New Dawn Drum Group received an award for justice and activism. (submitted photo/Kandis Riese)

By Derek Cornet

Award winners

Piwapan hosts awards gala celebrating women

May 17, 2019 | 2:17 PM

More than three dozen women were recognized for all they do for their communities at the In Celebration of Women Awards Gala.

The event was held Thursday at the Jonas Robertson Memorial Community Centre and all winners were either from La Ronge, Air Ronge or the Lac La Ronge Indian Band communities of Brabant, Grandmother’s Bay, Hall Lake, Little Red, Stanley Mission and Sucker River. In all, 44 women in 11 different categories were honoured for their work as there were no top winners.

“It’s kind of hard to choose who is a winner when they are all doing something so wonderful for someone else and the community,” Piwapan Women Centre Executive Director Karen Sanderson said. “All of them have taken part in bettering someone’s life or inspiring someone.”

The gala also nearly sold out with close to 180 people in attendance. Sanderson noted the high attendance goes to show just how much the nominated women do within their communities. Although it had been a five-year break since the last gala, Sanderson expects another celebration will be held in 2020.

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“There was high attendance, there were good vibes and I think it went really well,” she said.

The winners include Cathy Wheaton, Maggie King, Anita Jackson, Autumn Carlson, Susan Mcleod and Oliveen Sanderson for culture/heritage/environment, Anne Dorion, Tammy Robinson and Kristen McKenzie for education, Edna Mirasty, Sandra M. Clinton and Susan Carriere for volunteer/community, Darlene George, Carol Charles, Melissa McNeil, Donna Banach, Kristy Charles, Audrey Boyer and Brooke Graham for health/caregiver.

Those recognized for leadership/trailblazer were Carla Frohaug, Ann Ratt, Nancy Lafleur, Christine Hrycuik, Joan Johnson, Geraldine Frank, Shaylynn McCauley and Michelle Gale, while art and music/language literature went to Andrew Cowan and Donna Langhorne. Cheryl Jeffries, Flora Bird, Amanda Thimpsen, Kathy Lavallee and Mary Emond were recognized for perseverance.

The winners for sport were Carissa Borthwick, Jody Laliberte and Jody Ratt, while the New Dawn Drum Group won for justice and activism. Winners in the elder category were Rosella Carney and Joan Johnson, and youth awards went to Paige Franks, Katelynne Sanderson, Colleen Georges and Reagan Charles-Isbister.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno