Kakisa (May 05/06) - The Deh Cho was well represented when the NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards for 2006 were presented last week in Kakisa.

Barb Tsetso of Fort Simpson was the winner in the individual category, while Nahanni Butte's Bhreagh Ingarfield was honoured as youth volunteer of the year.

Two of this year's NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards went to residents of the Deh Cho -- Bhreagh Ingarfield, left, of Nahanni Butte and Barb Tsetso of Fort Simpson. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Ingarfield, 14, was the driving force in establishing the Nahanni Butte Animal Shelter. She and two of her friends - Kayla Betsaka and Kyra Tanche - launched the shelter in 2004 and received government grants to set up a building.

"All three of us love dogs," Ingarfield said.

The Grade 9 student said she doesn't really consider herself a role model for youth.

"But some kids have started hanging around the shelter and we want to start a program to show them how to take care of dogs," she noted.

Ingarfield said she was very surprised to win the volunteer award.

Tsetso was honoured for her volunteer efforts with the Fort Simpson Historical Society, the Open Sky Creative Society and other organizations.

Tsetso, the Deh Cho regional program co-ordinator with Aurora College, admitted to being a bit puzzled when she was named a volunteer of the year.

"I suppose, in the long haul, I've been involved in a lot," she said. "I was surprised and shocked."

Receiving the award is quite an honour, she added.

Although the 55-year-old volunteers with the Open Sky Creative Society, which promotes the arts, she is not an artist herself.

"I'm just an appreciator of the arts. I've always liked to support the development of the arts," she said.

The annual awards are presented by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) and Volunteer NWT.

Bill Graham, the chair of Volunteer NWT, said volunteerism is very important in the territory.

"It's a sign of a healthy community and something we need more of."

Chief Lloyd Chicot of Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation noted that in small communities, everyone has to help out to get things done.

"I think about that when I think of volunteering," he said.

The other winners are Ulukhaktok's (Holman) Mary Kudlak in the elder category and Yellowknife Victim Services in the group category.