February 1, 2010 --- The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF) Chair Len Flett is proud to announce that Roberta Jamieson NAAF President and CEO has been named a mentor for the Trudeau Foundation. 

Ms. Jamieson is one of ten nationally recognized and experienced Canadian public leaders who will be paired up with bright young Ph.D. student recipients of a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship.

“The extraordinary work that Roberta Jamieson does with the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation serves as a perfect platform for continued work with young people, she understands their challenges and the importance of realizing their dreams,” said Mr. Flett.

Foundation President Dr. Pierre-Gerlier Forest summarizes the purpose of the Trudeau Mentorship as follows: “As citizens of the world, our Mentors have a nationwide reputation based on their extraordinary achievements in their own particular field. All have declared themselves ready to share their knowledge and skills with young people just starting out in their careers and to introduce them to their professional and social networks.”

The first woman from a First Nation in Canada to graduate from law school, former Ombudsman of Ontario and former Chief of the Six Nations of the Grand River, leader in race relations and conflict resolution, and now President and CEO of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, Ms. Jamieson is committed to enriching Canada by advancing Aboriginal achievement .

Ms. Jamieson joins a stellar group of mentors lending their exceptional skills to the Trudeau Foundation’s key areas of citizenship, Canada’s role internationally, human rights and dignity and the environment.

The Trudeau Mentorship sees the Foundation appoint up to 12 Mentors per year to facilitate interactions with the Scholars and participation in meetings held by the Foundation. Trudeau Mentors are selected from the most eminent Canadian practitioners in all sectors of public life, from the creative arts to business, and public service to social activism. 

Ms. Jamieson’s fellow 2010 Trudeau Mentors include: Guy Berthiaume (Que.), Edward Broadbent (Ont.), Donald W. Campbell (B.C.), Maria Campbell (Sask.), Jim Judd (Ont.), Pierre Pettigrew (Que.), Edward Roberts (N.L.), Guy Saint-Pierre (Que.) and Jodi White (Ont.)

For media inquiries, 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.