FORT McMURRAY, Alta., March 30, 2026 — Author and Elder Robert Cree has been awarded the bronze medal from the 2026 Axiom Business Book Awards in the Memoir-Biography category for his book, The Many Names of Robert Cree: How a First Nations Chief Brought Ancient Wisdom to Big Business and Prosperity to His People.
“It was important to me to share my story about how Indigenous teachings can be applied to the business world for the benefit of everyone,” said Elder Cree. “But I never expected to receive international recognition for it.”
The award recognizes authors whose books inspire and inform individuals seeking to improve themselves and their professional ventures. This year’s awards attracted over 600 entrants from 31 countries globally, showcasing the depth and diversity of business publishing.
Published by Toronto’s ECW Press, represented by the Claire Gerus Literary Agency, and written with Therese Greenwood, The Many Names of Robert Cree is a first-person account of survival in a brutally racist residential school system designed to erase traditional Indigenous culture, language, and knowledge. It is also the story of an epic life of struggle and healing, as Cree takes the wisdom of his ancestors and a message of reconciliation to oil industry boardrooms.
In the storytelling tradition of his people, Cree recounts his early years in the bush, his captivity at a residential school, his struggles with addiction, his political awakening as one of Canada’s youngest First Nation Chiefs, and the rising Indigenous activism of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He also recounts the oil industry’s arrival on his poverty-stricken reserve and the ensuing struggle to balance economic opportunity with environmental challenges.
Throughout, Cree’s leadership is rooted in his unshakable commitment to the sacred traditional teachings of his people. His beliefs give him the strength to focus on hope, dignity, and building a better future for his community. Now a respected Elder and spiritual leader, Cree champions forgiveness as a powerful force that can bring healing and transformation for all.
Cree’s book is available across Canada in bookstores and on all major platforms in print, eBook, and audiobook narrated by celebrated Canadian actor Lorne Cardinal.
About the Axiom Business Book Awards: Since 2007, the Axiom Business Book Awards have honored the best business titles in more than 25 categories, shining a light on books that provide actionable insights, strategic guidance, and innovative perspectives for professionals at all levels. From leadership and management to entrepreneurship and personal finance, these awards recognize books that make a meaningful impact on the business world.
A panel of esteemed judges—including business executives, educators, and publishing professionals—carefully evaluates each entry for content, design, and creativity. By selecting 3–6 medalists per category, the awards ensure that influential voices in business publishing receive the recognition they deserve.
Previous medalists include renowned figures such as Nobel laureate Robert Shiller, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Pulitzer Prize winner Doris Kearns Goodwin, and philanthropist and investor Ray Dalio, among many other influential business and thought leaders.