National Aboriginal Achievement Awards recepients for 2010 recognized in special gala
Outstanding aboriginals honoured during achievement awards
By Tim Switzer, Regina Leader - March 27, 2010
Don Worme knows his career choice isn’t going to make him a lot of friends.
But the veteran Saskatchewan-based lawyer would never change the path he chose.
“You don’t make a lot of friends defending heinous crimes, but it is the highest duty of a criminal lawyer, to defend the unpopular cause,” said Worme. “That’s something I take very seriously.”
While Worme has worked his share of criminal cases, he has also been intricately involved in some of the most high-profile inquiries involving First Nations people in recent years, including the Neil Stonechild Inquiry into the freezing death of the Saskatoon teen.
For all the work he has done representing aboriginal issues in the courts, Worme was one of 14 recipients — and the only one from Saskatchewan — of National Aboriginal Achievement Awards during a gala celebration at the Conexus Arts Centre on Friday.
Worme, who was raised on the Kawacatoose First Nation (about 100 kilometres north of Regina), was honoured in the law and justice category of the prestigious awards, which recognize Aboriginal people from all walks of life.
“Guys like us who work in the trenches, we spend our lives just toiling away and we don’t expect recognition,” Worme, who now calls Saskatoon home, said prior to the ceremony.
“The challenge for me was coming to grips with this and coming to understand the importance of what the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation is all about. All of these (recipients) are role models and I guess I’m a role model. One never looks at themselves in that fashion.
“(The foundation) puts these recipients up there for the rest of Canadians to recognize and be able to see there’s great accomplishment among First Nations, Inuit and Metis cultures. We have lots to contribute to this land.”
Over the years, Worme was also involved in the Ipperwash Inquiry that placed blame on the Ontario government and police in the death of protester Dudley George, represented an inmate at the Kingston Prison inquiry where cruel practices were deemed to have been undertaken and represented the family of Stonechild.
More recently, Worme has been the chief counsel for the residential schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission — something the lawyer calls “sacred work.”
“The injustice that is faced by many in our society — and not just first Nations communities — deserves to be responded to,” said Worme. “The sense of social justice I was raised with, that my grandfather instilled ä his view of the world was that if you see wrong, then you must speak out about it. If you can do something about it, beyond speaking, then you must do it.
That is our duty.”
Friday’s recipients included:
Lifetime achievement: William Commanda (Kitigan Zibi First Nation, Que.), a 96-year-old elder who has spent his life promoting racial harmony and intercultural understanding.
Special youth award: Skawenni:io Barnes (Kahnawake, Que.) was collecting books at age 13 for a new library that now bears her name and now sits on several committees while studying political science at Yale.
Technology and trades: Doug Henry (Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Ont.) is the president and founder of Native American Technical Services Company, which employs several members of his community in the industrial sector.
Environment and natural resources: Danny Beaton (Ottawa), an environmentalist who has helped preserve traditional lands in Canada, the U.S. and Brazil.
Public service: Edith Cloutier (Algonquin, Que.) has served as executive director of the Val D’Or Friendship Centre for 20 years and is the first Aboriginal chair of the UQAT board of directors.
Culture, heritage and spirituality: Tom Crane Bear (Siksika First Nation, Alta.) has travelled the world to teach the traditional ways of the Blackfoot and serves as a spiritual leader for several organizations.
Media and communications: Kenneth Atsenhaienton Deer (Kahnawake, Que.) was awarded for his work as publisher of The Eastern Door newspaper and his efforts to curb the loss of Mohawk culture and values.
Health: Madeline Dion Stout (Kehewin First Nation, Alta.) spent years as a First Nations health advocate that have seen her serve the as a member of the National Forum of Health and as vice-chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Education: Raoul J. McKay (St. Eustache, Man.) spent his working life teaching the culture of First Nations before retiring to start First Voice Multimedia Inc., which produces documentaries about the lives of Aboriginal people.
Business and commerce: Ellen Melcosky (Esketemc First Nation, B.C.) founded Little Miss Chief salmon products, which are sold in gourmet food shops across the world and Canada.
Sports: Monica Pinette (Langley, B.C.) won a silver medal in the pentathlon at the 2007 Pan Am Games and was the only Aboriginal athlete at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.
Arts: Kananginak Pootoogook (Cape Dorset, Nu.), who has art hanging in galleries across Canada and who helped found the West Baffin Eskimo co-operative in his hometown.
Health: Eric Robinson (Cross Lake Cree Nation, Man.) is the Deputy Premier and Minister for Aboriginal and Northern Affairs in Manitoba who also helped create the Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission.