Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 28/99) - Hero Michael Nolting said he didn't panic when his baby sister, Kira, started choking on a digestive cookie one morning last January.

"I really didn't think about being nervous," said the 11-year-old, "but I was a little upset and I tried to move quickly."

Michael's mother, Kerri, said she'd just gone downstairs to put something away when her younger son Christopher told her the baby was choking.

"I ran back up into the room and Michael had her and was patting her on the back," Kerri said, "and then with his finger swept out the rest of the cookie from her mouth while I stood there and watched."

The Noltings credited Michael's involvement with the Yellowknife St. John Ambulance Brigade for providing him with the level-headedness to cope with the emergency and the knowledge to save baby Kira's life.

But Michael's heroics were not appreciated by his family alone. During a special ceremony held at the legislature Tuesday, NWT Commissioner Dan Marion presented Michael with a special award -- praising both him and the brigade for their contributions to the community.

"I feel proud and happy," Michael said, after hearing the commissioner sing his praises.

St. John executives and supporters were also on hand for the event, which included first-aid demonstrations by some of the brigade's 40 cadets and juniors and saw the launch of its Millennium fund-raising campaign.

Council director Lynn Cook said the Millennium campaign is designed to supplement funding provided by the Workers' Compensation Board and the GNWT.

Cook said funding also supports the youth-training program -- a fact appreciated not just by Michael but by his fellow cadet Mackenzie McNamara.

"At first my friend Lucas just came and so then I went with him," Mackenzie said, explaining his decision to join the brigade. "I thought it was a good idea, actually I know it's a good idea because two weeks ago my brother fell downstairs -- his nose was bleeding, but I checked it out and it wasn't broken."

"I wasn't scared," he assured. "But my mom was really freaked out."