Wawmeesh George Hamilton, Hupacasath member working as a reporter with the Alberni News, was the winner of a 2013 BC Community Newspaper Ma Murray Award. He collected the hardware in Richmond on April 20.
His first place win was in the historical writing category for the story about the province's apology to the Hesquiaht First Nation for the historical hanging of one of their ancestors.
The BCYCNA is a non-profit membership organization representing 125 community newspapers throughout British Columbia and the Yukon, and it has a combined readership of more than two million readers.
He also took third place in the feature news photo category in the Canadian Community Newspaper Association 2013 awards.
Hamilton is embarking on a three-month leave of absence to work on a series of articles and photos for the Tyee.ca. The articles will have an aboriginal focus, and will be about programs and services that support aboriginal youth.
