Fourteen-year-old Owen Settee of Thompson, a 14-year-old Grade 8 student at Deerwood Elementary School who makes a habit out of helping out people who are living on the streets, was in Winnipeg over the weekend as one of five guests of honour at a gala dinner put on by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Alumni to recognize the 2013 Manitoba Heroes.

"The Blue Bomber alumni have often been revered as heroes in our province," said Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Blue Bomber Hall of Fame member Paul Bennett in a press release announcing the winners. "It was our turn to create an event that celebrates some unsung heroes that are tireless leaders working in our community. The response was incredible and our selection committee had a difficult time choosing just five winners with such an impressive group of nominees and their heartwarming stories. Congratulations to our 2013 Heroes!"

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Settee is being recognized alongside Michael Champagne, founder of the youth movement ATO! Aboriginal Youth Opportunities, and Ken Opaleke, director of the West Broadway Youth Outreach, as well as Althea Guiboche, who bakes homemade bannock for 400 people weekly at the corner of Dufferin and Main Street, and singer and entertainer Fred Penner, who serves as a spokesperson for organizations like UNESCO, World Vision, UNICEF and the Canadian Down Syndrome Society.

Settee's mother Sandra McDonald, told Keewatin Tribal Council chiefs during their annual general assembly in Thompson on Oct. 24 that her son started asking about homeless people soon after they moved to Thompson from Cross Lake in 2008.

"He kept asking me why are these people walking around with no warm clothing like warm jackets, winter boots, mitts, hats, everything you need to survive the cold winters in Thompson," said McDonald. "'They have nothing,' I said. 'They have no money, no food, no home to go to.'"

Settee first started helping out in 2011, when he initiated a food drive before Christmas.

"He collected food items from his school, from Smooks, from LABAN where he trains for his martial arts," said his mother. "Later on, when they announced that they're going to get rid of the penny, he had an idea. He said, 'Mom, I want to do another project.' He said, 'I want to collect pennies. I want to collect as much pennies as I can. And all that money I'm going to raise I'm going to give it to the Thompson Homeless Shelter,' he said."

When he was done, he had collected $1,358. Last year, he collected food, mitts and hats and donated them towards the Surviving the Cold fundraiser.

Settee hasn't slowed down either. He recently started a Facebook page called "Christmas for the Homeless: Owen's Initiative" to collect new winter clothing items for homeless people in Thompson.

"Most of the time these people are given used clothing but this time I want to help him to try and collect those new items like new winter coats, new winter boots, or anything, underwear, socks but new items and also on top of that we're going to try to get some turkeys, some ham, whatever you need for Christmas dinner," said McDonald, who spoke of her pride in her son's compassion, which he expressed during an interview with the CBC's Scott Oake.

"The first thing he said was that I see them as human beings with feelings. That was his answer," said McDonald. "I hope you guys work something out for these people. A lot of times I feel for them because when I look at them, they're hurting and they're lonely and I don't like that. Nobody should feel like that. Let's give them a chance and help them out."

Settee, who is the nephew of former Pimicikamak (Cross Lake) First Nation Chief Garrison Settee, was recognized for his efforts to help the homeless with a Soaring Eagle Award at the 2012 National Aboriginal Day celebration in Thompson. Attendees at the KTC annual general assembly passed the hat and contributed $510 to help pay for Settee and McDonald's trip to Winnipeg