Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award and CAUAC Aboriginal Youth Award honours recipients striving to build cultural bridges

Aboriginal Awareness Week Calgary, which runs from June 18 - 22, is a week-long event that promotes pride, understanding, and awareness of Indigenous cultures, traditions, achievements and contributions to Canadian society. June 21, Indigenous Peoples Day, falls during Aboriginal Awareness week and is observed nationally, focusing on the uniqueness and value of First Nations, Inuit and Metis Indigenous culture in Canada. As part of the celebration, the Crowchild family and the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee (CAUAC) presented two annual awards yesterday — the Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award and Aboriginal Youth Award. These awards recognize and honour individuals whose significant and unique contributions have helped create bridges of understanding between Aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities.

The spirit of these awards is captured by the sentiments of the late Chief David Crowchild himself, who said, “I have never been a warrior but all my life I have tried to stand up for what was right and just, not only for my people but for those just conditions and laws that affect us all”.

The recipient of the 2018 Chief David Crowchild Memorial award is Shawna Morning Bull. Shawna has worked in business development for more than 20 years. During that time, her focus has been on facilitating economic development through various projects and business growth opportunities for the benefit of her community. “I am earnestly grateful for the recognition I have received for my work in the indigenous and non-indigenous communities surrounding Mohkinstsis (Elbow, where the river meets),” said Morning Bull, on learning she had won the award. During the ceremony, she acknowledged that she is continually empowered by the people who surround her by noting that her communities are a source of inspiration and strength.

These sentiments are shared by the recipient of the Aboriginal Youth Award, which recognizes a young person who participates in cross-cultural activities, has a strong commitment to achieving educational goals and encourages others to do the same, and who demonstrates leadership in their community and peer groups. This year the award was presented to Wacey Little Light. He too acknowledged the people who supported and inspired him, crediting his success to the guidance he received over the years. Wacey’s grandparents always highlighted the importance of community, and because of that, he strives to be a contributing member of all communities he is a part of, including the city of Calgary, The Siksika Nation, and The Iniskim Centre at Mount Royal University where he is a student.

Congratulations to this year’s award recipients and thank you for your contributions. Your efforts to improve cross-culture collaboration and understanding make Calgary a better place to live for everyone.

More Information:
Aboriginal Awareness Week Calgary
City of Calgary Indigenous Programs and Services
Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee (CAUAC)

Award-winners recognized for their commitment to education, community and Aboriginal culture

Elaine Cairns and Latasha Calf Robe love to share their passion for education, literacy and learning for their community.

Today, the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee (CAUAC) and The City of Calgary recognized these two exceptional women with The Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award and Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award. Now in its 31st year, these awards honour those who build bridges of understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures.

2017 Winner of Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award

Elaine Cairns, 2017 recipient of the Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award

Elaine Cairns is a literacy specialist who has developed curricula and facilitator training for Indigenous learning programs. Elaine is currently the executive director of the Further Education Society of Alberta (FESA), which she co-founded in 1996.

Elaine has worked with isolated communities, and provided mentoring and facilitator training for Indigenous community workers and trainers. The curricula she has worked on embraces Aboriginal traditions and focuses on sharing of information. In the acknowledgement that community is different, she works with community members to incorporate the knowledge of Elders about how to share the traditions and culture. With these learning programs, families are then able to share, teach, and build relationships within and outside their communities.

“As a Non-Indigenous person, I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this prestigious award. It reaffirms for me the importance of the work I do in Indigenous communities”, says Elaine. “I have learned more from Indigenous people than they have ever learned from me. I have learned the importance of patience, to listen, be resilient, to persevere, and always have a connection to culture and traditions.”

Elaine’s efforts have opened the door to understanding the importance of working together to improve literacy in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultures. She believes improved learning leads to improved lives and with passion and dedication we can bring literacy and learning to everyone. Making a difference, one learner, one community, one organization at a time.

2016 Winner of CAUAC Youth Achievement Award

Latasha Calf Robe, 2017 recipient of the CAUAC Youth Achievement Award

Latasha Calf Robe, 24, is a graduate of Mount Royal University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business, and a minor in Indigenous Studies and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Latasha is a proud Blackfoot student from the Blood Reserve in southern Alberta and is being recognized for utilizing traditional community teachings. In founding the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) Resiliency and Empowerment Discussion Group in 2016, Latasha created a positive space for the Mount Royal community -- a place to celebrate Indigenous resiliency and empower her peers. Her academic work and leadership has helped bring the community together to bridge generational, cultural, and ethnic differences through dialogue and storytelling. She was a featured panelist at an Access to Education, hosted by Mount Royal University, to discuss barriers Aboriginal students encounter at post-secondary institutions and how to overcome them.

This year, she also presented the student address at Mount Royal University for the visit of the Honorable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. Aside from her academic achievements, Latasha’s involvement with student life demonstrate her strong desire and deep commitment to education, culture and her community.

“Winning this award allows me to represent my community, the Blood Reserve, in a positive way. I hope to empower and encourage other young Indigenous scholars and youth to iiykakimaat (try hard), and to never stop chasing their dreams,” says Latasha. “There is no goal too big. By using the resiliency and traditional ways taught to us by our elders, parents and community, anything is possible.”

