NAAF Board Chair Len Flett Congratulates Roberta Jamieson

TORONTO -- Roberta Jamieson, President and CEO of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, was named one of Canada's Most Powerful Women at the 7th Annual Awards Summit hosted by the Women's Executive Network (WXE).

"Ms. Jamieson is well-deserving of this recognition," said Len Flett, Chair of the Board of the Foundation. "She is known in Canada and internationally as a strong advocate, a reasoned visionary, a powerful and convincing communicator and an effective promoter of indigenous artists. We value her leadership."

The Women's Executive Network Annual Awards honour women who are proven achievers in private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Each year an independent Advisory Board selects winners in eight categories. Ms. Jamieson's award is in the 'arts and communications' category.

Ms. Jamieson is the founding Chair of 'ImagiNATIVE', an international Media Arts Festival, now in its 10th year of showcasing the work of indigenous artists working in film, television, video, radio and multimedia formats. She is also the Executive Producer of the Gemini-nominated National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, a gala annual event televised on both APTN and Global TV networks featuring Aboriginal performers and honouring the accomplishments of 14 outstanding First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.

"This honour represents a renewal of my commitment to promote indigenous artists and to be a bridge and communicator to Canadians generally in extolling the accomplishments of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. Together we can ensure that our youth will have an opportunity to enrich Canada by realizing their potential," said Ms. Jamieson.

Ms. Jamieson was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1994. She has enjoyed a distinguished career. She was appointed Indian Commissioner of Ontario, after which she was appointed by the Ontario Legislature as Ombudsman of Ontario in which she served a full ten-year term and was vice president of the International Ombudsman Institute. She is a Mohawk from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory where she has resided throughout her life and served as elected Chief. Over the years, she has received 14 honourary doctoral degrees. In 2003 Ms. Jamieson was recognized for the first time by WXN as one of Canada's most powerful women in the category of Trailblazer.

The Summit took place at Toronto's Fairmont Royal York on November 30, offering female managers and executives from across Canada the opportunity to meet Award Winners and enjoy a day of professional development.

Founded in 1997, the WXN has 10,000 members and is Canada's leading organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of executive-minded women in the workplace. WXN creates and delivers innovative networking, mentoring, professional and personal development to support and recognize executive-minded women and their organizations in the pursuit of excellence.

For more information about this this year’s Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards recipients, please download the WXE's news release.

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

 The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF) is a nationally registered non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to deliver programs that provide the tools necessary for Aboriginal peoples, especially youth to achieve their potential. Since 1985 the Foundation through its Education Program has awarded more than $32-million in scholarships and bursaries to more than 8,400 First Nations, Inuit and Métis students nationwide. NAAF's key initiatives include: The National Aboriginal Achievement Awards (NAAA) a national annual broadcast celebrating 14 achievers in a multitude of career areas including a special youth award and an award for lifetime achievement; Taking Pulse joins NAAF with industry to present career options in specific growth sectors through a series of short documentaries and supporting curriculum materials with the aim of recruiting First Nations, Inuit & Métis youth; and Blueprint for the Future (BFF) a series of one-day career fairs that motivate and inspire  First Nations, Inuit and Métis high school students with valuable resources and information on career opportunities. Over 30,000 students have attended these exciting youth oriented events to date nationwide.