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Shirley Firth
Shirley Firth (31 December 1953 in Aklavik, Northwest Territories – 30 April 2013) was a Canadian cross-country skier who competed in four consecutive Winter Olympics in 1972, 1976, 1980 and 1984. Career Of Metis descent and a member of the Gwich'in First Nation, Firth was one of the first indigenous North Americans to represent Canada in the Olympic Games. Firth was the recipient of the Order of Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. She was also voted Canadian Women's Nordic Skier of the Year six times by ''Ski Racing Magazine.'' She was the twin sister of fellow ski team member Sharon Firth. The sisters participated in the Territorial Experimental Ski Training program that introduced cross country skiing to northern Canada. Consequently, the sisters made the first ever Canadian cross-country ski team that competed in the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo. They credit the many important lessons they learned whi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aklavik
Aklavik (Inuvialuktun: ''Akłarvik'') (from the Inuvialuktun meaning '' barrenground grizzly place'') is a hamlet located in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Until 1961, with a population over 1,500, the community served as the regional administrative centre for the territorial government. Because of repeated flooding in this area, the government developed Inuvik to the east. It was meant to entirely replace Aklavik, but many of the residents of the original community persevered and kept Aklavik going. Its 2018 population was 623. The hamlet's mayor is Andrew Charlie. History Aklavik began to develop in the early 1900s after the Hudson's Bay Company opened a trading post in 1912. The Roman Catholic Church later established a mission here in 1926. Located on the Peel Channel, the community became a transportation hub in the Mackenzie. It was in a good trapping area. Aklavik became part of the Northwest Territories and Yukon Radio System (NWT&Y) in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
