President and CEO

Ms. Roberta Jamieson, C.M., I.P.C., LL.B., LL.D. (Hon)

Roberta L. Jamieson is a Mohawk woman from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Ontario. In November of 2004, Ms. Jamieson was appointed CEO and President of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. NAAF is dedicated to realizing the potential of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit youth through scholarship assistance and other support.

Under her leadership, the Foundation has flourished. In her six years leading NAAF, support for Aboriginal youth has dramatically increased with NAAF doubling its previous total in bursaries and scholarship funding. NAAF has distributed approximately $43 million in support and helped over 11,500 students, with more than half of that support coming since Roberta's 2004 appointment. She has extended the Foundation’s career fairs into the North, Quebec and the Maritimes and is Executive Producer of the nationally televised National Aboriginal Achievement Awards.

Ms. Jamieson has enjoyed a distinguished career of “firsts.” She was the first First Nations woman to earn a law degree; the first non-parliamentarian to be appointed an ex-officio member of a House of Commons Committee; the first woman to be appointed Ombudsman of Ontario; and in December 2001, she was the first woman to be elected Chief of the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.

Ms. Jamieson was also Commissioner of the Indian Commission of Ontario and for ten years, Ombudsman of Ontario.

She has earned many awards, including the National Aboriginal Achievement Award (Law and Justice 1998), the Indigenous Bar Association’s highest award, Indigenous Peoples Council Award (IPC) and 18 honourary degrees. Ms. Jamieson is a Member of the Order of Canada.

She lives with her husband Tom Hill at their home at Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. They have a daughter Jessica and granddaughter Daisy.

Corporate Development

Mr. Ken Aucoin
Vice President, Development

Strategic and Resource Development is the fundraising arm of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. They seek out sponsorships in both the public and corporate sector, and maintain relationships with existing sponsors by keeping them informed of the Foundation’s activities and events. In turn, they make sure that NAAF is itself represented at events held by sponsors, creating mutually beneficial relationships between the Foundation and its many supporters.

Communications

Mr. John Ecker
Vice President, Communications and Media Relations

The Communications department manages the public image of NAAF by creating and issuing press releases, advertising, and producing visual, audio, electronic, and print materials. Communications acts as the liaison between the Foundation and all sponsors, performers, Aboriginal organizations, and government groups attending the Awards.

Finance & Operations

Mr. Tom Darnay CA, CAFM
Vice President, Finance & Administration

The Finance & Operations department provides all financial and operational support to the Foundation by administering payables, receivables, tax receipts, payroll, internal and external reporting, and other financial analysis and support as required. All general information technology support including all hardware and supply purchases are administered through the Finance & Operations department. The Finance & Operations department also operates as the liaison between all financial, operational, external and internal stakeholders.

Education

Dr. Noella Steinhauer
Vice President, Education

In 2003, the Canadian government recognized the importance of NAAF’s work by providing a $12 million endowment that offers much-needed additional support to Aboriginal students pursuing post-secondary education. In February of 2005, the government pledged an additional $10 million grant. This contribution joins the established Trusts the Foundation is proud to manage, such as the Aboriginal Veterans Scholarship Trust, which honours the often overlooked contributions made by Aboriginal veterans in defense of Canada. Other Trust Funds which the Foundation administers include; the Diana Fowler LeBlanc Aboriginal Social Work Scholarship Fund, the Desser Music Scholarship Fund, Great-West Life Business and Health Education Scholarship Trust Fund, Royal Bank Award in Memory of Beth Hamilton Bell Trust Fund, Ontario Aboriginal Partnerships Recognition Scholarship Fund, TransCanada PipeLines Scholarship Trust Fund, Govern­ment of Canada Trust Fund and the Education Trust Fund. NAAF continues to build its combined educational trust so that scholarships will be available in perpetuity.