Coeur d'Alene Tribe leader Ernie Stensgar received the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations' Humanitarian Award on Friday.

"Ernie is a person of outstanding integrity, passion, kindness, honesty, service to others and commitment to peacemaking," said Coeur d'Alene Mayor Dan Gookin, who proclaimed Sept. 18, 2026, as "Ernie Stensgar Day" in Coeur d'Alene.

Stensgar served on the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Council for 45 years and was chairman from 1986 to 2004. Gookin credited Stensgar with playing a pivotal role in the development of the Coeur d'Alene Casino, which contributes an estimated $300 million annually to the regional economy.

Gookin also said Stensgar helped secure tribal sovereignty rights and ownership of the lower third of Lake Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe.

Upon accepting the award, Stensgar thanked KCTFHR Secretary and founding member Tony Stewart for his history of collaboration with the tribal council on human rights issues. He expressed gratitude to tribal members, his wife and his family for their support.

"It wasn't hard to speak out against racism and what was happening in our country," Stensgar said at the 27th annual banquet at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn. "My dear mother was very spiritual, and she taught me from an early age to treat people with respect, dignity and friendship."

The evening featured keynote speaker Dr. Lauren A. Bairnsfather, CEO of the Anne Frank Center USA. Bairnsfather opened her remarks by introducing a special guest, Carla Peperzak, a Holocaust survivor and member of the Dutch resistance.

"As a teen, she made the choice to help hide Jewish people," Bairnsfather said. "Through her efforts, 140 people had a chance at life."

Bairnsfather spoke about the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Anne Frank, both of whom were born in 1929. Each faced persecution because of their identities, she said. Bairnsfather encouraged audience members to read the writings of both Frank and King.

"They were writing about the same belief in humanity," she said.

Bairnsfather, whose work focuses on Holocaust education, said one of the most common questions people ask is, "What would I have done?"

"The better question to ask is 'What am I doing now? And what can I be doing?'" she said.

Near the end of the ceremony, the Ray and Jeanne Givens Civil Rights Awards were presented to Dr. Mary Noble and Hershel Zellman of Temple Beth Shalom for their efforts to promote Holocaust awareness.

Throughout the evening, speakers struck a hopeful and grateful tone, looking toward the future of human rights work in Kootenai County and beyond.

"I've been there in the dirt, no water, no house, chopping wood, no electricity. I lived through that and what we have today. I lived through inadequate medical care and inadequate education,” Stensgar said. “I look at my grandkids here and I see tomorrow. I see a greater America."

    Ernie Stensgar receives the KCTFHR Humanitarian Award from Tony Stewart and Christie Wood, accompanied by current Coeur d'Alene Tribe Chairman Chief J. Allan.
  

    Ernie Stensgar receives the KCTFHR Humanitarian Award with Tony Stewart, Christie Wood, and current Coeur d'Alene Tribe chairman Chief J. Allan.