Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

• Q1. What is the National Aboriginal Role Model Program?

• Q2. The program is run by the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO). What is NAHO and what does the organization do?

• Q3. Tell me about the Aboriginal youth who were selected as role models.

• Q4. How were the role models selected?

• Q5. Why are there not equal numbers of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis role models?

• Q6. Why were some nomination forms considered invalid?

• Q7. Can you explain why more First Nations youth were nominated as role models?
• Q8. Was spokesperson Jordin Tootoo involved in selecting the role models?

• Q9. How did NAHO get involved in the role model program?

• Q10. How does NAHO’s Aboriginal Role Model Program differ from the previous Aboriginal role model programs?

• Q11. How is the role model program funded?

• Q12. How does this project fit with NAHO’s mandate?

• Q13. Are Aboriginal youth more in need of role models than other youth?

• Q14. How have Aboriginal youth been involved in this program?

• Q15. What kinds of responsibilities will the role models have?

• Q16. Which Aboriginal communities will the role models visit?

Q1. What is the National Aboriginal Role Model Program?

• The National Aboriginal Role Model Program highlights the accomplishments of ordinary First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth.
• The theme of the National Aboriginal Role Model Program is “Lead Your Way!”.
• The program inspires youth to achieve their goals and encourages them to make healthy and positive choices.
• Each year 12 Aboriginal youth will serve as role models for their peers. The role models will travel to First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities to attend local events and celebrations and to speak to youth about making positive and healthy choices.
• The 2004 national spokesperson for the program was Jordin Tootoo. He is a role model for many Aboriginal youth across Canada. Tootoo is the first Inuk person to play in the NHL.
• The program is run by the National Aboriginal Health Organization.

Q2. The program is run by the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO). What is NAHO and what does the organization do?

• The National Aboriginal Health Organization works to improve the health and well-being of Aboriginal Peoples by providing them with useful health information and research.
• It works to promote health and well-being to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit living in urban, rural and remote areas.
• The organization has three centres: the First Nations, Ajunnginiq (Inuit) and Métis Centres. Each works on its group’s unique health issues
• The National Aboriginal Health Organization and its three centres promote Aboriginal health issues. They do this through publications, policy and research materials, its website, presentations, forums, an information centre, an annual conference and public education activities, .

Q3. Tell me about the Aboriginal youth who were selected as role models.

• Each of the role models is an accomplished youth in his or her community. They have been recognized for their achievements in volunteering, school, sports, business, or for their commitment to their unique cultures. They have set goals for themselves and have worked hard to achieve them. Some have overcome difficult times. They all have had a positive influence on their peers and their community.
• The role models are First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth. They are between the ages of 13 and 30 years.
• The role models come from regions across Canada.
• A list of the Aboriginal role models and a short biography of each will be available on the “Lead Your Way!” section of the NAHO website at http://www.naho.ca/rolemodel/.

Q4. How were the role models selected?

• The role models were nominated by Aboriginal youth between the ages of 13 and 30 in their communities.
• A selection committee, made up of past role models, select the new 12 role models from the group of nominees.
• There is a set of criteria to rate the role model nominees that the selection committee uses.
• Based on the information provided on the nomination forms, the selection committee then graded the nominees.
• The nomination forms were divided into three groups: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. The selection committee then selected the top Inuit, First Nations and Métis youth.
• Once the grading was completed, the results were tallied and the top role models were chosen.

Q5. Why are there not equal numbers of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis role models?

• One of the goals of the National Aboriginal Role Model Program is to celebrate the accomplishments of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth. They are role models to all Aboriginal youth, regardless of their ancestry.
• The Youth Working Group agreed it was important to choose role models based on their life experiences, not just on their Aboriginal descent.
• All three groups of Aboriginal youth are represented in the role models.

Q6. Why were some nomination forms considered invalid?

• If required information was missing from the nomination forms, NAHO staff contacted the nominator to complete the form. These completed forms were then considered valid.
• The 20 invalid forms were invalid because either the nominator or the nominee was not between the ages of 13 and 30 years old.

Q7. Can you explain why more First Nations youth were nominated as role models?

