The Vera Hill-Sharrow Award was established in 1987. Each year this award is given to a Native/Indigenous woman to recognize her outstanding volunteer contributions to the community. A beautiful Pendleton Blanket is given as a symbol of honour to these recipients.
GAIL STUP RECOGNIZED AS 2019 RECIPIENT
BONNIE BRANT RECOGNIZED AS 2012 RECIPIENT
JACKIE LABONTE RECOGNIZED AS 2011 RECIPIENT
DIANA SOWDEN RECOGNIZED AS 2009 RECIPIENT
JOAN BARTON RECOGNIZED AS 2008 RECIPIENT
Joan Barton was announced as the 2008 recipient of the Vera Hill-Sharrow Award at the Chapter’s Annual General Meeting Sept., 14, 2008
Joan was one of the Founding members of the Niagara Chapter-Native Women Inc. She even held meetings at her home in the beginning. She has been an active member of NCNW and the FENFC. Joan was very involved in fostering native children-she always wanted them to be placed with native families and even ended up adopting two while raising two children of her own. She helped to start a group called, the Native Children’s Support Group of Niagara and worked closely with Children’s Aid Society to support native children in foster care or who were crown wards to stay connected to their native culture. As a group, they took the children to pow wows, social events, local native friendships centre activities, etc. Joan leads by example, even today. There are other younger native families and individuals who are taking up where she has left off and working to keep native children in foster care and crown wards linked to their culture, and placed with family if possible and if not, with native families. Joan and her husband Jack alsong with other partners, also started Frontier landing, where they has Tawiscaron Village in 1985 (or there abouts) to teach the Iroquoian lifestyle, offer tours, hire native students and persons to work there.
Vera Hill – Sharrow Award Recipients
2019 – Gail Stup
2016 – Lisa Martin
2013 – Susan Maracle
2012 – Bonnie Brant
2011 – Jackie Labonte
2010 – Joan Barton
2009 – Diana Sowden
2008 – Joan Barton
2007 – Corine Nanticoke
2006 – Sharon Eagles
2005 – Margaret Broderick
2004 – Valerie Ghosen
2003 – Corine Nanticoke
2002 – Loretta Hill
2001 – Joyce Hill
2000 – no nominations
1999 – Shirley Hill
1998 – Kathy Owl
1997 – Dianna R. Sowden
1995 – Donna Jonathon
1994 – Elaine King
1993 – Eleanor Heaton
1992 – Merle Hill
1989 – Lou Martin
1988 – Norma General-Lickers
1987 – Lou Martin