Myles Little
Education
Academic/Scholastic Achievement
MALE

Myles Little is from the Ahtahkakoop First Nation. He is 14 years old and is currently enrolled in grade eight at the Ahtahkakoop School. Myles is an honor student and maintains a 100% attendance record. Myles not only excels in his academic performance, he has shown exceptional skills in hockey and was named assistant Captain of his bantam hockey team. Myles has also received his gun safety certificate this year. He is environmentally conscious and participates in school and community clean ups. His peers consider Myles a role model.

Desiree Haineault
Education
Academic/Scholastic Achievement
Female

Desiree is from the Clearwater River Dene Nation. She 16 years old and is a grade eleven Student currently enrolled at the Clearwater Rive Dene School. She is an “A” student, maintaining a 94% average and an impeccable attendance record. Desiree is fluent in Dene and has learned other areas of her culture including trapping, fishing, and square dancing, as well as sports and drama. Desiree has won numerous awards including the Ruby Haineault award for work effort, and the Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Excellence Desiree continuously sets goals for herself and then strives to accomplish them. She plans to pursue a career in Engineering, Business or Marketing.

Lena Young
Education
Teacher/Instructor/Para-Professionals

Lena Young is currently a grade ten high school teacher at Wacihk Education Complex on the Shoal Lake First Nation. She has been a teacher for 17 years and has taught every grade from Grade one to Junior High. With a family of eight children, she went back to University to successfully obtain her Education degree. Lena is also involved with the PAGC Fine Arts Festival, graduation committee, cultural activities weekend and student volunteer program, just to name a few. Lena is well respected in the community and has been a role model to people interested in the field of education.

Melba Desjerlais
Education
Support Staff/Administrator

Melba Desjarlais is the Education Coordinator for Fishing Lake First Nation. With 20 years experience, Melba has shown her commitment, leadership and dedication to education. Melba is also a Trustee on the Wadena Board of Education and has always focused on the well being of the whole child including the importance of First Nation culture. Melba’s interest in and promotion of education has a great effect on the decisions of many family and community members to continue into a higher education.

Shannon Gatrell
Education
Post Secondary

Shannon Gatrell is from the Ochapowace First Nation. Shannon is currently enrolled in the Pacific University of Oregon, USA and is working towards her Doctor of Optometry degree. She has completed a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Chemistry. Shannon has received numerous awards to advance her studies including an Aboriginal health careers Bursary and Scholarship, Denny Scholarship, and a Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists award. Shannon has made the choice to live an alcohol and drug- free lifestyle in order to make a clear path to her success.

Beardy’s Girls Hockey Team
Sports, Culture, Youth & Recreation
Team

The Beardy’s Girl’s Hockey Team is comprised of First Nation youth from Beardy’s First Nation, Mistawawsis First Nations, White Cap Dakota First Nation and Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. The Team plays in the Sask. Valley Minor Hockey League and has players under the age of 10 years old. Over the course of the last season, the team has seen a major improvement. Each player established themselves in their positions and began to react together as a team. Many times the team has lost a game by one or two goals but have never given up and always come back to learn more and make improvement. The Beardy’s Girls Hockey Team can provide a valuable lesson in true sportsmanship.

Krista Mae Gardypie
Sports, Culture, Youth & Recreation
Amateur Athlete

Krista Gardypie is from the Beardy’s First Nation. She has been involved in sports for several years and has excelled in all sports but her strength seems to be with soccer. Since 1996, Krista has been winning awards in sports including a Gold Medals at the Indian Summer Games, Indian Winter Games, and the Saskatoon Soccer League. Krista plays the position of Center forward and has been named top scorer on many occasions.

Walter Assoon
Sports, Culture, Youth & Recreation
Coach

Walter Assoon is from the Kawakatoose First Nation. Over the course of his life Walter has always been involved with coaching in his community. He has and still does coach various school teams and community sport teams. He has a passion for planning various functions for youth that will help them become future leaders. To all the youth he has helped nurture and coached, he is a role model. Walter maintains a healthy and traditional lifestyle.

Mel Mecredi
Sports, Culture, Youth & Recreation
Founder/Builder

Mel Mecredi is a member of the Black Lake First Nation. He is currently the Director of Sports, Culture and Recreation at the Prince Albert Grand Council. He was the 2004 Saskatchewan First Nations Winter Games Manger with the Eastern Sector First Nations. Mel is a Certified coach, facilitator, swimming, basketball and volley official and coaches Basketball. Mel works hard to connect and work with the youth and makes sure to reaches out to youth who live in an urban setting.

