The NWT Recreation and Parks Association (NWTRPA) has announced the winners of its annual awards.

The awards celebrate people who promote recreation and active living in their communities and across the North.

The organization鈥檚 innovation award will go to Amanda Pokiak of Inuvik.

The Scott McAdam Youth Leadership Award will go to Maverick Simba-Canadien of Kakisa.

Tuktoyaktuk-born Inuvik resident Steve Cockney will receive the Elder award.

The on-the-land award will go to Ashley Okrainec, Megan Okrainec and Rosa Wright of Fort Simpson.

鈥淧eople working and volunteering in recreation give so much of themselves, their ideas, time, energy, and leadership, in ways that have a real, positive impact on the communities they serve, and most importantly on the people in those communities,鈥� NWTRPA interim executive director Tim Van Dam stated in a Jan. 9 news release.

鈥淥ften, people don鈥檛 even see themselves as community leaders and the NWTRPA Awards is our way of recognizing how important and valued their leadership is.鈥�

The release stated that 鈥渆ach recipient will select how they wish to receive their award in their community鈥� as part of NWTRPA鈥檚 efforts to decolonize its award program.

鈥淭he first pillar of our strategic plan is to continue to transform the NWTRPA through a commitment to decolonization, reconciliation and racial equity, and we honour that commitment by working with partners to have respectful and relevant awards,鈥� said Van Dam.

The NWTRPA works with communities across the territory to promote healthy living through active recreation. The organization鈥檚 award program was established at one of its first ever board meetings, in the fall of 1989. Nominations can be made throughout the year.