Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 3, 2007

FORT NORMAN - After years of bringing the Dene language to the airways, Paul Andrew's work was recognized this year with a National Aboriginal Achievement Award.

Andrew, who hosted television programs on CBC and now works as an Aboriginal correspondent for CBC North, will be presented the Media and Communications award at a ceremony on March 7 in Toronto. Andrew will be joined by other outstanding Aboriginals including a veteran hockey player, an internationally acclaimed artist and former premier Joe Handley.

Born and raised in Tulita, Andrew grew up living on the land like his ancestors. He worked in community services in Tulita, eventually serving as Chief and later vice-president of the Dene Nation.

Although Andrew left politics for media, he still sees his role as promoting the Dene people.

"I've always seen the media as a way to tell your stories," said Andrew. While living in the community, he saw that Aboriginal people often mis-understood the dominant culture, as much as the dominant culture mis-understood Aboriginal peoples.

"I saw the media as a link between those two."

With literacy skills a problem, as many elders today don't speak or read English, Andrew thought he would put his language skills to good use in informing the Dene population about what was going on.

"I love my job. I get to tell primarily elders, who have no other source of information, what's going on in this world," he said.

Andrew says he understands well what it's like living in a place where you don't understand the language or culture.

Having completed a pilgrimage in Spain in 2000, he got a sense of what it was like to be the lost minority.

Andrew said the award is a recognition of the importance of Dene culture and language.

"I've always seen my work as trying to bring pride for my people," said Andrew.

Andrew found out just after the election he was getting the award, and was told to keep it quiet until the official announcement was made this month.

"I'm pretty good at keeping things confidential, but this one was tough," admitted Andrew.

He travelled to Ottawa earlier this month to meet with other winners as the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation made the announcement. This is the 15th year the foundation has held the award ceremony, which features outstanding Aboriginal talents from across Canada. The ceremony will be held at the Sony Centre for Performing Arts.