Melinda Whitecloud
Standing Buffalo First Nation
Sports, Culture, Youth & Recreation
Founder/Builder

Melinda is the 2003 Award winner in this category and deserves Honourable Mention for her leadership and kindness toward all First Nation youth. She is a teacher/native liaison worker at Archbishop M.C. O’Neil High School. She created the Aboriginal Leadership Team at the high school, which was developed from a native perspective, and in the beginning only had six members but has grown to over eighty. The program assists native youth develop skills for the future, and increases their awareness on issues from within the Aboriginal community. She is not only teacher but is considered a friend by many of her students.

Brunella Whitehawk
Sports, Culture, Youth & Recreation
Volunteer

Brunella Whitehawk is a member of the Cote Saulteaux Nation. Brunella is active in providing coaching to youth in various sporting events such as Broomball, fastball, softball, baseball and hockey. She has natural coaching abilities and when she needs to learn more about a sport she will enroll in training, often at her expense. Brunella has coach a provincial champion Fastball team and a just this year coached a major hockey league Novice Champion team. Brunella is more than a coach, she sews team uniforms and drives and chaperones for various teams. She also teaches square dancing and does cooking for organizations to raise money for the children’s dancing shoes. It is agreed by her community, she is very good with the youth and is an inspiration to many.

Tony Sparvier
Sports, Culture, Youth & Recreation
Youth Role Model

Tony Sparvier is from the Ochapowace First Nation. He is in his third year in the faculty of Engineering at the University of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan. Tony graduated from Whitewood High School with a 94 % average and has continued to maintain high marks in his post secondary endeavors. Tony is also involved with sports including fastball and hockey. He attended the Canadian Junior Fastball championships as a member of the only First Nations team to represent Saskatchewan. He was also a member of the winning team at the Western Canadian Junior B Hockey Championships for 2004. Tony is a well-respected member of his community and a role model to the youth.

James Sand
Art/Culture/Music

James Sand is from the Cowessess First Nation. He is only 15 years old but has already shown an advanced talent in Art. He is very disciplined in his work and practices every day. James interest in drawing and art makes him an excellent role model for other students at the Cowessess Community Educational Centre.

Laurie Peyachew
Health
Healing and Policy Initiative
Individual

Laurie is currently the Home Care Nursing Supervisor for the BTC Indian Health Services. Through her career in health care Laurie as served as a role model for success, dedication and love of the people she serves. Laurie’s natural leadership skills lend her to lead and build the confidence and capacity in her colleagues. She currently oversees a team of 17 home care staff and is essential to the success and development of the BTC Home Care Program.

Wahpeton Dakota Nation
Health
Healing and Policy Initiative
Community

With support from the Stephanie Bird, Health Director and Beverly Waditaka, Education Coordinator, the students and staff of Wahpeton School and members of the Wahpeton community. They have demonstrated exemplary efforts and commitment to the PAGC Health and Social Development Tobacco Control Initiative “Youth in the Know: Get the Facts – Make the Choice”. The students and staff clearly displayed knowledge about tobacco use in their school and community. The Wahpeton Dakota Nation deserves recognition in making their community a healthier place to live.

Eddie Jack Ballantyne
Health
Youth/Adolescent Tobacco Control Initiative

Eddie is a member of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation who lives and attends school at Little Red. During the PAGC youth tobacco workshops, “Youth in the Know: Get the Facts – Make the Choice”, Eddie demonstrated leadership, integrity and a professed personal commitment to abstaining from tobacco, drug and alcohol use. Eddie exemplifies strong character traits and personal commitment to a healthy lifestyle that are integral to the Youth /Adolescent Tobacco Control Initiative and is deserving of this award.

Cameron Watson
Chacachas First Nation
Health & Social Development
Youth/Adolescent Tobacco Control Initiative

Cameron is the 2003 Award winner in this category and deserves Honourable Mention for courageous feat. He is current Spokesperson of the Chacachas First Nation. Former Chief of the Ochapowace First Nation. Chief Watson has a strong interest in promoting First Nations issues, especially education and has encouraged many First Nations youth to complete their education. Chief Watson developed and put forward a controversial resolution in February 2003 to band smoking at all Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Chiefs Assemblies and meetings. With this new policy the FSIN members and staff now have the benefit of a safe and healthy environment to work in.

