Standing Tall the recipients of this year’s OKO Awards enter Edmonton City Hall to be honored okima means leader in GRE and these indigenous men have made valuable contributions in various Fields everything from language and culture vitalization to Public Safety health and Community involvement initiatives there also are seven teaching awards given to
Indigenous men who best exemplify one of these character traits humility honesty respect courage wisdom Truth and Love Curtis Cardinal is this year’s recipient of the teaching award for love for me I’ve been doing a lot of um events in the inner city uh called giv back to the
Streets um I have a company called TP treats and we serve probably 6,000 meals within the inner city in the last year Cardinal had a tough background which included alcoholism addiction and a period of homelessness now an owner of a restaurant and catering business he hopes to serve as an example of what
Indigenous men can achieve do you know there is so many people out there that are struggling to even live like they they live in tents so um anywhere to get meals Elder Francis whiskeyjack received a lifetime Journey award Whiskey Jack is a residential school survivor who actively contributes to the preservation
Of his first language cre along with cultural studies Health Care provision and advocacy for indigenous people and to me that is so uh humbling because as a residential school survivor it’s uh overcoming obstacles uh building selfesteem uh motivating myself to to be you know from a humble Point
Kindness advocating and uh uh Mentor mentoring youth to change their lifestyle and to be proud of who they can be Edmonton MP Blake deser attended the ceremony as Alberto’s only indigenous representative in Nota he believes Awards such as OKO can show men how to nurture positive and productive masculinity healthy masculinity means
Being there when others need you it means understanding that pain and compassion and love are just as masculine as any other part of being a man deerl hopes the achievements of indigenous men and women will eventually be recognized nationally and not only in Alberta Dennis cofton CBC News Edmonton
The second annual Okimaw award celebration was held Saturday, Nov. 18, at Edmonton’s city hall to recognize Indigenous men who lead, teach and support their communities and make a difference in Alberta.
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