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George Couchie is presented with an award by Governor-General of Canada David Johnston. Submitted photo.
Retired OPP officer George Couchie of Nipissing First Nation is this year’s inductee to the Nipissing District Human Rights Hall of Fame.
"I am quite honoured by it," Couchie told BayToday.
"When I first started policing back in my old community, I realized I needed to do more work in my own community and outside of the community learning about our culture and the traditions of aboriginal people."
Couchie retired from the OPP in 2014 after 33 years of policing, with much of that time spent training police officers, teachers, government employees and other professionals about the history of native people in Canada and the effects of residential schools on First Nations communities.
He continues to teach an experiential one-week course on the subject.
His passion for creating brighter futures for Aboriginal youth has been the driving force behind his work for many years, according to a release from the Hall of Fame.
About 20 years ago he approached a local school to allow him to come in to the classroom and teach native children about self-esteem. He created a 10-session program to present material he put together. He named the program Walking the Path.
Since then he has trained many police officers how to deliver the program and it has been written in to the curriculum of the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board and has been translated to French. Couchie received an OPP Commissioner’s Citation for Walking the Path.
That, he said, was very satisfying.
"I think so. Realizing I had to go into the schools and teach about my culture and traditions and being a police officer helped me get into the schools."
He was honoured with an eagle feather from the community of Nipissing First Nation for youth programs and his volunteer work in 2005 and again in 2013.
He received the Order of Merit of the Police Forces of Canada in 2013, the Queen’s Jubilee Award in 2012, a lifetime achievement award from the Union of Ontario Indians in 2007, a nomination for National Native Role Model in 1997 by then Nipissing MP Bob Wood, and an Ovation Award from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services in 2008.
Over the years as a trainer with the OPP he trained more than 6,000 people.
He continues to volunteer in schools and maintains his training program. He also provides workshops on healthy relationships, domestic violence, suicide prevention, culture and traditions, paddle making and drum building.
Since his retirement he created his own business, Retail Hawk Training & Consulting.
George Couchie lives on Nipissing First Nation with his wife Carolyn and three children. He is a former national power lifting champion. George’s spirit name is Zoongiday which means ‘strong heart’ in Ojibway. He is a member of the Red-tailed Hawk (Gibwanasii) Clan.
He will receive his award at the 27th annual Evening of Applause March 25 in the auditorium at École secondaire catholique Algonquin.
The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and the public is welcome to attend. There is no charge.
Students Who Make a Difference will also be honoured, as will four anti-racism poster contest winners.
There will also be four school performances on the theme of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is March 21 each year.
The International Day project is a partnership including the North Bay & District Multicultural Centre, all four school boards, Nipissing University and Canadore College.
