2026 RARA Award Winners
FORT McMURRAY — The Regional Aboriginal Recognition Awards are honouring community leaders, youth, elders and volunteers across the Wood Buffalo region for their contributions and achievements.
The awards, known as RARA, were founded in 1986 by a group of local volunteers who set out to recognize Indigenous people making positive impacts in Fort McMurray and surrounding communities. Organizers say the goal has always been to celebrate excellence, promote pride and highlight contributions to the broader region, now known as the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.
This year’s Junior Achievement recipients include Bethany Cheecham from Anzac Community School, Keyannah Adby from Conklin Community School, Abigail Cardinal from Janvier Father R. Perin School and Aurora Boucher from Fort McKay Elsie Fabian School. Katie Whitehead of Fort Chipewyan’s Athabasca Delta Community School and Brielle Courteoreille and Layla Loutitt from Fort McMurray Public Schools are also being recognized, along with Ashlynn Boostrom from Fort McMurray Catholic Schools.
Sadie Antoine has been named Female Youth of the Year, while Silas Kragnes-Courteoreille is Male Youth of the Year. Joe Grandjambe is Elder of the Year and Keith Cyprien has been named Trapper of the Year.
Simon Reese is receiving the Culture Award and Cindy Punko the Leadership Award. Bear Croucher has been recognized as Outstanding Athlete and Star Grandjambe as Outstanding Adult Student. Kayla Aikins is this year’s Artisan Award recipient and Stacey Atkinson has been named Volunteer of the Year.
Fabian Fort Contractors is receiving the Entrepreneur Award. Cindy Punko has also been named Female Citizen of the Year, while Brian Ross is Male Citizen of the Year. Marie Boucher is being honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Organizers say the annual event continues a long-standing tradition of recognizing individuals through community celebration, including a banquet, guest speaker, local talent and honour songs, in keeping with Indigenous customs of acknowledging accomplishment and service.
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