The National Aboriginal Achievement Awards (NAAA) are annual awards presented by the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation

National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation

The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation is a nationally registered non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to deliver programs that provide the tools necessary for Aboriginal peoples in Canada, especially youth to achieve their potential.-About:To date the Foundation through its...

 in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. The awards are intended to celebrate and encourage excellence in the Aboriginal

Aboriginal peoples in Canada

Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....

 community.

About

The awards were first established in 1993 in conjunction with the United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

 declared International Decade of the World's Indigenous peoples

Indigenous peoples

Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....

. The awards are intended to celebrate and encourage excellence in the Aboriginal

Aboriginal peoples in Canada

Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....

 community. Awards may be presented in a variety of categories, depending on the particular achievements of Aboriginal people in the nominating period — 14 awards are presented each year including one for Lifetime Achievement and a Special Youth Award that comes with a cash prize of $10,000 and 12 career categories with not all individual career categories necessarily presented annually. To be eligible an individual must be of either First Nations

First Nations

First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...

, Inuit

Inuit

The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...

, or Métis

Métis people (Canada)

The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...

 heritage. Additionally they must demonstrate outstanding career achievement, and be a permanent Canadian resident or be Canadian born. The awards are broadcast annually on the Global Television Network

Global Television Network

Global Television Network is an English language privately owned television network in Canada, owned by Calgary-based Shaw Communications, as part of its Shaw Media division...

 and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network is a Canadian broadcast and cable television network. APTN airs and produces programs made by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples...

 (APTN). 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.

Eligibility Criteria

Individuals of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis ancestry who have reached a significant level of achievement in their respective occupations are eligible for nomination. Any person may nominate a candidate they deem to be worthy of this recognition with reference to the following criteria:

• Of First Nations, Inuit or Métis heritage
• Who demonstrate outstanding career achievement
• Of any age with the exception of the youth category
• Permanent Canadian Resident or Canadian born
• Youth achiever nominees must be 15-24 years of age

National Aboriginal achievement awards recipients

Each year 14 recipients are recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in various disciplines ranging from health, law, political science, culture, arts, and others, two of which are specific recognition to one outstanding youth achiever and one lifetime achievement recipient. The awards are recognized both nationally and internationally as one of the highest honours the community can bestow upon its own achievers.

2010

• Kananginak Pootoogook
  Kananginak Pootoogook
  Kananginak Pootoogook , was an Inuk sculptor and printmaker who lived in Cape Dorset, Nunavut. He died as a result of complications related to surgery for lung cancer.-Biography:...
  
   - Arts
• Ellen Melcosky - Business & Commerce
• Tom Crane Bear - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Dr. Raoul J. McKay - Education
• Danny Beaton - Environment and Natural Resources
• Madeleine Kētēskwew Dion Stout, BN, MA, Ph.D -Health
• Donald Worme, QC, IPC - Law & Justice
• William Commanda, OC - Lifetime
• Kenneth Atsenhaienton Deer - Media & Communication
• Hon. Eric Robinson - Politics
• Edith Cloutier - Public Service
• Skawenniio Barnes - Special Youth
• Monica Pinette - Sports
• Doug Henry - Technology & Trades

2009

• Melanie Jackson - Arts
• Dennis Jackson - Arts
• Allan C. McLeod - Business & Commerce
• Stephen J. Augustine - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Cecil King - Education
• Gordon W. Prest - Environment and Natural Resources
• Candace Grier-Lowe - Health
• Delia Opekokew
  Delia Opekokew
  Delia Opekokew is a Canadian lawyer. A Cree from the Canoe Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan, she was the first First Nations lawyer ever admitted to the bar association in Ontario and in Saskatchewan, as well as the first woman ever to run for the leadership of the Assembly of First...
  
   - Law & Justice
• The Rev. Stan Cuthand, B.Th. - Lifetime Achievement
• Carol Morin
  Carol Morin
  Carol Morin is a media personality, writer and artist from Saskatchewan.-Early life:Morin was born in Regina, Saskatchewan but is originally from Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan. She is of Cree and Chipewyan descent....
  
