Three deserving High Prairie women are among the 2011 Esquao Awards winners.

Leona Boyer, Melissa Isaac and Verna Wittigo are among many distinguished women chosen as part of the 16th annual awards class. The Esquao Awards are an initiative of The Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women.

Boyer receives her award in the Colleen Klein’s Children’s Future category for her work at the High Prairie Youth Assessment Centre. Isaac is recognized in the Aspiring Young Woman category for her work as leader of the Scorpions Taekwondo Club and Grade 1 teacher at High Prairie Elementary School while Wittigo receives her recognition in the Clara Woodbridge Community Involvement category. She has a long history of involvement as a Victim Service advocate and involvement in the Network Against Violence, Sucker Creek Women’s Shelter.

Each year the annual awards event draws over 1,000 people including corporate, government and Aboriginal leaders from across Alberta and Canada to celebrate the winner’s achievements. The Esquao Awards is renowned as the only awards ceremony in Canada that specifically celebrates the achievements of Aboriginal Women. In turn, the awards actively contributes to the dissolution of negative stereotypical views held of Canada’s First Peoples.

“In the communities we have strong Aboriginal women who are the catalyst to make things happen in their communities; they are the heart of the community and they are Esquao,” says Muriel Stanley Venne, founder of IAAW in 1995 and the Esquao Awards in 1996.

Since the inception of the Esquao Awards program, over 320 Aboriginal women from 76 communities throughout Alberta have been honoured.

“We recognize that just being nominated for an Esquao Award is an honour in itself and surely goes a long way to encourage our proud women of strength to continue to provide the leadership, compassion and understanding as we nurture the path together for our sacred trust – our children and grandchildren,” says Treaty 7 Grand Chief Charles Weaselhead, Blood Tribe.

The Esquao Awards will be presented May 26 at the Marriott at River Cree Edmonton.