Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 24, 2007
YELLOWKNIFE - George Blondin is a Northern role model, and a new a scholarship established in his honour is hoped will inspire the territory's youth to succeed.
George Blondin was honoured by his granddaughter Fiona Blondin-Fiorini when she contributed $25,000 to the National Aboriginal Achievement foundation, to establish the first George Blondin Aboriginal Scholarship Award. - Chris Woodall/NNSL photo |
The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF) announced this month the George Blondin Aboriginal Scholarship Award, a bi-annual scholarship given to a status Indian originating from the NWT enrolled in any post-secondary school.
Unlike many of the foundation's scholarships that rely heavily on government and corporate contribution, the $25,000 initial funding was given personally by Blondin's granddaughter, Fiona Blondin-Fiorini and her husband Joseph Fiorini.
"What's really ground-breaking about this one in particular is it's from someone in the community who sees a need in the community and does something about it," said Roberta Jamieson, NAAF CEO.
"That's the kind of aboriginal benefactors we need."
The foundation gives grants and awards to aboriginals across the country. Saying that the greatest revenue in the North is our young people, Jamieson said giving them the resources to achieve their potential is essential in ensuring the success of the Aboriginal population.
"We know there are many more amongst the youth who will go far if given support," said Jamieson. "Given the resources to succeed they will, I have no doubt."
Another key to success, said Jamieson, is providing role models for our youth. With a list of accomplishments many can only dream of, the scholarship will help to provide the necessary resources for students, while giving them a role model to look up to.
Blondin, who still resides in Behchoko at the age of 85, has worked as a wilderness guide, miner, trapper, and vice-president of the Dene Nation. He was elected chairman of the Denedeh Elder's Council, worked with the Dene Cultural Institute and wrote a column for News/North. Although he no longer writes a regularly for News/North his past columns, which vary in topics from traditional stories to political commentary, still appear in the newspaper. He is the author of three books, and was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 2003.
The scholarship not only reflects Blondin's life time of achievements, but is a way for Blondin-Fiorini and her husband to give back to community.
"It took us a long time to save that money. Just as kind of regular people, we saw the need and we wanted to step forward," said Blondin-Fiorini. "I'll be driving my seven-year-old car for another seven years."
The first scholarship of $2,400 went to architecture student Ouri Scott, from Behchoko, who is working on a five year Master of Architecture program at the University of British Columbia.
Although a committee selects the recipient, Blondin-Fiorini, who lives in Toronto, said she had a chance to read about Scott, who comes from the same hometown as her and her grand-father.
"I really felt great about Ouri," said Blondin-Fiorini. "Being from a community, it takes a lot of people believing in you."
