NAAF’s key initiatives include:

• The National Aboriginal Achievement Awards (NAAA), a national annual broadcast celebrating 14 achievers in a multitude of career areas including a special youth award and an award for lifetime achievement;
• Taking Pulse joins NAAF with industry to present career options in specific growth sectors through a series of short documentaries and supporting curriculum materials with the aim of recruiting First Nations, Inuit & Métis youth; and,
• Blueprint for the Future (BFF), a series of one-day career fairs that motivate and inspire First Nations, Inuit and Métis high school students with valuable resources and information on career opportunities. Over 32,000 students have attended these exciting youth oriented events to date nationwide.

The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation has evolved into the largest non-governmental funding body for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis post secondary students across Canada. Bursary and scholarship awards are provided to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students across a diverse range of disciplines.

In the 2009-2010 fiscal year over $5 million was awarded to 1,396 recipients across Canada. In total, NAAF has disbursed over $37 million to over 9,800 recipients since its inception. NAAF offers financial assistance (scholarships and bursaries) through four major categories: Post-Secondary Education, Fine Arts, Health Careers, and Oil & Gas Aboriginal Trades & Technology.

How NAAF will use proceeds from Equity Through Education™

The proceeds from Equity Through Education will be used to fund NAAF Equity Through Education scholarships for First Nations, Inuit and Métis students.