New senior staff add vitality and energy to the National Aboriginal Health Organization

OTTAWA, June 27 – Dr. Paulette C. Tremblay, Chief Executive Officer of the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO), announced today that NAHO has successfully engaged three new directors through the competitive process to fully compliment Senior Management Team.”As NAHO diversifies and renews itself, we want to create the momentum to continually improve the health and wellness of First Nations, Inuit and Métis families and communities across Canada. I am delighted to announce that with the addition of these gifted and experienced professionals, NAHO will continue to grow as a national body leading Aboriginal knowledge translation and research in health. We would like to welcome Earl Nowgesic, Catherine A. Graham and Jason T. Cheney to the Senior Management Team at NAHO.”

As a member of the Ojibway Nation, Earl Nowgesic, M.A. will join us in September 2008 to assume the role of Director of NAHO’s First Nations Centre. Earl comes to NAHO after four years as the Associate Director and three years as the Assistant Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health. He comes to us as a passionate, committed and reputable researcher and leader in Aboriginal health with strong connections to communities and organizations and across Canada.

Catherine A. Graham, M.A. is the new Director of the NAHO Métis Centre. Catherine is a dynamic and dedicated professional with a solid base of experience in management and Aboriginal health research.

Jason T. Cheney, B.Comm. is the new NAHO Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Jason has three years of senior level experience working for chartered accounting firms and five years experience working in various accountant roles. With a sound financial background, Jason brings a high degree of professionalism and integrity to the management team at NAHO.

Dianne Kinnon, Director of the Ajunnginiq (Inuit) Centre and Mark Buell, Director of the Communications and Research Unit will round out the senior management team.

Having taken the role of CEO on January 7, 2008, Dr. Tremblay says, “The past six months have been focused on stabilizing the organization to ensure the future sustainability of NAHO. We are committed to focusing our efforts on community evidence-based research and looking at how the broad social determinants of health are required as building blocks for contemporary health and wellness. We will also continue to reflect traditional knowledge, values and principles in the work towards maintaining community connections.”

These three exceptional leaders bring new knowledge, energy, talents, and innovation to lead the organization towards a legacy of positive change in the health and well-being of our communities. This new group of exceptional individuals, who now make up the NAHO Senior Management Team, will lead the organization towards a legacy of positive change in our communities.

The National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) is an Aboriginal-designed and -controlled body committed to influencing and advancing the health and well-being of Aboriginal Peoples by carrying out knowledge-based strategies.

For further information: Colleen Patterson, Communications Officer, (613) 237-9462 ext. 559, Toll Free: 1-877-602-4445 ext. 559, Cell: (613) 863-9001, cpatterson@naho.ca; www.naho.ca