction," Chief Joe Quewezance of the Saskatoon Tribal Council says.
"By recording, transcribing and translating the stories of the Elders,
Freda has laid the foundation for generations of readers to come."