Nominations due for Indigenous leadership award

June 14, 2011, Ottawa – The Forest Products
Association of Canada (FPAC) and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) have
opened nominations for a joint FPAC-AFN Business Leadership Award. The award
recognizes and celebrates First Nations entrepreneurs for their success in a
forest products business that exemplifies business leadership, exceptional
environmental and safety performance, and the delivery of high-quality products
and services. The recipient must also demonstrate a strong, long-term
commitment to the Indigenous community, particularly in supporting Indigenous
employment.

"This award will be given to an aboriginal
business that shows excellence and creativity in pursing the economic goals of
the forestry sector," says Avrim Lazar, president and CEO of FPAC. There
are now approximately 1,400 Aboriginal-owned businesses in Canada, and about
17,000 Aboriginal people working in the sector, making the forest products
industry the largest employer for First Nations workers.

This is the second time the award will be
given. The first recipient was Grace Esquega, president of Niigaani Enterprises
in Gull Bay, Ontario. Award nominees are judged against six criteria: business
leadership, longevity, employment of Aboriginal peoples, safety and
environmental performance, consistency of goods and services provided, and
commitment to Aboriginal community.

Nominations for the FPAC-AFN Business
Leadership Award are open until June 20, 2011. The award will be presented
on July 14 at the AFN General Assembly in Moncton, New Brunswick. To obtain an
application, please visit www.fpac.ca/publications/AFN_award%20brochure_2011.pdf
or www.fpac.ca/index.php/en/collaboration.

A second award aimed at Indigenous youth
between ages 18 and 25 will soon be announced.