Winners of the 2024 CAUAC Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award and Isgaakuwa (Young Persons) Award announced

Image (8)

Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee (CAUAC) and The City of Calgary are pleased to announce the recipient of the Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award this year is Deborah Green. The recipient of the Isgaakuwa (Young Persons) Award is Magel Labelle.

“For almost 40 years these awards have been a testament to the ongoing commitment of The City to cultivate respectful and meaningful relationships with the Indigenous peoples and the Indigenous territorial and ancestral lands upon which we live, work and play,” says Lorelei Higgins, Team Lead of the Indigenous Relations Office, who has great admiration and gratitude for this year's award recipients. “Deborah Green and Magel Labelle are amazing, inspiring and committed individuals who have made significant contributions to the well-being and empowerment of their communities. They embody the spirit and legacy of Chief David Crowchild, who was a visionary and a bridge-builder. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and learn from them and the ways in which they show up."

The Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award is presented to honour the efforts and contributions of a person, group or organization who have:

Demonstrated leadership in building relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in Calgary
Displayed a commitment to building bridges between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities
Supported and encouraged effective engagement and activities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities
Created and supported positive changes in their community

Deborah Green (ᑳᑭᑫ ᒪᓂᑐᐦᑳᐣ ᐃᐢᑫᐧᐤ) is a proud Nehiyaw Iskwew (Cree woman) from the Kawacatoose and Piapot First Nations in Saskatchewan. She has more than 20 years of professional experience in Diversity and Indigenous HR solutions, keynote and panel speaking, and extensive community advocacy. She has developed and integrated workforce diversity strategies, policies, and processes, fostering inclusive work environments, and ensuring leader accountability within corporate, education, and private consulting industries.

Deborah is recognized as a subject matter expert and role model in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. Her work was previously recognized through the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth Changemaker Award and the Esquao Award from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women. Her passion is evident by the changes she has driven from seeing pride in Indigenous youth, equitable Indigenous employment in Canada, and the education and awareness of all Canadians about the true colonial history of the country.

Congratulations Deborah!

The Isgaakuwa (Young Persons) Award recognizes exceptional Indigenous youth who demonstrate leadership, a strong desire and commitment to achieve educational goals, support others to continue in their academic endeavors and participate in cross-cultural activities involving Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

Magel Labelle aspires to make a positive impact in his family and community and accomplishes this through dedication to his education and community involvement. He is passionate about music and his desire to share this passion with others drives his future aspirations. His dream is to open his own music studio and teach vulnerable youth, using music as a tool for healing and empowerment. To help achieve this goal, he is enrolled in Business Administration and Social Innovation at Mount Royal University. He is also a leader and a mentor at The Alex Youth Health Centre, where he works with other young people and participates in the IndigeNight program. This program allows him to celebrate and strengthen his Indigenous identity, as well as to teach and reconcile with non-Indigenous participants. "I hope that this award will inspire other Indigenous youth to follow their passions, to embrace their identities, and to contribute to the positive changes that are happening in our communities and across our country,” says Labelle.

Congratulations to Magel!

CAUAC and The City would like to thank all nominees for their contributions and leadership.

Video of the award ceremony is available on our website at calgary.ca/CrowchildAwards