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For Immediate Release
June 21, 2001

News Release

Second Annual Ontario Aboriginal Partnerships Recognition Award Announced

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TORONTO – Today, David Young, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Native Affairs announced that nominations from the public for the second annual Ontario Aboriginal Partnerships Recognition Award (OAPRA) are now being accepted. The Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat has established the award with assistance from the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation.

"The award recognizes the Aboriginal and corporate leaders who are building partnerships that remove barriers, improve access and create job opportunities for Aboriginal communities in Ontario. We are pleased to be partners with the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation for the Ontario Aboriginal Partnerships Recognition Award," said Young.

The Ontario Aboriginal Partnerships Recognition Award is helping to build awareness of the value of partnerships between Aboriginal communities and the business sector. The Award is made annually to celebrate a successful Ontario based business partnership between an Aboriginal business, community, or organization and either a non-Aboriginal or Aboriginal business, community, or organization. Partnerships must be located in Ontario and be at least two years old.

The first Award winners, Waabigoon Saaga'igan Anishinaabeg First Nation, Bowater Forest Products Division (Thunder Bay Woodlands Operations) and Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd. (Dryden) who partnered in establishing the Wabigoon Anishnaabe Gitigewin Inc. Tree Nursery, were recognized at a ceremony in November of 2000.

Criteria for nominations include: increasing employment opportunities for Aboriginal people; providing learning or training opportunities to Aboriginal people; or establishing a new Aboriginal owned business. A brochure outlining detailed criteria is available from the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation.

"Partnerships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal entrepreneurs and companies are a fine example of how joint ventures can bolster economic development and growth for Aboriginal communities. These initiatives provide real jobs and opportunities for job training," said John Kim Bell, Founder and President, National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. "By recognizing successful business partnerships through this award, it is an effective means for encouraging further joint ventures."

Young will make the final decision on the award recipients for this year based on recommendations by Ontario's Working Partnerships Advisory Committee. The Committee is comprised of volunteers from the Aboriginal business community and the corporate sector. The Award recipients for 2001 will be announced at the Aboriginal Economic Development Conference in Toronto, on November 22, 2001.

The deadline for nominations is Tuesday, September 4, 2001. Nomination brochures are available in English and French from the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Web site at www.naaf.ca the Working Partnerships Section of the Aboriginal Business Development Online Web site at: www.aboriginalbusiness.on.ca and the Building Aboriginal Economies section of the Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat Web site at: www.aboriginalaffairs.gov.on.ca.

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Judy Tobe
Director of Public Affairs
National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation
416-926-0775
1-800-329-9780