   - Media & Communication
• Paul Okalik
  Paul Okalik
  Paul Okalik MLA is a Canadian politician. He is the first Inuk member called to the Nunavut Bar, the first Premier of Nunavut and the only multi-term premier of a Canadian territory....
  
   - Politics
• Joan Glode - Public Service
• Chelsea Lavallée - Special Youth
• Adam Sioui - Sports
• Mervin J. Dewasha - Technology & Trades

2008

• Shirley Cheechoo - Arts
• Jim Boucher - Business & Commerce
• Hubert Skye - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Dr. Marie Ann Battiste - Education
• Elizabeth (Tshaukuesh) Penashue - Environment and Natural Resources
• Dr. Jeff Reading, MSc. PhD - Health
• David C. Nahwegahbow, I.P.C. - Law & Justice
• Norval Morrisseau
  Norval Morrisseau
  Norval Morrisseau, CM , also known as Copper Thunderbird, was an Aboriginal Canadian artist. Known as the "Picasso of the North", Morrisseau created works depicting the legends of his people, the cultural and political tensions between native Canadian and European traditions, his existential...
  
   - Lifetime Achievement
• Paul Andrew - Media & Communication
• Joe Handley
  Joe Handley
  Joseph "Joe" L. Handley, MLA is a former teacher and civil servant and was the tenth Premier of the Northwest Territories, Canada.-Early life:Handley was born in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan...
  
   - Politics
• Sylvia B. Maracle - Public Service
• Boyd Wesley Benjamin - Special Youth
• Reggie Leach
  Reggie Leach
  Reginald Joseph Leach is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, California Golden Seals, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings. He is best known for his time in Philadelphia, winning a Stanley Cup with...
  
   - Sports

2007

• Joane Cardinal-Schubert - Arts
• Jack Poole - Business & Commerce
• Alestine Andre - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Joe Michel - Education
• Chief David Walkem - Environment and Natural Resources
• Dr. Joseph Couture - Health
• Hugh Braker - Law & Justice
• Bertha Clark Jones - Lifetime Achievement
• Lisa Meeches - Media & Communication
• Fred Carmichael - Politics
• Lewis Cardinal - Public Service
• James Makokis - Special Youth
• Wegadesk Gorup-Paul - Sports
• Monica Peters http://www.Onkwehonwe.com - Technology & Trades

2006

• Jane Ash Poitras - Arts
• Bernd Christmas - Business & Commerce
• Wendy Grant-John - Community Development
• Gladys Taylor Cook - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Taiaiake (Gerald) Alfred - Education
• Billy Day - Environment and Natural Resources
• Dr. Herb Belcourt - Housing
• James (Sakej) Youngblood Henderson - Law & Justice
• Jim Sinclair - Lifetime Achievement
• Myra Cree - Media & Communication
• George Tuccaro - Media & Communication
• Tony Belcourt
  Tony Belcourt
  Tony Belcourt is a Métis Rights leader and activist in Canada. He is best known for his work as the founding President of the Métis Nation of Ontario in 1993 and his leaderhship through the Powley Case in 2003...
  
   - Public Service
• Andrea Dykstra - Special Youth
• Shirley Firth Larsson - Sports

2005

• Joe Jacobs - Arts
• Dr. Gerald McMaster - Arts
• Douglas Golosky - Business & Commerce
• Judy Gingell - Community Development
• John Joe Sark - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Dr. Eber Hampton - Education
• Dr. Emma LaRocque - Education
• Andy Carpenter Sr. - Environment and Natural Resources
• Dr. Thomas Dignan - Health
• Bertha Allen - Lifetime Achievement
• Brenda Chambers - Media & Communication
• Lolly Annahatak - Social Services
• Fauna Kingdon - Special Youth
• Sharon Anne Firth - Sports

2004

• Tina Keeper
  Tina Keeper
  Tina Keeper, OM , is a Cree activist, producer, former actress and former member of the Canadian House of Commons.Keeper is best known for her role as RCMP officer Michelle Kenidi in the CBC Television series North of 60, about the fictional aboriginal community of Lynx River. She also hosted a...
  
   - Arts
• Susan Point - Arts
• Osuitok Ipeelee - Arts
• Chief Clarence Louie - Business & Commerce
• Basil Johnston - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Dr. Carl Urion - Education
• Sheila Watt-Cloutier
  Sheila Watt-Cloutier
  Sheila Watt-Cloutier, OC is a Canadian Inuit activist. She has been a political representative for Inuit at the regional, national and international levels, most recently as International Chair for Inuit Circumpolar Council...
  
   - Environment and Natural Resources
• Muriel Stanley Venne - Law & Justice
• Andrew T. Delisle, Sr. - Lifetime Achievement
• Suzanne Rochon Burnett - Media & Communication
• Hon. Pearl Calahasen
  Pearl Calahasen
  Pearl Calahasen is a Canadian politician, who currently represents the electoral district of Lesser Slave Lake in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta...
  
   - Public Service
• Lee Wilson - Science and Technology
• Kristinn Frederickson - Special Youth

2003

• John Arcand - Arts
• Tom King
  Tom King (writer)
  Tom King is an American television writer and story board artist best known for his work on the animated children's shows The Ren and Stimpy Show, SpongeBob SquarePants, Camp Lazlo, Chowder and The Fairly OddParents...
  
   - Arts
• Mel E. Benson - Business & Commerce
• Gary Bosgoed - Business & Commerce
• Mary Richard - Community Development
• Charles Edward Lennie - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Leroy Little Bear - Education
• Simon Lucas - Environment and Natural Resources
• Dr. Judith Bartlett MD - Health
• Dr. Jay Wortman - Health
• John J. Borrows - Law & Justice
• Robbie Robertson
  Robbie Robertson
  Robbie Robertson, OC; is a Canadian singer-songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his membership as the guitarist and primary songwriter within The Band. He was ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
  
   - Lifetime Achievement
• Sophie Pierre - Public Service
• Matthew Dunn - Special Youth

2002

• Ohito Ashoona - Arts
• Frieda Diesing - Arts
• Harry Deneron - Business & Commerce
• Leonard (Len) G. Flett - Business & Commerce
• George Kurszewski - Community Development
• Elder Noel Knockwood - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Roy Fox - Energy
• Dr. Gilles Pinette - Health
• Alex Janvier - Lifetime Achievement
• Gail Gutherie Valaskakis - Media & Communication
• Jonah Kelly - Media & Communication
• Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton - Public Service
• Jordin Tootoo
  Jordin Tootoo
  Jordin John Kudluk Tootoo is a Canadian professional ice hockey player with the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League . He is both the first Inuk player and the first player who grew up in Nunavut to participate in an NHL game....
  
   - Special Youth
• Michael Nepinak - Sports

2001

• Tomson Highway
  Tomson Highway
  Tomson Highway, CM is a celebrated Canadian and Cree playwright, novelist, and children's author. He is the author of the plays The Rez Sisters and Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing, both of which won him the Dora Mavor Moore Award and the Floyd S...
  
   - Arts
• Dolly Watts - Business & Commerce
• Fred House - Community Development
• Mariano Aupilardjuk - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Dr. Freda Ahenakew
  Freda Ahenakew
  Freda Ahenakew, is a Canadian author and academic of Cree descent. She is a sister-in-law to the political activist David Ahenakew.- Biography :...
  
   (Hon.) - Education
• Mary Thomas - Environment and Natural Resources
• Dr. Lindsay Crowshoe - Health
• Dr. Harold Cardinal
  Harold Cardinal
  Dr. Harold Cardinal was a Cree writer, political leader, teacher, negotiator and lawyer.Dr. Harold Cardinal was a Cree writer, political leader, teacher, negotiator and lawyer.Dr...
  
   (Hon.) - Lifetime Achievement
• Roman Bittman - Media & Communication
• Zacharias Kunuk
  Zacharias Kunuk
  Zacharias Kunuk, is a Canadian Inuk producer and director most notable for his film Atanarjuat, the first Canadian dramatic feature film produced completely in Inuktitut...
  
   - Media & Communication
• The Honourable Leonard Marchand
  Leonard Marchand
  Leonard Stephen Marchand, PC, CM is a former Canadian politician. He was the first person of First Nations ethnicity to serve in the federal cabinet, and was the first Status Indian to serve as a Member of Parliament....
  
   - Public Service
• Richard Nerysoo
  Richard Nerysoo
  Richard Nerysoo is a territorial level politician from Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories, Canada. He was a member of the Northwest Territories Legislature from 1979 to 1995 and briefly served as the third Premier and Speaker of the territories....
  
   - Public Service
• The Honourable Nick Sibbeston
  Nick Sibbeston
  Nick G. Sibbeston is a Canadian Senator. He attended residential school in Fort Simpson, Providence, Inuvik, and Yellowknife, and the University of Alberta where he graduated with Bachelor of Arts and Law degrees.-Political career:...
  
   - Public Service
• Lance Relland - Special Youth

2000

• Art Thompson - Arts
• John Charles Bernard - Business & Commerce
• Chief Roy Albert Whitney - Business & Commerce
• Paul J. Birckel - Community Development
• Chief Simon Baker - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Edith Josie
  Edith Josie
  Edith Josie was a Canadian writer, best known as a longtime columnist for the Whitehorse Star. Her column, titled Here Are the News, concerned life in the small community of Old Crow, Yukon, and was syndicated to newspapers around the world...
  
   - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Dr. Jo-Ann Archibald - Education
• Miles G. Richardson - Environment and Natural Resources
• Fjola Hart-Wasekeesikaw - Health
• The Honourable Judge Steven Point
  Steven Point
  Steven Lewis Point, is the 28th and current Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.From 1975 to 1999, Steven Point served as Chief of the Skowkale First Nation...
  
   - Law & Justice
• Dr. Joseph Arthur Gosnell - Lifetime Achievement
• Leetia Ineak - Media & Communication
• Konrad Haskan Sioui - Public Service
• Waneek Horn-Miller - Special Youth

1999

• Dorothy Grant - Business & Commerce
• David Gabriel Tuccaro - Business & Commerce
• Dorothy Betz - Community Development
• Theresa Stevenson - Community Development
• Mitiarjuk Attasie Nappaaluk - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Howard Adams - Education
• Dr. Malcolm King - Health
• Dr. Edward Kantonkote Cree - Health
• Judge James Igloliorte - Law & Justice
• The Honourable Madame Justice Rose Toodick Boyko - Law & Justice
• Dr. Allen Sapp
  Allen Sapp
  Allen Sapp, OC, SOM is a Canadian Cree painter, currently living in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. His art and his story have become well known throughout Canada and has become an inspiration to many. His paintings tell a personal story. Many of his paintings feature images of his grandmother,...
  
   - Lifetime Achievement
• High Commissioner James Bartleman - Public Service
• Dr. Lillian Dyck
  Lillian Dyck
  Lillian Eva Quan Dyck is a Canadian senator from Saskatchewan. She was appointed to the Senate on the recommendation of Prime Minister Paul Martin on March 24, 2005....
  
   - Science
• Alika LaFontaine - Youth

1998

• Tantoo Cardinal
  Tantoo Cardinal
  Rose Marie "Tantoo" Cardinal, CM is a Canadian film and television actress.-Career:Cardinal was born in Anzac, Fort McMurray, Alberta. Her mother, Julia Cardinal, was a Métis of Cree descent...
  
   - Arts
• Daphne Odjig
  Daphne Odjig
  Daphne Odjig, CM, LL.D. , is an influential Canadian First Nations artist of Odawa-Potawatomi-English heritage. Her many awards include the Order of Canada and the Governor General's Award. Her painting is often characterized as Woodlands Style...
  
   - Arts
• Tagak Curley
  Tagak Curley
  Tagak Curley is an Inuit leader, politician and businessman from Nunavut. As a prominent figure in the negotiations that led to the creation of Nunavut, Tagak is considered a living father of confederation in Canada...
  
   - Business & Commerce
• Chief Abel Bosum - Community Development
• Dr. Emily Jane Faries - Education
• Dr. Cornelia Wieman - Health
• Roberta Jamieson
  Roberta Jamieson
  Roberta L. Jamieson, C.M. is a Canadian lawyer and First Nations activist. She was the first Aboriginal woman ever to earn a law degree in Canada, the first non-Parliamentarian to be appointed an ex officio member of a House of Commons committee, and the first woman appointed as Ontario...
  
   - Law & Justice
• Buffy Sainte-Marie
  Buffy Sainte-Marie
  Buffy Sainte-Marie, OC is a Canadian Cree singer-songwriter, musician, composer, visual artist, educator, pacifist, and social activist. Throughout her career in all of these areas, her work has focused on issues of Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Her singing and writing repertoire includes...
  
   - Lifetime Achievement
• John Amagoalik - Public Service
• Georges Erasmus
  Georges Erasmus
  Georges Henry Erasmus, OC is a Canadian Aboriginal politician. He was the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations from 1985 to 1991....
  
   - Public Service
• Dan E. Goodleaf - Public Service
• Wade R. Cachagee - Special Youth
• Bryan Trottier
  Bryan Trottier
  Bryan John Trottier is a retired Canadian-American professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins. He won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders, two with the Penguins and one as an assistant coach with the...
  
   - Sports

1997

• Kiawak Ashoona - Arts
• Gil Cardinal - Arts
• Graham Greene
  Graham Greene (actor)
  Graham Greene is a Canadian actor who has worked on stage, and in film and TV productions in Canada, England and the United States.-Early life:...
  
   - Arts
• Rita Joe
  Rita Joe
  Rita Joe, was a Mi'kmaq-Canadian poet and song writer, called the Poet Laureate of the Mi'kmaq people....
  
   - Arts
• Chief Billy Diamond - Business & Commerce
• Senator Charlie Watt
  Charlie Watt
  Charlie Watt is a Canadian Senator.A hunter and businessman by profession, Watt is an Inuk and served as Northern officer with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs from 1969 to 1979. He founded the Northern Quebec Inuit Association in the 1970s...
  
   - Community Development
• Reverend Stanley John McKay - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Dr. Martin Gale McLoughlin - Health
• Dr. Chester R. Cunningham (Hon.) - Law & Justice
• Justice Harry S. LaForme - Law & Justice
• Dr. Olive Patricia Dickason - Lifetime Achievement
• Hon. Stephen Kakfwi
  Stephen Kakfwi
  Stephen Kakfwi is a Canadian politician and the ninth Premier of the Northwest Territories.- Early life :...
  
   - Public Service
• George Berthe - Special Youth
• Darren Zack - Sports

1996

• Maria Campbell
  Maria Campbell
  Maria Campbell OC is a Métis author, playwright, broadcaster, filmmaker, and Elder. Campbell is a fluent speaker of four languages: Cree, Michif, Saulteaux, and English....
  
   - Arts
• Tom Jackson
  Tom Jackson (actor)
  Thomas Dale Jackson, OC , is a Canadian born Métis actor and singer perhaps best known for the annual series of Christmas concerts, called the Huron Carole, which he created and starred in for 17 years...
  
   - Arts
• Rose Auger - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• James Watson Walkus - Culture, Heritage & Spirituality
• Dr. Marlene Brant Castellano - Education
• Ambassador Mary May Simon - Environment and Natural Resources
• Dr. Frank Calder
  Frank Calder
  -External links:*...
  