Dion Tawpisim
Health
Child/Youth Leadership (8-18)

Dion is from the Muskeg First Nation. He is a strong advocate against Drinking and Driving. Before his accident, he was a good athlete, loved to play lots of sports – baseball, football, badminton and hockey. He loved to play hockey, he played in Marcelin, Shellbrook and Notre Dame. He was scouted by the Prince Albert Raiders but due to injuries could not make the camp. He was invited to the Saskatoon Blades but did not make it due to a tragic accident in May 1991 that left him in a coma for 1 ½ years and in now confined to a wheelchair. With the encouragement from family and friends: Dion continues to be a strong advocate of Drinking and Driving. He is truly a determined, courageous individual and is deserving of this award.

Wesley Paul McKay
Health
Adult Leadership (19-59)

Wes is from the Muscowpetung FN. He is employed by the Human Resources Development Canada processing Employment insurance applications. He started as student November 2001.Wes is very instrumental in the unit he works in to meet the national program target. Wesley has shown exceptional leadership skills and excellent work ethics when needed and often takes on additional work when he is finished his own workload. Wes does not let his disability interfere with his goals and is determined to achieve them. He is truly deserving of the Adult Leadership Award.

Agnes Cyr
Health
Elder (60 & OVER)

Agnes is from the Pasqua First Nation and is 91 years old. She has been a widow for about twenty years. She was a caregiver to her husband when he was alive, and also a caregiver to her mother who was blind. Agnes worked at the Fort Qu’Appelle Indian Hospital for a number of years. Agnes has been the Elder for the Saskatchewan First Nations Network on Disabilities since 1992. She has never missed a meeting of the SFNND. Her means of transportation is that she’ll never refuse a ride from a good-looking Indian man. Agnes’s lifetime of commitment to her family and community has made a positive difference for generations of First Nations people.

Lyle Whitefish
Economic Development
Agency Chiefs Tribal Council Tribal Rep
Housing Innovative Award

Lyle and staff at the ACTC were instrumental in a taking an aggressive approach to dealing with critical issues surrounding First Nations housing. As a result, an innovative design for homes was established that addressed both the short term and long term maintenance issues that have a been a problem in the past. His intellectual abilities and determination has ensured that the community members have a safe environment to live in.

Cowessess Gas & Grocery II
Economic Development
First Nations Business

The Cowessess First Nation is a member of the Treaty 4 territory. Through aggressiveness of its leadership the Cowessess First Nations negotiated its Treaty Land Entitlement Claim and signed its settlement agreement in 1996 receiving $46.6 million. Cowessess FN has approximately 102,000 acres of land with a current population of approximately 3087, with 508 on-reserve and 2579 living off-reserve. Since then the Cowessess First Nation has entered various economic and community development initiatives. Their business ventures are Last Oak Golf & Country Club, The Marieval Enterprise Centre, Cowessess Sports Grounds and the Cowessess Shopping Mall which houses a Laundromat, Post Office, Restaurant, CIBC Bank and the Cowessess Gas & Grocery I, and finally their most recent venture the Cowessess Gas & Grocery II located on Highway #33, southeast of Regina. This initiative enforces that Cowessess First Nation leadership and its membership in taking a lead role in bridging the gap between on and off reserve membership by creating employment and providing a service accessible to all First Nations.

Prince Albert Development Corporation (PADC)
Economic Development
First Nation Business

PADC has purchased the First Nations Hospitality (Super 8’s) & Best Western Hotels in Saskatoon. They are known for their excellence business development promoting a wealth creation; ownership; and job creation. Participation in F.N’s Partnerships; and making investments outside of PAGC geographic area is PADC main focus. With pooling of resources & investments resulted in the promotion of employment opportunities for the benefit of all First Nations.

Daryl Angus
Justice
First Nation Justice Initiative
Individual

Daryl is a Thunderchild FN member. He is the Community Justice Coordinator for his band. Daryl possesses excellent communication skills and uses these every day in his work with individual clients, the community and interagency partners. Daryl is highly respected by outside agencies and is an excellent liaison, ambassador and relationship builder with the neighbouring communities. He is truly a strong role model and is very deserving of this award.

Moosomin Justice Department
Justice
First Nation Justice Initiative
Community

The Moosomin Justice Department is located on the Moosomin First Nation. Started in 1998, the department was developed in response to band members’ concerns about justice issues facing the community. The Department helps develop sentencing circles, mediation processes, and addresses youth issues. The Moosomin Justice department in co-operation with the Kanaweyimik Child and family Services Inc. has hired a full time youth worker to keep the youth active in sports, crafts and cultural situations including interacting with Elders in ceremonies and Talking Circles. The Justice Committee in charge of the Moosomin Justice Department consists of six band councilors and includes various volunteers who work endlessly to maintain justice in the community.

