AWARDS

One of the ways that IANE achieves it’s objectives is through the recognition of individuals and organizations at our National Conference.

The Ivan Ahenakew Award

This award is given to any business, company, government department or Aboriginal organization that has shown results in the areas of Recruitment and Training of Aboriginal personnel for employment and training for the current year.

Ivan Ahenakew was born on the Ahtahkakoop First Nation May 11, 1918. He received his elementary education on the reserve and in Brandon, Manitoba.

On January 15, 1940, he married Lizette Atimoyoo from the Little Pine Reserve. They had seven girls and eight boys.

During the early years of his marriage, Ivan joined the Royal Canada Air Force for a five year stint. During that time he trained as a airborne mechanic and pilot. After his discharge he returned to Ahtahkakoop First Nation to farm. His favorite past-time was hunting, fishing and trapping. It was during a hunting expedition he met with an unfortunate accident. He slipped and fell with a loaded gun that discharged and seared that back of his leg leaving him laid up for several months.

Ivan served as a Councilor at Ahtahkakoop First Nation for many years. He was actively involved in the band's community and special events. He organized and launched the first sports day at Ahtahkakoop First Nation.

Ivan began his career with Indian Affairs as a Project Supervisor for Shellbrook Indian Agency. He started a small sawmill operation in Sandy Lake and was later transferred to Big River Reserve. Ivan worked in Shellbrook, Duck Lake, North Battleford and Prince Albert. He was forced to take early retirement due to health reasons.

Ivan Ahenakew always displayed a general and real concern for the benefit of Aborigial people. Throughout his work with the Department and later on with some of the mining companies he always fought for the betterment of Aboriginal people.

In 1974, both Ivan's and Bill Hanson's direction and leadership gave birth to the Interprovincial Association on Native Employment. As a result, the work of the Association continues, many strides have been taken and there have been many positive results.

May we tribute many, many more years to the Association because of one of the first great men, Mr. Ivan Roy Ahenakew.

The Bill Hanson Award

This award will be granted to an individual who has been successfully involved in training and employment initiatives promoting Aboriginal employment. An individuals commitment, efforts and success are essential in the movement towards facilitating employment opportunities.

Mr. Bill Hanson, the "Godfather" of the Inter Provincial Association on Native Employment Inc., an organization that he was instrumental in forming, has been a leader in promoting Aboriginal employment. On October 26, 2000, he received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, the highest distinction the Province awards in recognition of individual excellence and outstanding contribution to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of the Province and it's residents.

Bill was born in the Northern Manitoba Village of Cormorant Lake. He is of Norwegian/Scottish/Cree parentage. He has participated in the mining, construction, logging industries as well as hunting, trapping and fishing pursuits, before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force. After serving in the Second World War from 1943 to 1945, he returned and married Rose Crockford in 1950.

Bill trained in diesel engineering at the Manitoba Technical Institute in Winnipeg. While living in The Pas, he was one of the first Aboriginal police officers in Western Canada. He was employed as a senior power plant operator for the Department of National Defense. In 1954 he accepted an offer to join the federal public service and became the youngest manager in the National Employment Service of Canada, and the only one of Aboriginal ancestry. Subsequently he was northern Saskatchewan area manager, and in 1968-70, he was appointed the Special Projects Officer and Industrial Training Officer for the Prairie Region Office of Canada Manpower and Immigration, and advisor on Aboriginal issues for the department of Regional Economic Expansion.

Bill Hanson has dedicated most of his life to promoting a greater understanding of the heterogeneity that exists within the Aboriginal race. His insight and understanding of the many complex and interrelated issues which affect the development of the Aboriginal people has enabled him to promote this understanding at all levels of society. The "Dual Realities-Dual Strategies" handbook, which he wrote and published in 1985 identifies the unique differences and stages of development of Aboriginal people on reserves and in aboriginal communities -- realities that require different strategies for Aboriginal people. This handbook has a select readership extending from Australia, Europe to the Americas and throughout Canada. Mr. Hanson continues to author articles and videos relating to this topic.

Since his retirement in 1982, Bill serves, on a volunteer basis, as Executive Coordinator of IANE Inc., is a Consultant on cross-cultural issues; is active in the race relations committee of the City of Saskatoon, and is widely in demand as a speaker and advisor on aboriginal employment issues.