   - Lifetime Achievement
• The Honourable W. Yvon Dumont - Public Service
• Grand Chief Phil Fontaine
  Phil Fontaine
  Larry Phillip Fontaine, OM is an Aboriginal Canadian leader. He completed his third and final term as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in 2009....
  
   - Public Service
• Elijah Harper
  Elijah Harper
  Elijah Harper is an Aboriginal Cree Canadian politician and band chief. He was a key player in the rejection of the Meech Lake Accord, an attempt at Canadian constitutional reform.- Early life :...
  
   - Public Service
• Albert Charles Rock - Science and Technology
• Robert E. Johnson Jr. - Special Youth
• Alwyn Morris - Sports
• Angela Chalmers
  Angela Chalmers
  Angela Chalmers is a retired Canadian track and field athlete who competed in the 1500 m and 3000 m....
  
   - Sports
• Mary Two-Axe Earley - Women's Rights

1995

• Douglas Cardinal
  Douglas Cardinal
  Douglas Joseph Cardinal, OC is a Canadian architect.Born of Métis and Blackfoot heritage, Cardinal is famous for flowing architecture marked with smooth lines, influenced by his Aboriginal heritage as well as European Expressionist architectureIn 1953, he attended the University of British...
  
   - Architecture
• Robert Davidson - Arts and Culture
• Frank Hansen - Business and Culture
• Chief Louis Stevenson - Community Development
• Ernest Benedict - Education
• Marie Smallface Marule - Education
• Dr. Ahab Spence - Education
• Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come
  Matthew Coon Come
  Matthew Coon Come is a Canadian politician and activist of Cree descent. He was National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations from 2000 to 2003.Born near Mistissini, Quebec, Coon Come was first educated in a residential school...
  
   - Environment and Public Service
• The Honourable Dr. Maggie Hodgson - Health Services
• Judge Alfred Scow - Law and Justice
• Kenojuak Ashevak - Lifetime Achievement
• Dr. Noah Carpenter - Medicine
• Sharla Tiakohatéhkwen Howard - Special Youth

1994

• William Lyall - Business
• Jean Cuthand Goodwill - Community Service
• Verna Kirkness - Education
• Cindy Kenny-Gilday - Environment
• Alanis Obomsawin
  Alanis Obomsawin
  Alanis Obomsawin, OC is a Canadian filmmaker of Abenaki descent. Born in New Hampshire, and raised primarily in Quebec, she has produced and directed many National Film Board of Canada documentaries on First Nations culture and history...
  
   - Film
• Judge Murray Sinclair
  Murray Sinclair
  The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair was appointed the Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada in June 2009. He was appointed Associate Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba in March of 1988 and to the Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba in January 2001...
  
   - Justice
• Bill Reid
  Bill Reid
  William Ronald Reid, OBC was a Canadian artist whose works included jewelry, sculpture, screen-printing, and painting. His work is featured on the Canadian $20 banknote.-Biography:...
  
   - Lifetime Achievement
• Susan Aglukark
  Susan Aglukark
  Susan Aglukark, OC , is an Inuk musician whose blend of Inuit folk music traditions with country and pop songwriting has made her a major recording star in Canada. Her most successful single is "O Siem", which reached #1 on the Canadian country and adult contemporary charts in 1995...
  
   - Performance
• Senator Thelma Chalifoux
  Thelma Chalifoux
  Thelma J. Chalifoux is a former Canadian politician and teacher. Chalifoux was the first female Métis to receive the National Aboriginal Achievement Award....
  
   - Public Service
• Nellie Cournoyea
  Nellie Cournoyea
  Nellie Cournoyea, OC is a former Canadian politician, who served as the sixth Premier of the Northwest Territories from 1991 to 1995...
  
   - Public Service
• Rosemarie Kuptana - Public Service
• Art Solomon - Spiritual Leadership
• Ted Nolan
  Ted Nolan
  Theodore John Nolan is currently the Head Coach of Latvia men's national ice hockey team...
  
  - Sports

External links

• National Aboriginal Achievement Awards Website
• Nomination Procedure