A Prince George educator is in Ottawa today to be presented to Parliament in recognition of the National Aboriginal Achievement Award she will receive.
Dr. Margo Greenwood, a professor at UNBC and academic leader of the National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health, is one of 14 Canadians from a diversity of professions and backgrounds to be bestowed with an achievement award for outstanding contributions to our aboriginal culture.
Roberta Jamieson, president and CEO of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, said "her extraordinary life is more than worthy of such recognition."
UNBC's president, Dr. George Iwama, said her work brings benefits to UNBC and to all walks of Canadian life.
"We are delighted for Margo and celebrate the national leadership role she plays at our university. Her inspirational work links policy, research and practice to address the profound inequities in health and well-being in the aboriginal peoples in Canada. The impact of the work she does with her team and network is truly remarkable."
Greenwood's career has focused on early childhood education and addressing unfair shortfalls in health and education service for children. She was the author of the award-winning document "Aboriginal Children's Health: Leaving No Child Behind" for UNICEF Canada.
"The report concludes that aboriginal children fare well below national averages in almost all health status indicators (such as diabetes and suicide rates) and in the determinants of health and well-being (such as poverty and access to clean water)," said a UNICEF statement. "The disparity in health care is one of the most significant children's rights challenges facing our nation...UNICEF Canada released the report to help Canadians understand why many Aboriginal children do not receive the services and good health outcomes enjoyed by non-Aboriginal children, and highlight solutions that promote the rights inherent to all Canadian children."
Greenwood herself gave credit for her many achievements to the elders who passed down their ways to her and inspired her work.
"I am grateful every day for these teachers," she said. "In my work and in all that I do, I hope that I honour them. They taught me to use knowledge in a good way. I choose to use that knowledge as I think about our children, our families, and communities, and how it is that we are going to realize optimal health and well-being of all people."
The gala event will be filmed for broadcast on Canwest Global Television and Aboriginal Peoples' Television Network. It will be seen in early 2011.
