Iqaluit (Feb 07/05) - The NWT's Beaufort-Delta area claimed more than its share of honours at the 2005 National Aboriginal Achievement Awards (NAAA) Tuesday.

Three of the 14 winners hailed from the Beaufort-Delta region and two still live there.

Selected by a national jury of past award winners, Bertha Allen of Inuvik was honoured with a lifetime achievement award; Sharon Firth, originally of Aklavik, took home the sports award; and Andy Carpenter Sr. of Sachs Harbour received the 2005 Award for the Environment.

"I feel pretty happy, I feel pretty good," Carpenter said of winning the award.

The 72-year old, who was once head of the Sachs harbour Hunters and Trappers Association, has devoted his life to the conservation of and sustainable use of wildlife by all peoples.

The founder of the Inuvialuit Game Council has won many awards over the years for his tireless work, but said this one made him particularly proud.

"Not too many get that award."

Today, Carpenter is considered to be an integral force in the conservation and management of wildlife.

Firth, one of the youngest winners, was able to attend the announcement in Ottawa, where she was presented with a special certificate by Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Her sports award recognizes the four-time olympian's career as a cross-country skier, which also took her to the world championships three times and left her with the 1985 title of Great American Ski Race winner.

But it's her work as a Youth Program Advisor for the GNWT and motivational speaker for young people in the North that she is most proud of.

"I tell youth to try to believe in their abilities because we all have gifts and talents that are given to us, we just have to search for them," she said.

"When you know you have the ability to accomplish great things in your life you have to do it. Don't give up but believe in your abilities. As long as you do the best that you can, nobody can take that away from you."

Born in Aklavik, raised in Inuvik and now living in Yellowknife, Firth said this was an honour she never expected.

"I knew that I was nominated but it was only in my wildest dreams that I'd get chosen."

Rounding out the Northern awards grab, Bertha Allen took home a single award that recognized the decades of hard work she has put in helping aboriginals across the country. Past winner of the Governor General's Award for the Commemoration of the Person's Case and several volunteer awards, Allen was also the only woman to sit on the Bourque Commission.

She has been president of the Native Women's Association of Canada, president of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women of the NWT and held many other high-profile positions.

She is a strong advocate for education who helped found the NWT Training centres in Yellowknife and Inuvik.

The 14 recipients of the 12th annual NAAA will receive their awards March 31 in Saskatoon, in recognition of Saskatchewan's Centennial Celebrations.

A special taping of the event will be broadcast on APTN so all residents of the NWT can take pride in the accomplishments of fellow Northerners.

"This is an award for all the aboriginal people," said Firth, who believes her award is to be shared by all the communities and young people of the North.