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Fort Smith celebrates 20 years of Aboriginal Head Start program 22 Tuesday May 5 2015 EDUCATION PRESCHOOL CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES 2015 OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER AWARD RECIPIENTS The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs would like to celebrate and recognize the contributions made by the 2015 Outstanding Volunteer Award recipients and all volunteers in the Northwest Territories. Volunteers are the role models and shining examples of active and engaged citizens whose contributions strengthen and enrich our communities. The time and dedication that volunteers contribute to their communities helps improve the quality of life for all Northerners. Territorial Award Recipients Outstanding Elder Award Florence Barnaby Fort Good Hope Outstanding Youth Award Renee Ekendia Behchoko Outstanding Individual Award Marilyn Napier Fort Smith Outstanding Group Award Muskrat Jamboree Committee Inuvik The Territorial award recipients will be honoured at an award ceremony at the Hay River Reserve on May 8 2015. Award Nominees Youth Leighana Cardinal Inuvik Renee Ekendia Behchoko Elder Bud Rhyndress Yellowknife Ernie Bernhardt Yellowknife Florence Barnaby Fort Good Hope Individual Alecia Callahan Yellowknife Amy Lizotte Yellowknife Angelica Rodriguez Jaquez Fort Providence Anthony Stapleton Yellowknife Arthur Sanderson Fort Resolution Bea Lepine Hay River Brandie Miersch Fort Resolution Brenden Bourke Fort Smith Brianna Mandeville Fort Resolution Bud Rhyndress Yellowknife Cara Bailey Fort Resolution Carol Ann Chaplin Fort Resolution Carolyn Maciejko Inuvik Charlene Blake Tsiigehtchic Chris Fountain Fort Resolution Christine Balsillie Fort Resolution Crystal Rowe Hay River Dawna Beaulieu Fort Resolution Dean McKay Fort Resolution Denis Alain Yellowknife Diane Fabian Hay River Eddy Gargan Fort Providence Elizabeth-Ann McKay Fort Resolution Faye Aviugana Fort Resolution Gussy Mandeville Fort Resolution Iman Kassam Yellowknife John Hicks Inuvik Jonathan Cardinal Fort Resolution Julia Mott Yellowknife Kavitha Balaji Yellowknife Kelly Lizotte Fort Resolution Lawrence Nayally Yellowknife Lizzie Beaulieu Fort Resolution Lorraine McKay Fort Resolution Marilyn Napier Fort Smith Mike Argue Yellowknife Miriam Lewis Yellowknife Nancy Rabesca Behchoko Nicole Grobbecker Yellowknife Pat Fowler Yellowknife Prem Lal Fort Resolution Rosie Bjornson Fort Resolution Roslyn Firth Fort Liard Ruth Mandeville Fort Resolution Sebastian Herbert Tuktoyaktuk Shannon Ripley Yellowknife Shauna Gully Fort Good Hope Shawn Dorerty Deline Shawn McKay Fort Resolution Tammy Hunter Fort Resolution Teresa Simon Fort Resolution Lt. Trevor Thomson Yellowknife Trudy King Fort Resolution Group Donald and Wilma Hendrick Inuvik East Three School Breakfast Program Volunteers Inuvik Fort Resolution Fire Department Fort Resolution Fort Resolution Minor Hockey Fort Resolution Lisa Migwi and Cecile Desjardins Behchoko Muskrat Jamboree Committee Inuvik St. Pats SADD Yellowknife 684-110E NJ By DALI CARMICHAEL Guardians teachers and kids alike came together in Fort Smith last week to cel- ebrate the 20th anniversary of the Aboriginal Head Start AHS program in Canada and put forth calls for its con- tinued success in the North- west Territories. Anintimategroupgathered at the towns NihKanis Cen- tre AHS a small specialized preschool where they shared memories and slices of cake while sorting through im- ages of students past as cur- rent youth played underfoot. The program has been highly regarded across the country for its ability to so- cialize young children pre- paring them to enter main- stream kindergarten while simultaneouslyteachingthem about elements of localized indigenous traditions and languages. Over the last year the AHS program has become a topic of debate as the GNWT began tointroducejuniorkindergar- ten to schools across the ter- ritory. Some have expressed concern over the move wor- ried that it might jeopardize the future success of AHS. This program is extremely important to the community said Frieda Martselos chief of Salt River First Nation which operatesAHSinFortSmith.Im going to make a political state- ment because Im a politician I really believe in this program andIdonotbelievethatpre-kin- dergartenoverattheelementary school should happen because wehavethisprogramandithas served the entire community. I firmly believe that because we want to keep all the teachers that we have now on strength wedontwanttolowerourstan- dardsattheschoolsandwehave such a high standard here at HeadStart. While other parents might not have been as political with their statements they expressed how much they value the unique learning op- portunity for their children. I think its extremely im- portant as Aboriginal peo- ple to preserve our Aborigi- nal culture and I think that this program does a really good job at doing that said JackieHeronwhosedaughter Jorja4iscurrentlyattending AHS. It was something that she was ready for just a part of her social benefit. She was just ready to be around other kids and to be in a structured program. I thought it was a really good opportunity for her to do that and give her a real sense of routine which kids need. Not only do the parents support AHS over 400 children have enjoyed the Fort Smith program since it opened in 1998. Jorja loves this program she looks forward to it every morning Heron said. On Fridays and on Saturday Sunday shes waking up wanting and asking to come to school. That tells me that she really likes the program and that it has been really beneficial for her. PhotosDaliCarmichael Jorja Heron 4 celebrates at Aboriginal Head Starts 20th anniversary party on Apr. 30. She is a current student. Mary Ann Beaulieu cuts the cake at the celebration. Beaulieu has worked with AHS on and off since it first opened in 1998.