Norval Morrisseau to be honoured at Aboriginal Achievement Awards

The late artist and shaman Norval Morrisseau will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Aboriginal Achievement Awards gala Saturday in Toronto.

The award will be presented to his family as part of a gala honouring 14 Canadian aboriginal achievers who have contributed to the environment, law, the arts and social justice.

Among the other winners are NHL player Reggie Leach and former Northwest Territories premier Joe Handley.

Morrisseau, one of Canada's foremost aboriginal artists and the founder of the Woodland style of painting, died last December at age 75.

The Ojibwa shaman and self-taught artist grew up in northwestern Ontario and painted for more than 50 years, establishing an international reputation.

His striking, colourful works helped bring about a revitalization of Anishnabe iconography.

The Saturday gala will include performances by R&B singer Tinsel Korey, 5th Generation, award-winning rapper HellnBack and guitarist Derek Miller.

A group of 16 aboriginal musicians will perform the song Sit by My Fire, which has been created as an anthem for the show.

The Aboriginal Achievement Awards were created in 1994 to celebrate and to promote positive role models for aboriginal youth.

CBC Radio and TV broadcaster Paul Andrew, known in the Northwest Territories as "the one who tells stories," will be honoured with the award for achievement in media.

He broadcasts in the Dene language and helps keep alive Dene cultural traditions.
 
Andrew is also a musician and featured performer in the True North Concert.

Shirley Cheechoo, founder of the De ba Jeh Mu Jig Theatre Company, which presents theatre works in the Ojibwe language, will be given the award for contribution to culture.

She is also co-owner of an art gallery promoting aboriginal artists, co-owner of Spokensong film production company and founder of the Weengushk film institute on Manitoulin Island.

Cheechoo, of the Bay Cree and Michigeeng First Nations, has worked as an actor and is director of Johnny Tootall and Tracks in the Snow. She has had films screened at Sundance Film Festival, the AIF San Francisco and Vancouver Film Festival.

Other achievers to be honoured:

• Boyd Wesley Benjamin, a pilot in Old Crow, Yukon, wins the special youth award.
• Jim Boucher, founder of the Fort McKay-Industry Relations Corp., wins the award for business and commerce.
• Hubert Skye, an elder and Faithkeeper leader from Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario, wins the award for culture, heritage and spirituality.
• Marie Ann Battiste, a professor and director of the Aboriginal Educational Research Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, wins for education.
• Dr. Jeff Reading, scientific director of the Institute of Aboriginal People's Health, wins for health.
• Handley, premier of the Northwest Territories, wins for achievement in politics.
• Sylvia B. Maracle, a Quinte Mohawk who works for social justice, employment and housing, wins the award for public service.
• Leach, who played 14 years in the NHL and was one of the first aboriginal superstar athletes, wins for sports.
• Elizabeth (Tshaukuesh) Penashue, an Innu activist who opposed low-level flying over her people's home and has worked to maintain a traditional lifestyle, wins the award for environment.
• David C. Nahwegahbow, a senior partner of a successful aboriginal law firm and member of Ontario's Forestry Stewardship Council, wins for his contributions to law and justice.
• Bernard McCue, who made significant contributions to the development of synthetic jet aircraft lubricants and enhanced the colour TV, wins for his contribution to technology.

The award ceremony will be broadcast March 22 on Global and April 5 on APTN.