Award-winners build bridges of understanding between cultures

Shawna Cunningham and Jolene Houle are passionate about their Aboriginal culture, what it means for their communities and for all of Calgary.

Left to right: Shawna Cunningham, Mayor Nenshi and Jolene Houle

Today, the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee (CAUAC) and The City of Calgary recognized these two exceptional women with the Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award and Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award respectively.

These awards honour those who build bridges of understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures. 

2016 Winner of Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award

Shawna Cunningham is an educator with a focus on Aboriginal student success and empowerment. She is currently the director of the Native Centre at the University of Calgary. As director, Shawna expanded the centre from a place for gathering to a robust hub that offers programming and creates awareness for the greater university community. 

Shawna’s efforts have built cross-cultural learning and understanding between traditionally Western academia and Indigenous Knowledge and Aboriginal Ways of Knowing. Shawna continues to promote Indigenous cultural activities and ways to non-Indigenous Calgarians inviting all people to attend and learn together.

“This award speaks to collaboration, culture, and community and I am very honoured to have been selected,” says Shawna. “I’ve spent most of my professional career working with and for Aboriginal students in the post-secondary system and have seen the disparity between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community in the areas of education and employment."

"To close the gap, I believe we need to seek out and build strong collaborative partnerships with Aboriginal and non-aboriginal organizations to ensure our youth have a bright future, full of opportunity and a sense of pride, peace, and wellness.” 

2016 Winner of CAUAC Youth Achievement Award 

Fifteen-year-old Jolene Houle is a Grade 11 student at Bishop O’Byrne High School. 

She has been attending the Metis Calgary Family Services Society Aboriginal Students Program for four years and is passionate about sharing her Aboriginal culture with teachers and classmates. She actively works to raise awareness about both her culture and the social issues facing Indigenous people. 

Jolene is a keen learner and has become a mentor and guide for other students in the program passing on her love of learning through teaching others. She demonstrates the values of the program through her continued participation and her eagerness to find extra ways to continue being involved. 

This summer Jolene is taking part in the “Summer Media Program,” learning how to make and tell stories. Jolene has also been appointed as a delegate for the Miss Teen Canada Globe Pageant. She plans to showcase her culture, one of her talents and give a speech about mental health with a focus on Aboriginal youth. 

“This award means a lot to me because it acknowledges my hard work to help others and their well being,” says Jolene. “It’s important to me to be involved in my culture because it positively affects my daily life and I feel blessed by having a relationship with the Creator.” 

New cultural landmark in Nose Hill Park: Siksikaitsitapi medicine wheel offering site

Nose Hill Park recently became home to a new cultural landmark. In late September, members of the Blood Tribe built a traditional medicine wheel there as part of the Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy) conference.

The medicine wheel is constructed of rocks in the shape of the Siksikaitsitapi logo, a circle that represents all four member tribes: Siksiika, Blood, Northern and Southern Peigan.

Andy Black Water developed the concept and design. "It is meant to be an offering site,” says Black Water. “When people walk or bike through there, they can stop and make a small offering to our creator and be blessed. It's an opportunity for us as people to take a few moments from our daily routines to thank the creator."

Medicine wheels have been found across the Northern Plains of North America, some dating back thousands of years. For the past 15 years, the Siksikaitsitapi have been holding conferences throughout their traditional territory. At each conference, they set out landmarks to signify a spiritual connection to the land and an affirmation of interest in their traditional territory. The landmark is a testament of the Siksikaitsitapi's relationship with the land - a reciprocal relationship and also one of stewardship.

Nose Hill Park is an area of cultural and historical significance to the Siksikaitsitapi. Black Water explains, "The area was a look out for summer camps and winter camps. There is a view of the valley and people would look out for game or members of other tribes."

Black Water hopes that the medicine wheel will help educate all visitors to the area and share the history of the Siksikaitsitapi people. "It doesn't matter what faith you go with, our creator is the creator of all," he says, adding, "(The medicine wheel) is there for the benefit of all."

Michelle Reid, Cultural Landscape Management Lead for Calgary Parks, thinks the medicine wheel is a valuable addition to Nose Hill. “Parks play an important role in promoting Calgary’s cultural as well as natural landscape,” says Reid. “We are very happy that the Siksikaitsitapi chose this location.”

The medicine wheel is located in the southeast corner of the park, and is most easily accessed from pathways south of the 14th Street parking lot.

Chief David Crowchild and Aboriginal Youth Awards

Today the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee (CAUAC) and The City of Calgary presented the The Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award and Aboriginal Youth Achievement Awards. These prestigious awards honour those who build bridges of understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultures.

Award-winners building bridges between cultures

2015  Winner of Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award: Daniela Navia (University of Calgary) and Levi First Charger (Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY)) led the collaboration on “Uncovering Colonial Legacies: Voices of Indigenous Youth in Child Welfare (dis)Placements”. This collaborative project tells the story, through various mediums, of Indigenous youth who were placed in government care. 

2015 Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award: Macyn Morning Bull, 16, is a Grade 11 student at Henry Wisewood High School. She is involved in sport (hockey and basketball), as well as being an Ambassador for Junior Achievement. As the 2014-2015 Miss Piikani, she also is involved in cultural and community events such as awards, symposiums and powwows.

More information on CAUAC and Aboriginal-specific initiatives.

Submitted by Stacey Scott, Community and Neighbourhood Services