Scott Crabbe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 07/00) - If you know a Northern woman who goes that extra mile for their community, family and friends, the NWT Status of Women Council wants to hear about her.

The council has issued a call for nominations for its annual Wise Woman Awards.

"(The Wise Woman Award Program) really gives you a sense of how much work these women do," said Rosemary Cairns, executive director of NWT Status of Women Council.

"They have a capacity to do almost anything. They'll take a boat down the Hudson Bay and still make it home to care for their family."

The award program, which has been running since 1992, has generated southern interest and inspired as many as 33 nominations last year from throughout the Northwest Territories.

This year the council wants to honour one woman from each of the following five regions: North Slave, South Slave, Deh Cho, Sahtu and Beaufort-Delta. The winners will be announced on International Women's Day, March 8, 2000.

"Some of these women do so much work," said Viola Beck, president of the council.

"They work with arts and crafts, as well as community service, clubs, and drug and alcohol awareness programs."

A past award winner is Angeline Qilluq Simik of Chesterfield Inlet. Simik, 69, teaches Grade 1 and has been a teacher for 26 years. She adopted two children -- one is still attending school -- and has seven children of her own. She also finds time after work to spend with her seven grandchildren.

She provides all the necessities for her husband (a full-time hunter), including hunting clothes, food supplies and equipment.

"We hear the talk on education being the key, but do people realize what little education would be without the teachers," reads a line from her nomination.

Wise Women are chosen from nominees who have shown dedication and commitment to the community, have helped bring benefits to women and their community and who serve as role models for other women.

Nomination forms have to be submitted by Feb. 20 and can be picked up at the Status of Women Council office in Yellowknife. For more information, contact the council.