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DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
Three Fort Providence residents have been honoured for their contributions to their community and the territory.

Johnny Landry, Samuel Gargan and Margaret Thom were presented with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medals during a ceremony held at Deh Gah School on Feb. 18.

The ceremony highlighted the importance of community service, artistry, politics and the commitment a person brings to their role in assisting the general community, said Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli, who presented the medals along with Fort Providence Mayor Tina Gargan and Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation Chief Wayne Sabourin.

"These individuals certainly did deserve recognition," Nadli said.

It was fitting that all of the school students were able to attend the presentation and see the honour that was being bestowed on the three individuals, said Nadli.

"I think the kids were somewhat awestruck," he said.

Each of the medal recipients was recognized for a different reason.

Samuel Gargan was honoured for dedicating much of his career to the people of the Deh Cho through politics. Gargan was the MLA for the Deh Cho for 16 years, including four years as Speaker of the legislative assembly. He has also served terms as the mayor of Fort Providence, the chief of Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation and the grand chief of Dehcho First Nation.

Margaret Thom has work diligently for the people of Fort Providence through counselling and education, said Nadli. Thom has been the community counsellor at Deh Gah School for more than 20 years.

She has also facilitated healing circles, parenting workshops and cultural camps for students. Thom also served as the deputy commissioner of the NWT for six years.

Johnny Landry was recognized for his musical career and his work to revitalize the Dene language. Landry said he was pleased to receive the medal.

"It's good for all the hard work and all the time I put into the music in my language," he said.

Landry has been involved in music for most of his life. He came from a musical family where many of his uncles played guitars and one was a song maker for tea dances.

Landry started playing in bands while in school and was part of the band Shi-Dene for about seven years beginning in the early 1980s. One of the band members introduced Landry to song writing and he was soon creating his own songs.

Landry's first album We are Standing, which included four songs, was released in 1986. The musician is currently working on his fourth album.

Landry said most of his songs, which are written in Dene Zhatie, are inspired by Dene stories and local history as well as the values of the Dene people including helping, respecting and loving each other. It takes Landry between two and six months to craft each song.

"You've got to work for the songs, you've got to earn them," he said.

Over the years, Landry said he's learned that you get out of the songs what you put into them. Landry said the music has helped him heal, learn about himself as a Dene and learn about local history.

"It's a lot of fun," he said.

Landry has been travelling and performing since the 1980s. He performs an average of once a month with his current band Johnny Landry and the Boys, but gets more requests during the carnival season. Supporting younger musicians is something Landry said he enjoys.

Turning 60 and with plans for a fifth album, Landry said he will continue with his current musical style for a few more years and then possibly do more traditional drumming.

Nadli said it was an honour to present the awards to these three respected community members. All three have worked for the best interest of the Dene culture and for the future of our youth, he said.

"It was fairly significant to receive a medal from the Queen," said Nadli.

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