Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 12/04) - Wise women of the North received well-deserved kudos for their community work last week.

The 2004 Wise Women Awards ceremony was held in the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly on International Women's Day, March 8, with more than 150 people in attendance.

This year's recipients include: Mary Teya, Beaufort Delta region; Albertine Rodh, Deh Cho region; Be'sha Blondin, North Slave region; Beverly Masuzumi, Sahtu region; and Marilyn Sanderson, South Slave region.

An annual event, the awards are presented to Northwest Territories women who are role models for their communities and committed to improving the lives of women and family

As each winner was called to the podium to accept her award, a presentation was made and a speech given.

Bea Rodh accepted the award on behalf of Albertine Rodh and Roberta Peterson accepted the award on behalf of Beverly Masuzumi.

For Marilyn Sanderson, the award was a complete surprise.

"I'm honoured. You don't realize the things you do in your everyday life," she said. "I will continue to try and be a good role model for my community."

Mary Teya had similar thoughts on being one of this year's recipients. "I feel the hardship is all paid for today," Teya said of her early years of struggle in the North.

"I've been working for years for the things I thought were important to women and the community and where I feel it is important. I'll never forget this wonderful day."

Be'sha Blondin was humbled to receive her award.

"Thank you for giving me the honour of being a wise woman," she said.

"This work is for all my grandmothers, my grandfathers, my sisters and all the little ones growing -- so when they grow, they will build on their culture. I'll do this until the day I die."