The Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia hosted an awards gala on March 5 in Vancouver to honour exceptional leaders in B.C.'s emerging tourism industry.
This year's winners were:

When the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society came into being under the Alberta Societies Act in 1983, it was formed to be a communications society committed to serving the needs of the Aboriginal people of northern Alberta with Windspeaker, a monthly newspaper.
Today it is the model for Aboriginal communications throughout North America and can tell a remarkable story of survival and growth which is unprecedented in the industry, with a network of national and provincial newspapers stretching across Canada and an ever-expanding radio broadcast audience.

In an emotional and momentous display of repentance and forgiveness, church and First Nations leaders gathered in Saskatoon to remember the atrocities committed in some residential schools and to discuss ways to move forward in solidarity.
The Saskatoon stop of "Remembering the Children" - a multi-city tour intended to promote the work of Canada's upcoming Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) - happened on Sunday, March 9.

It's 8 am and Claire Clark is where she is every morning at least three days a week, huffing and puffing on an elliptical cardio machine at her local gym.
Two years ago she was told she'd have to start taking medication for high cholesterol, but her concerted effort to exercise regularly has put that health issue to rest.
"There was no way I wanted to take drugs, so I hit the gym and it's reversed the problem. My doctor is amazed," Clark said.

It's 8 am and Claire Clark is where she is every morning at least three days a week, huffing and puffing on an elliptical cardio machine at her local gym.
Two years ago she was told she'd have to start taking medication for high cholesterol, but her concerted effort to exercise regularly has put that health issue to rest.
"There was no way I wanted to take drugs, so I hit the gym and it's reversed the problem. My doctor is amazed," Clark said.

It's 8 am and Claire Clark is where she is every morning at least three days a week, huffing and puffing on an elliptical cardio machine at her local gym.
Two years ago she was told she'd have to start taking medication for high cholesterol, but her concerted effort to exercise regularly has put that health issue to rest.
"There was no way I wanted to take drugs, so I hit the gym and it's reversed the problem. My doctor is amazed," Clark said.

As an esteemed scholar and Cree educator, Noella Steinhauer acknowledges that supporting Aboriginal identity in mainstream education is a crucial need.
She is armed with knowledge as she enters her new position as Director of Education for the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF), where she will help Aboriginal students from across Canada succeed in their educational pursuits.
Until recently, Steinhauer has worked as the Director of the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program at the University of Alberta. She also has experience as a teacher and as a principal.

"As nurturers and caregivers Aboriginal women are the back-bone of a community, so when the women are supported, the whole community benefits," said Judy White, the facilitator and steering committee chair of the third Annual Aboriginal Women's Conference held in St. John's Newfoundland from March 12 to 14.
The theme of this year's conference was 'The Path to Economic Prosperity.' It focused on the value of leading more Aboriginal women to greater economic success.

The Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO) and the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on March 14, to jointly deliver workshops for Aboriginal women across Canada in the Aboriginal Women for Tomorrow (AWFT) program.

There's no doubt that the Canadian government persists in projecting an image of Canada as peacemaker and protector of human rights, both at home and abroad. Recently, however, more and more citizens are stepping forward to challenge that perception.