Awards gala honours women of Eeyou Istchee
By Andrew McClelland
The winners of the 2015 Outstanding Cree Women Awards. (Back row, left to right) Melissa Whiskeychan, Juliet Asquabaneskum, Angela Stewart-Georgekish, Carmen Faries, Kerishia Jolly, and Babbey Jane Happyjack. (Front row) Eva Whiskeychan, Elder Robbie Matthew, and Dorothy Gilpin. (Absent from the photo are award winners Janie Pachano and Sophie Shem).
The third Outstanding Cree Women Awards to celebrate women who’ve made inspirational contributions to Eeyou Istchee were held March 7 in Val-d’Or. Nine women were honoured at the gala, timed to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8.
The award categories celebrate independence, leadership and dedication in a variety of fields. This year, a special Lifetime Achievement Award was given to the late Sally Matthew. Elder Robbie Matthew, Chief of Chisasibi, accepted the award on her behalf.
“The night was great!” said Virginia Wabano, president of the Cree Women of Eeyou Istchee Association (CWEIA). “We sold out all 200 tickets and then a lot of people even came in after that.”
“The theme for International Women’s Day this year was ‘Make It Happen’,” Wabano noted. “And that went nicely with our theme – ‘Inspiring our Future Generations’. Hopefully, it will inspire younger women in Eeyou Istchee to make changes and make a difference in their communities in all those areas we try to recognize with the awards.”
Three winners shared the Women in Business Award: the Jacob sisters of Waskaganish. Emma Jacob, Sally Whiskeychan and Eva Whiskeychan have operated Jacob’s Restaurant since it opened in 1989, and the business is reputed to have the best poutine in Eeyou Istchee. Sally’s daughter, Melissa, accepted the award on behalf of her mother. At each award ceremony, the prize is given to a woman in the Cree Nation Region owning 51 per cent or more of a successful business.
Carmen Faries of Wemindji was selected for the Women in Politics Award. Faries served her first term as councillor for the Cree Nation of Wemindji from 2009 to 2013, and was recently re-elected for another four-year term. Holding degrees from both Queen’s University in Kingston and Laurentian University in Sudbury, she also acts as vice-president for the CWEIA.
The evening was filled with musical performances by local singers and musicians. The event also featured an arts and crafts fair put on by the Cree Native Arts and Crafts Association, who sponsored the entertainment with additional funds from other financial sponsors.
The Outstanding Cree Women Awards are held every two years and are organized by the CWEIA. Congratulations to this year’s winners!
Women in Education – Dorothy Gilpin of Eastmain, Quebec
Women in Public Service – Angela Stewart-Georgekish of Wemindji
Women in Politics – Carmen Faries of Wemindji
Women in Health Promotion and Fitness – Babbey Jane Happyjack of Waswanipi
Women in Arts/Cultures – Janie Pachano of Chisasibi
Women in Business – Sally Whiskeychan, Eva Whiskeychan and Emma Jacob
Volunteer Award — Three Categories:
Youth – Kerishia Jolly of Waswanipi
Women – Juliet Asquabaneskum of Wemindji
Elder – Sophie Shem of Whapmagoostui
Lifetime Achievement Award – the late Sally Matthew