5 août 2014 – Telegraph Journal TEN INDUCTED INTO THE OF VERITY STEVENSON TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

Ten New Brunswickers took a moment away from their activities Monday to take in the news of being appointed to the province’s highest order.

“I was actually out and doing our lawn and my wife came out with the cellphone and said, ‘You gotta take the line here,’” Ivan Hicks said over the phone about how he learned he’d received the Order of New Brunswick.

The renowned fiddler is among 10 citizens who have been recognized by the province for their contributions to communities and level of excellence in their fields.

“You say, ‘Well, holy jumpin,’ how did I get chosen for something like this?’” Hicks said Monday.“I’m just so thankful with what I’ve been able to do with my life to this point.”

Hicks has been playing the fiddle for about 68 years and has been spreading his passion for nearly as long, teaching, recording and playing the instrument that animated many a traditional dance. He is known as a music ambassador for New Brunswick with recognition from the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame and the North American Fiddlers Hall of Fame. He also served as Chairman of the Fiddles of the World Conference in Halifax in 1999.

Since 2000, the honour is granted to 10 people who have served their communities with what they do best.

Like Hicks, fellow inductee Lorraine Diotte has been sharing her cultural heritage with musical instruments, usually an accordion tightly grasped in her hands.She’s being recognized for her community activism,promoting Acadian culture and causes.

“(She) used these different media to decry the injustices and inequalities of society in an attempt to make things better for others, particularly the elderly,”a release on the Order of New Brunswick website says. Diotte had a column in her local newspaper, and has hosted television shows on top of teaching for 50 years and volunteer work.

For Roger Augustine,Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief for New

Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, the appointment is symbolic.

“The timing is perfect because we are now going into a transition and we are going to be spending a lot of time … to work on that relationship between the

First Nations and the province of New Brunswick”said Augustine.

He has spent much of his career working on aboriginal and non-aboriginal ties, and currently sits on a panel “to secure that link between the province and First

Nations.”

He has also worked on improving addiction treatment in the Eel Ground First Nation, where he is from, and has established a curriculum to help deal with addiction at the Eel Ground Federal School.

Augustine said his position itself was an improvement in First Nations representation. There used to be only one regional chief for Atlantic Canada, but now there are two – one for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador and another for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, his current role.

The chief was appointed to the order along with a former colleague, Justice Guy Richard, with whom he worked to draft an agreement for aboriginal fishermen to share the Esgenoôpetitj First Nation lobster fishery with other fishermen in the

Miramichi Bay area.

“Took us 40 days and 40 nights to put that report together.In the middle of the winter in minus-40 degrees, we travelled all parts of the region, talking to all people that were affected by the unfortunate events,” Augustine said of his work with Richard on the Burnt Church crisis, which followed two contradictory

Supreme Court rulings.

The rulings concluded that the aboriginal community could only fish lobster out of season for “subsistence” despite the community’s interpretation of the first ruling,claiming they could catch and sell lobster to make a“moderate livelihood” year-round. The conclusion came after non-aboriginal fishermen destroyed the out-of-season lobster traps laid by the aboriginal community. The report was called Building Bridges and established that First Nations fishermen should only fish in season with licences, but that they should be compensated for their destroyed equipment.

Richard, who began his legal career in Bouctouche and eventually was appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench, said the appointment to the order was humbling. After his retirement, he led a Université de Moncton committee devoted to the institution’s future and research.

“Everything I’ve done, I’ve done with love,”Richard said.

While Augustine and Richard have attempted to create unity within New Brunswick’s peoples, Himanshu Kumar Mukherjee has been doing so with newcomers.

“Ever since I came, I’ve been trying to work with people and my aim is to integrate immigrants into the mainstream” Mukherjee, who was born in India, said.

The physician has been an expert consultant in rehabilitation in North America and has worked to improve nursing home and rehabilitation service in the province since his arrival in the 1970s.

He is a World Health Organization Fellow and served as a director of the New

Brunswick Health Council for two terms.

But he’s also been committed to promoting the region to the international community, encouraging foreigners and businesses to make it their home. He recently received an unsung hero and a business ambassador award from the City of .

“I feel great and I really feel Canada is a great country,”Mukherjee said of being inducted to the order.

The inductees will be recognized at a ceremony later this fall.

“The drive, perseverance and hard work of these individuals has helped to make life better in our communities,” Premier David Alward said in a press release. FULL LIST OF ORDER OF NEW BRUNSWICK INDUCTEES

– Roger Augustine, Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, established several addiction treatment programs in his Eel Ground First Nation community. he was also chairman of the National Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board and is known for his efforts to strengthen aboriginal and non-aboriginal relationships – he co-founded the First Nations

Chiefs in Atlantic Canada’s political voice, the Atlantic Policy Congress.

– Author Wayne Curtis is being recognized for a prolific writing career, which saw him publish 16 books, a screenplay and earned him an honorary doctorate in letters at St. thomas University, and his commitment to Atlantic salmon conservation.

– Roch Voisine, a popular musician from Edmundston, is receiving the honour “for his contribution to the music industry that represents New Brunswick on a provincial, national and international level.”

– Lorraine Diotte’s 50 years as a teacher, artistic contributions, humanitarianism and Acadian activism is being acclaimed with her induction to the order.

– Innovatia co-CEo Roxanne Fair-weather is known for her work in New

Brunswick’s business community.

– Musician Ivan hicks has been recognized by the New Brunswick Country Music hall of Fame and the North American Fiddlers hall of Fame and now by the order of New Brunswick for his years of promoting the province’s musical culture and his contributions to the New Brunswick education system.

– himanshu Kumar Mukherjee is a health-care advocate who’s worked improve the province’s nursing home and rehabilitation services, and welcome immigrants to New Brunswick.

– Acclaimed jurist Guy Richard began his legal career in Bouctouche and eventually was appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench . After his retirement, he led a Université de Moncton committee devoted to the institution’s future and research.

– Cheryl Robertson of Saint John worked in most areas of public education, from teacher to principal, as well as for many of the city’s charities and business organizations.

– Claude Snow was a self-employed community social worker for 20 years and is being recognized for his many social justice causes.