National Aboriginal Achievement Awards

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The National Aboriginal Achievement Awards (NAAA) are annual awards presented by the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation in Canada. The awards are intended to celebrate and encourage excellence in the Aboriginal community.

About

The awards were first established in 1993 in conjunction with the United Nations declared International Decade of the World's Indigenous peoples. The awards are intended to celebrate and encourage excellence in the Aboriginal community.^[1] 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.^[2] To be eligible an individual must be of either First Nations, Inuit, or Métis 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 and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (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.^[1]

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:^[1]

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 15–27 years of age^[3]