By Clint Buehler
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 Hotel, 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.
