NEWS RELEASE

September 1, 2010 - TORONTO --- It's time to honour someone outstanding in your community. Nominate them for a National Aboriginal Achievement Award.

The National Aboriginal Achievement Awards honour and celebrate the most outstanding Aboriginal people in the country.

The nomination deadline for the 2011 National Aboriginal Achievement Awards is fast approaching and accepting nominations until September 22, 2010.

"The awards are recognized both nationally and internationally as one of the highest honours the community can bestow upon its own achievers," said Roberta Jamieson, President and CEO of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation and Executive Producer of the Awards Gala. "All of our awards have gone to spiritual, political, cultural, social, academic, youth, and economic leaders who have served as an inspiration to our people and made an indelible mark on Canadian history."

Now in its 18th year, there are a total of 240 recipients of a National Aboriginal Achievement Award in diverse categories such as politics, public service, environment and natural resources, business and commerce, education, health, law and justice, culture, heritage, and spirituality, media and communications, sports, arts, and technology and trades. There is also a special youth award that includes a $10,000 cheque and a lifetime achievement award.

Aboriginal achievers will be celebrated at the 2011 National Aboriginal Achievement Awards in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2011.

In 1993, NAAF created the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards to encourage and celebrate excellence in the Aboriginal community in conjunction with the United Nation's International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples. The Awards have become a Canadian institution and are taped live and broadcast on Global and APTN annually.

Download your Nomination Form at www.naaf.ca/nominate.
Or call the NAAF Secretariat at 1-800-329-9780 ext: 242

NAAA Supporters for 2010/2011

Presenting Corporate Sponsor: CIBC

Lead Sponsor:  Government of Canada

Participating Partners: Government of Alberta - Aboriginal Peoples Television Network - Canwest - Air Canada - Tribal Councils Investment Group of Manitoba Ltd. - Nexen Inc. - Fort McKay Group of Companies - Society of Energy Professionals - Casino Rama - Government of the Northwest Territories

For more information, please contact:

John Ecker
Vice President, Communications and Media Relations
National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation
B: 416-987-0260
C: 647.408.5044
jecker@naaf.ca