Aboriginal Awareness Week (AAW) was first introduced in Canada in 1992 and has been held annually on the four days after Victoria Day. Envisioned originally as a vehicle for increasing public awareness, it has evolved, according to Parks Canada, “…into a government-wide celebration that gives federal public servants from across Canada the opportunity to participate in a week of interactive activities that honour the diverse cultures and traditions of the Métis, Inuit and First Nation peoples.”
National Speakers Bureau is proud to represent several leading voices in the aboriginal community who are making a difference and inciting positive change.
Gabrielle ScrimshawPresident | Aboriginal Professionals Association of Canada
Gabrielle is a member of the Hatchet Lake First Nation and has a passion to create social impact. Her expertise on aboriginal affairs and current events has been sought out by several national news outlets. Most recently lending her voice to the debates surrounding the Truth and Reconciliation Committee and the RCMP report on missing and murdered aboriginal women. Gabrielle has been been a strong advocate for Aboriginal persons within Canada, citing the need for a national inquiry in order to prevent future cases of missing persons and homicides. Read her full article in The Globe and Mail.
You can also watch Gabrielle’s commentary around the Truth and Reconcilliation Committee on CBC News.
Gabrielle speaks on Leadership, Education and Empowerment of Aboriginal Professionals.
Wab is a broadcaster, musician, educator and journalist. Having been named one of Postmedia News’ “9 Aboriginal Movers and Shakers You Should Know,” he’s been a strong proponent of better education for First Nation students within Canada. Earlier this month he penned an article in support of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), proposing an alternative to Bill C-33 (the governments attempt to fix a constructional inequality against First Nations kids), the need for First National leaders to build consensus, along with proposing a new model for choosing the National Chief of the AFN. You can read the entire article here.
Wab speaks on Education, Politics and Empowerment of Aboriginal Professionals.
Phil FontaineFormer National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations
As a former three-term National Chief, Phil is a beacon of strong leadership and solution-oriented advocacy. He is passionate about the need for Canadians to address poverty among First Nations people. Phil views Canada’s resource projects as a means to address the income-disparity faced by aboriginal citizens who have been largely excluded from its past income generation. The Globe and Mail recently profiled Phil in their weekly Leadership column ‘The Lunch,’ read about it here.
Phil speaks on Leadership, Education and Social Justice.