Chief Norman Whitehawk
Indian Government
Citizen of the Year

Norman is in his second term as Chief of Cote Saulteaux Nation. Norman is a very compassionate and caring man. His great understanding of spirituality is an important asset for work in the Cote Saulteaux Nation. He was instrumental in negotiations in building the new Cote Saulteaux Health Clinic which opened on June 3, 2004. He also assisted in the negotiations and built the Cote Rec-Plex. With his diverse education and experience, he has proven to be a true leader in his community.

Chief Louis Taypotat
Indian Government
Life Time Achievement

Born on the Kahkewistahaw First Nation, throughout his storied career, Louis has made many significant contributions to the betterment of his people and the First Nations of Saskatchewan. He is a great promoter of the Prairie Indian Rodeo Association. Chief Taypotat led the charge in pursuit of land claims with the Federal government and started negotiations for land that was taken from his people 1907. His perseverance led to a negotiated settlement providing Kahkewistahaw with close to 95 million in compensation. His leadership, vision, strength of character, loving kindness and integrity are a solid foundation upon which great nations are built. He is truly an advocator promoting the rights of First Nations people in Saskatchewan.

Late Charles (Aschapoy) Fiddler
May 30, 1953 – April 1, 2004 – In Loving Memory
Indian Government
Posthumous Award

The Late Charles Fiddler is from the Waterhen First Nation. He was a champion of Indian Education in the Meadow Lake Tribal Council area. As a teacher, he helped teach children the importance of education based on the First Nation perspective and provided as a positive role model for Indian children to learn from one of their First Nation teachers. He was Director of the Beauval Student Residence; he transformed the old Church/Indian Affairs operated school into a First Nation/MLTC controlled school. This was one of the major turning points of Indian Control of Indian Education in Northern Saskatchewan. He later received his Masters in Education at the U of S. The Late Charles Fiddler was modern day leader in the area of Indian education and has laid the foundation for First Nation education systems.

Wilfred Whitehawk
SFNVA
Humanity Award

Wilfred is an Anishnabae man from the Cote First Nation. Wilfred is known for his ability to share from his heart and tell it like it is. Wilfred has walked through many tears and pains in his life. He has taken one day at the time with his addictions and mostly his concern for First Nation people. He is a certified facilitator in Grief and Loss with the Grief and Loss Recovery Institute. He sits on Provincial Boards and voices the concerns of First Nations people. He is a member of the Sk. Alcohol & Drug Advisory Committee that makes recommendations to the Minister of Health. Wilfred has assisted many people in dealing with issues of sadness, anger and fear.

Jenna Tannern
First Nation Women’s Council
Youth Leadership

Jenna is a member of the Cowessess First Nation. She is 15 years old, a grade 9 student at Martin Collegiate Institute in Regina, Sk. She is dedicated and committed to her studies and participates actively in sports. She is a Grade “A” student and often receives 100% plus in her exams. She has received three (3) Terrific Kid Awards and has read 1000 books in one school term and had received twenty (20) Readers Certificate. Since the age of 10, she has been actively involved in the Regina Minor Softball Association as a “Pitcher”. In her spare time, she has a part-time job cleaning offices with her parents. She is grateful to her parents, Rudy & Debbie and to her teachers at Rosemont for their support and guidance. Jenna is truly an outstanding young person and is very much deserving of this Award.

Kim McKay
First Nations Women’s Council
Women's Leadership (22-59)

Kim is a member of the Sakimay First Nation. She is a candidate for an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and has received her BA in Psychology at the University of Regina. Her reSearch projects are extensive and deal with the wellness of First Nations people. To list a few of her reSearch projects which are Life Experiences of Aboriginal Women and HIV/AIDS; End of Life Health Care Delivery: Completing the Circle in Aboriginal and Conventional Medicines; Strengthening and Building Sexual Health of Aboriginal Youth and Young Adults and the list goes on. She has been a teaching assistant and tutor for the last five years. She has done numerous presentations on health issues concerning First Nation’s people. Because of her success in academia, the gifts she gives Aboriginal youth, her beautiful spirit and her many accomplishments, she a deserving recipient of this award.