Canim Lake Band (CBL) administrator Alana Dixon was the recipient of a 2011 Aboriginal Finance Office Association (AFOA) of Canada-Xerox Leadership Award.
She won the award in the Community and Regional category for her many years of dedication and leadership in finance.
Her award was one of just two presented during a banquet in February at the national AFOA annual conference in Vancouver, where she sat at the head table.
The band council and some of its staff went along to see her receive the honourable distinction, but Alana said she believes the award is an achievement of the whole CBL community.
"I am just honoured to receive the award, but I acknowledge and accept it on behalf of our community, our leadership and our staff."
Alana said she was quite surprised by the crowd when she walked into the conference room at the posh Westin Bayshore Hotel to receive her award and give an acceptance speech.
"There were 1,100 delegates in the room because this was national. There were people there from right across Canada, all the provinces and the Yukon."
Xerox Canada Ltd. business development manager Garet Myden noted Alana is highly regarded by her staff.
"Alana is characterized by her peers as professional, ethical and compassionate about her work and community. Her dedication to building community capacity extends beyond the administration office to include youth, the elderly and disabled."
Nominated by her own staff, Alana said it was a "highly kept secret."
She had originally told a finance employee that their department could perhaps nominate the community, but later thought she had missed the deadline.
"They turned around and were nominating me, without me knowing, and they got support letters from the District of 100 Mile House, [Mayor Mitch Campsall, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA], Donna Barnett, the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council (NSTC) and some others."
In her past 27 years as administrator, Myden noted, Alana has provided leadership and direction to several managers who oversee more than 100 programs and services.
He added she has built a strong administration team that takes pride in preparing quality, timely and detailed reports to support contribution agreement requirements.
The band administrator also established a 4-H Club and is representative of the NSTC's Administrators Network to advance tribal governance and policy.
Alana is a founding member and president of the new Northern Secwepemc Cultural Society, and is working diligently toward establishing a related cultural centre at the 108 Heritage Site.
A NSTC release stated that the honourable and prestigious award included free conference registration and up to $1,000 in financial assistance to attend the Conference.
The other AFOA award recipient was Aboriginal Healing Foundation chief operating officer Terry Goodtrack of Toronto, presented for his national leadership.
