Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, November 28, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Though his future in politics is unclear, former premier Joe Handley is an aboriginal achievement award winner.

The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation announced Handley was the winner in the politics category Nov. 14.

"He communicates with people of all walks of life, shifting effortlessly from meetings with prime ministers and premiers to local dances in small communities," read an official release from the foundation.

"He is indeed a man of the people."

The 15th-annual awards are based on nominations from the aboriginal community, something of which the former premier said he was particularly proud.

"There is no more meaningful award than one that comes from your own people," the Metis politician said via phone, while waiting for a flight.

Handley said the award goes hand-in-hand with the elevation of the North in the national imagination in the last few years.

"I'm very proud of the reference to the North in the last throne speech," he said. "We've never seen the North figure as prominently on the national agenda."

Handley has yet to announce any plans for his political future, however when he announced his departure from territorial politics, he ruled nothing out.

"I'm going to keep all my options open," he said.

An award also went to CBC broadcaster Paul Andrew - originally of Tulita - for his work to preserve Dene language.

The National Aboriginal Achievement Awards were announced earlier this month during an event in Toronto, bringing all 14 nominees to the city.

The awards themselves will be handed out during a televised gala at Toronto's Sony Performing Arts Centre (formerly the Hummingbird Centre) March 7, 2008. The ceremony will be shown on Global and APTN.