• It may simply be a matter of the population size. There are more First Nations people in Canada than there are Inuit or Métis.
• Based on the population size of First Nations, we expected to receive more nominations for First Nations youth.
• NAHO encouraged all Aboriginal groups to nominate their role models.
• We placed ads in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis newspapers. We sent public service announcements to Aboriginal radio stations. We also sent community call packages to education directors, community offices and Aboriginal organizations in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

Q8. Was spokesperson Jordin Tootoo involved in selecting the role models?

• No, Jordin Tootoo was the spokesperson for the National Aboriginal Role Model Program in 2004. His role was to promote the program and encourage youth to nominate their role models.
• He wasn’t part of the Youth Working Group that selected the first set of role models.

Q9. How did NAHO get involved in the role model program?

• The role model program has existed since 1984. It was originally called the National Native Role Model Program. Different Aboriginal organizations and communities have run it throughout the years.
• The program is funded through the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada.
• In late 2002, Health Canada decided it wanted to see the program redesigned so that it included more input from First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth.
• NAHO submitted a proposal to redesign the role model program. NAHO saw the role model program as an opportunity to encourage First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in their pursuit of healthy living.
• NAHO will run the program for the next five years.

Q10. How does NAHO’s Aboriginal Role Model Program differ from the previous Aboriginal role model programs?

• The newly redesigned National Aboriginal Role Model Program is more national in scope than before. NAHO plans to include Aboriginal youth from urban, rural, and remote regions of Canada.
• In 2001, an evaluation of the role model indicated the program was not reaching youth living in remote or northern areas.
• NAHO has sent community call packages to urban, rural, and remote schools and communities. Its goal is to get nominations from around the country. The youth on the Working Group represent regions from across the country.
• The 2001 evaluation of the role model program pointed out that it focused more on First Nations youth, rather than on all three groups.
• The newly redesigned program involves increased input from all three Aboriginal groups: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.
• The role models will visit First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

Q11. How is the role model program funded?

• Funding comes from the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada.
• The funding is to redesign and implement the National Aboriginal Role Model Program. NAHO will run the program for the next five years.
• Funding will cover the design and distribution of posters and trading cards of each of the 12 role models, design and distribution of the community call packages and role model visits to Aboriginal communities.

Q12. How does this project fit with NAHO’s mandate?

• The National Aboriginal Role Model Program is an ideal project for the National Aboriginal Health Organization.
• The National Aboriginal Health Organization and the National Aboriginal Role Model Program share the same goal: to promote health and healthy living among Aboriginal Peoples.
• The National Aboriginal Health Organization’s objective is to encourage First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people to pursue healthy living. It also encourages them to choose careers in the health field.
• The National Aboriginal Role Model Program is a great way to encourage Aboriginal people in these pursuits.
• This program fits with the National Aboriginal Health Organization’s mandate to facilitate and promote research. NAHO will conduct research and an environmental scan to identify all provincial/territorial and local role model activities and to identify key events and best practices of role model programs.

Q13. Are Aboriginal youth more in need of role models than other youth?

• All young people should have someone they look up to, someone to inspire them to reach their goals.

Q14. How have Aboriginal youth been involved in this program?

• Aboriginal youth have been part of the role model program from the very beginning.
• From the start, NAHO wanted to ensure this was a by-youth-for-youth program.
• NAHO set up a Youth Working Group to help design and plan the role model program.
• The Youth Working Group is made of 12 Aboriginal youth from several national Aboriginal organizations and Aboriginal youth councils.
• Aboriginal youth from various parts of the country were involved in focus testing on the design and content of promotional materials, including the posters and trading cards.
• The Youth Working Group developed the criteria for selecting the role models and actually choose the first 12 role models.

Q15. What kinds of responsibilities will the role models have?

• Role models will visit Aboriginal communities to share their stories and messages with youth.
• They will try to inspire other young people to set goals and work towards achieving them.
• They will also encourage youth to make positive and healthy choices that will help improve their lives and their communities.
• Role models will attend events that celebrate the success of people in the community and visit schools to speak to youth about their experiences.

Q16. Which Aboriginal communities will the role models visit?

• When the “Lead Your Way!”” program was launched, NAHO encouraged communities to submit a request to have a role model visit.
• Each month, the role models will visit Aboriginal communities.
• The National Aboriginal Health Organization will send details of the visits to newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and TV stations in Aboriginal communities.
• Role models’ schedules will be posted on NAHO’s website, at http://www.naho.ca/rolemodel/

Last Update: February 13 2008