John Arcand 
"Master of the Métis Fiddle"

NEWS RELEASE
January 15, 2003
Toronto

THREE FROM SASKATCHEWAN WIN PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL ABORIGINAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD  

Three Saskatchewan natives – engineer and commercial builder Gary Bosgoed, University of Saskatchewan engineering student Matthew Dunn, and Métis fiddler John Arcand – are three of the 14 recipients to win a prestigious National Aboriginal Achievement Award, the Aboriginal community’s highest honour. 

John Arcand the undisputed master of the fiddle has been writing and performing since childhood. With over 250 original tunes written to date, he is recognized for ensuring this important Métis tradition survives. One of Canada’s few Aboriginal engineers, Gary Bosgoed is receiving his award for bringing telecommunications to reserve communities, and for building and managing housing and energy projects for First Nations communities. A member of the Peepeekisis First Nation, Gary has spent much of his life mentoring students and building a solid business. Matthew Dunn, this year’s youth recipient, is receiving his award for the numerous scholarships and academic awards he has received and for the example he sets as an engineering student, athlete, performer and community volunteer. 

The recipients from Saskatchewan follow in a grand tradition of past recipients with 11 from the province recognized including: educator Howard Adams; artist Allan Sapp; NHL hockey legend Bryan Trottier; writer Maria Campbell; neuro-chemistry professor Lillian Dyck; performer Buffy Sainte-Marie; and nurse Jean Cuthand Goodwill. 

The 14 courageous men and women will receive their awards at a star-studded gala evening on Friday, March 28th, 2003 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The awards will subsequently be televised by the CBC as a national network special. 

The year 2003 marks the 10th anniversary of the awards that Mohawk conductor John Kim Bell created to recognize the achievements of Aboriginal professionals. 

“This year’s recipients are a stellar group,” said John Kim Bell, founder and president of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation and executive producer of the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards. “It is hard to believe that 10 years have passed since Bill Reid received the first lifetime achievement award on the stage of the National Arts Centre and since that time 126 individuals have been recognized for their contributions to the betterment of life in Aboriginal communities and the rest of the country.”   

  The 2003 National Aboriginal Achievement Award recipients are a notable group:

  • Saskatchewan Métis master fiddler, John Arcand;
  • Winnipeg physician and Chair of the United Way, Dr. Judith Bartlett;
  • Alberta oil and pipeline expert, Mel E. Benson;
  • University of Victoria legal scholar, John Borrows;
  • Regina based professional engineer and entrepreneur, Gary Bosgoed;
  • Saskatoon engineering student, athlete, actor and community volunteer Matthew Dunn – this year’s youth recipient and aspiring astronaut;
  • Ontario based writer of four best-selling novels, the creative force behind Dead Dog Café and numerous television scripts, Thomas King;
  • Northerner Edward Lennie, the creator of the Northern Games;
  • University of Lethbridge and Harvard lecturer, Leroy Little Bear;
  • B.C. environmentalist and fishery conservationist Chief Simon Lucas;
  • B.C. Chief Sophie Pierre, the builder of the St. Eugene Mission resort;
  • Winnipeg based community worker and language protector, Mary Richard;
  • The lifetime achievement award recipient – rock legend Robbie Robertson;
  • Vancouver based physician and AIDS researcher and advocate, Dr. Jay Wortman; 

Private sector support of the awards is led by CIBC, the largest sponsor of the awards and the programs of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. Other major private sector support is provided by Air Canada, APTN, BP Canada Energy Company, Casino Rama, Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., Donna Cona Inc., First Air, Hydro One, Petro-Canada, Placer Dome Inc., Star Choice Communications Inc., Suncor Energy Foundation, Syncrude Canada Ltd., TransCanada PipeLines Limited, and Weyerhaeuser Company Limited. 

Public Sector support is led by Indian and Northern Affairs and the CBC with additional support from Canadian Heritage, Health Canada, Industry Canada, Human Resources Development Canada and from: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; Canadian Forces; City of Ottawa; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; Department of Justice Canada; Environment Canada; Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Foreign Affairs; Government of the Northwest Territories; Museum of Civilization; Natural Resources Canada; Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; Nunavut; Province of Alberta; Province of British Columbia; Province of Manitoba; Province of Ontario; Province of Saskatchewan; Privy Council Office; Trillium Foundation; Royal Canadian Mounted Police; and Solicitor General. 

The awards are a special project of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, a national charity established in 1985 by John Kim Bell. The Foundation provides financial assistance to Aboriginal students to realize their educational goals and dreams with a record $2 million in individual scholarships awarded to students this year and $14 million since inception. The Foundation organizes two career fairs annually to introduce grades 9-12 students to potential careers. This year NAAF launched Taking Pulse a new program to generate greater participation of Aboriginal people into the Canadian workforce. 

For more details on John's award, please go to the following link:

http://www.naaf.ca/rec2003.html

FOR BOOKINGS, COMPETITION JUDGING, AND PRODUCT SALES CONTACT:

John & Vicki Arcand
BOX 3 SITE 302 RR #3
SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN, S7K 3J6
PHONE: 1-306-382-0111 FAX:1-306-683-1917
Email: windy.acres@sasktel.net