Aboriginal achievement was in the spotlight on Monday at the second annual Central Alberta Turtle Awards.
Turtle Awards were presented at a sold-out awards gala at the Capri Centre.
Awards and recipients included:
• Aboriginal Arts Award - Red Deer Dance Troupe
• Education and Training Award - Debbie Oostindie
• Entrepreneurship Award - Bruce and Allison Plain-Cutknife
• Health Award - Darryl Lickers
• Kookum Awards - Teresa (Corky) Jonasson, Agnes Johnson
• Life Time Achievement Award - Cora Fedyk
• Traditional Practices Award - Darcy Goodrunning
• Outstanding Contribution Award - Dr. John Paul Stewart
• Service Provider Award - Bev Weber
• Volunteer Award - Therese Kehler
• Youth Award (age 12 to 24) - Cody Derocher, Natalia Michele Chiles
• Youth Award (age five to 11) - Cheyenne Ogilvie
• Mooshum Award - Douglas Bonaise
The Aboriginal Turtle Awards kicked off a week of activities leading up to National Aboriginal Day celebration in Red Deer on Saturday to recognize the culture and contributions of Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Metis people.