CHIEFS OF ONTARIO CONGRATULATES SASHA MARACLE, YOUTH RECIPIENT OF 2012 LINCOLN M. ALEXANDER AWARD
Toronto, ON (December 14, 2012) - Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy congratulates 6 Nations of the Grand River citizen and member of the Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council, Sasha Maracle for being bestowed the 2012 Lincoln M. Alexander Young Human Rights Advocate Award. The ceremony is being live-streamed at Queen’s Park and taking place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 14, 2012 (click on link to view).
The Lincoln M. Alexander Award honours youth who have demonstrated leadership in eliminating racial discrimination in Ontario. Awards are given by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. Awards were first given in 1993. Three awards are given each year: two student awards and one community award. Recipients receive a personalized certificate as well as a $5,000 cash award. The award is named after the Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, who was the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, serving from 1985 – 1991. He was the first member of a minority group to serve as a Lieutenant Governor in any province in Canada. Other award 2012 recipients included a Toronto student who raises awareness about violence and bullying in her high school and advocate for equality between ethnicities in her Brampton school.
Beardy stated “Despite overwhelming obstacles, First Nations youth are making progress. Our youth are determined to be heard and noticed in all sectors, including direct action as we are seeing in the #IdleNoMore Indigenous grassroots movement taking place throughout Canada.”
Sasha Maracle stated “I am very honoured to be receiving this, especially in the name of man who has made such tremendous impacts in Canadian politics and who has worked so hard on issues of social justice, human rights and race relations.” In addition, “I wish to extend my condolences to the Alexander family for their recent loss and thank them for sharing their loved one with all of us, for so many years.”
The Chiefs of Ontario is a political forum, and a secretariat for collective decision making, action, and advocacy for the 133 First Nation communities located within the boundaries of the province of Ontario. | 
