News Release

1997-05
February 7, 1997

Amoco President and Federal Health Minister to present Youth Achievement Award

CALGARY - Amoco Canada Petroleum Company Ltd. Chairman and President Bob Erickson and Health Minister David C. Dingwall will present the Youth Achievement Award as part of the 1997 National Aboriginal Achievement Awards being held this evening in Calgary at the Jubilee Auditorium.

Amoco and Health Canada are co-sponsoring the Youth Achievement Award, which honours the outstanding accomplishments of an aboriginal young person. This year's Youth Achievement Award recipient is up and coming Northern Quebec corporate and political leader George Berthe. At 22, he is a seasoned veteran of Nunavik politics, currently serving as Assistant to the vice-president of the Makivik Corporation, the organization charged with advancing the political, economic and social interests of Nunavik's Inuit.

"The award honours a special resource -- aboriginal youth," said Amoco Canada's Bob Erickson. "Award recipients such as George Berthe serve as powerful role models for other youth in Canada."

"The leadership of all our communities rests with today's young people," stated Minister Dingwall. "It gives me great pleasure to recognize the outstanding success of an exceptional aboriginal young person."

"I congratulate Amoco Canada Petroleum Company Ltd. and Health Canada for their sponsorship of the Youth Achievement Award," said John Kim Bell, founder and chair of the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards. "Mr. Berthe has been chosen this year's special youth award recipient. Though only 22, he is receiving the award for the corporate and political leadership he has already shown and for the promise for the future he embodies," added Mr. Bell.

Now in their fourth year, the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards recognize outstanding career achievements by Aboriginal people of First Nations, Métis and Inuit ancestry. A total of 14 awards will be presented -- 12 career, one lifetime achievement and a special youth award that carries a $5,000 scholarship.

The awards ceremony will be shown on CBC television, Thursday February 13, 1997 at 9:00 pm.

Information:
Gay Robinson
Public and Government Affairs
Amoco Canada Petroleum Company Ltd.
(403) 233-1644

Monette Haché
Media Relations
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803

Judy Tobe
Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Native Arts Foundation
(416) 926-0775