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Aboriginal-Rights Champion Cindy Blackstock Awarded Atkinson Fellowship
Toronto, November 23 - Cindy Blackstock has been awarded the Atkinson Foundation's Economic Justice Fellowship. The three-year Fellowship will provide $100,000 annually for Ms. Blackstock's advocacy on behalf of First Nations children and communities.
“With every generation comes an opportunity to create a better world. But First Nations children are debilitated by funding inequalities in education and child welfare. We can correct past mistakes by giving this generation a real opportunity to understand their place in the world differently and to succeed,” said Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the First Nations child and Family Service Caring Society of Canada.
Ms. Blackstock is one of Canada's leading and most passionate spokespersons for the promotion and strengthening of First Nations cultures, knowledge and rights. A member of the Gitksan First Nation, she has worked in the field of child and family services for over 20 years.
“The foundation was inspired by Cindy Blackstock's authoritative, passionate and relentless pursuit of justice for First Nations. We believe that our support will go a long way towards educating ordinary Canadians, decision makers and influencers, on the importance of these issues and the possibility for change," said Peter Armstrong, President of the Board of Trustees of the Atkinson Charitable Foundation.
The announcement took place during the launch of a new photography exhibition entitled "Caring Across Boundaries." Curated by Ms. Blackstock, with photographs by Liam Sharp, it documents the hopes and dreams of three First Nations communities and runs at First Canadian Place in Toronto November 23-27.
“This Fellowship addresses issues of utmost importance not only to First Nations, but to all of us as compassionate Canadians, as Canadians committed to justice, and as Canadians who understand the critical role of Aboriginal people to our future prosperity. It's time to turn a page and commit to a better future for everyone,” said Charles Pascal, Executive Director of the Atkinson Foundation.
Fellowships support social change leaders to think and act for a more just future for all Canadians. Previous winners include progressive economist Armine Yalnizyan, former premier Roy Romanow, housing activist Cathy Crowe, and immigrant rights advocate Uzma Shakir.
The Atkinson Charitable Foundation, a private Canadian foundation established in 1942, seeks to promote social and economic justice in the tradition of its founder, former Star Publisher Joseph E. Atkinson.
For information: Pedro Barata, Atkinson Foundation, (416) 302-7524
TORONTO STAR PROFILE
CINDY BLACKSTOCK AWARDED ECONOMIC JUSTICE FELLOWSHIP
Profile by Laurie Monsebraaten, in Toronto Star (Nov 22)
There were two things you didn't want to be growing up in northern British Columbia in 1964 – a communist and an Indian, says Cindy Blackstock, 45, the Atkinson Charitable Foundation's 2009 Economic Justice Fellow.
"I didn't know what a communist was. But I knew what it was to be Indian," says Blackstock, whose father is a member of the Gitksan Nation and whose mother is white. "I would be treated completely differently when I was with my father than when I was with my mom because my skin is lighter."
Blackstock still shudders at the memory of the "Indian entrances" to local taverns and the residential schools in some of the remote communities where her father worked as a forest ranger.
But her mother, Helen, taught her about social justice and how to rise above discrimination.
"My mother always grew extra vegetables so the kids next door had enough to eat and invited the worst kids in the neighbourhood over to play because she believed all children need a chance," Blackstock recalls.
Her mother's example led Blackstock into a career in child and family services, where she has seen first-hand how Ottawa spends less money on child protection services for First Nations children than the provinces spend on services for non-aboriginal children. The discrimination prompted her to help establish the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada in 1999 to lobby for change. As executive director of the society, Blackstock and the Assembly of First Nations have spearheaded a landmark Canadian Human Rights Commission Tribunal complaint against the federal government. The hearing began in September.
Although not a mother herself, Blackstock believes strongly in the promise of every child.
"With every generation comes an opportunity to create a better world," Blackstock says. "No matter how many mistakes we've made, we can correct them by giving this generation a real chance to understand the world differently, understand themselves differently and grow up respecting their environment and each other.
"Half of my working life I have worked for non-aboriginal kids because I really believe in the well-being of all children. My focus on aboriginal children is partly because of who I am and the fact that they get so much less than every other kid."
Atkinson Charitable Foundation president Peter Armstrong says the foundation was inspired by Blackstock's authoritative, passionate and relentless pursuit of justice for aboriginal children.
"We at the foundation believe that our support of Cindy can go a considerable distance towards educating ordinary Canadians, as well as decision makers and influencers on the importance of these issues. And show that there are solutions," says Armstrong.
"The fellowship and the recognition that it provides is really important," says former prime minister Paul Martin, who has dedicated much of his time in retirement to promoting justice for First Nations. "Cindy Blackstock's whole life has been dedicated to this. And I think we're finally beginning to see the pebbles in the river starting to move. We've just got to start moving the rocks."
THE AWARD, to be announced tomorrow at the launch of a new photographic exhibit of images from three northern First Nations communities, will provide up to $100,000 annually for three years to support Blackstock's work.
"I honestly believe if you live this life well and if you are really lucky, you have one opportunity to make a difference for people," she says.
"I just feel that this might be it. That we might be at a point where we can really turn this page in history and really allow this generation of First Nation children to grow up in respect and honour in this country."
– Laurie Monsebraaten
See Photo Gallery of Images from Caring Across Boundaries, a photo exhibit opening Monday Nov 23 at First Canadian Place. Sponsored by the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, the collection by freelance photographer Liam Sharp depicts the dreams of native children in three northern communities.
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