Toronto, July 23, 2009: The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) extends its congratulations to the Assembly of First Nations on the election of Shawn Atleo as the new Chief. "We are heartened by the new Chief's declared commitment to making the AFN more relevant to Aboriginals on and off-reserve. Although Aboriginal communities continue to face racism and discrimination, Chief Atleo's statement regarding the need for a united front across Canada and building bridges with all communities, is promising", said Albert Lo, CRRF's Chairperson.

The CRRF promotes an inclusive Canada where all members of society are proud of their Canadian identity, inclusion and ability to make a contribution.

The Foundation, through its Advisory Committee on Aboriginal Issues, is highly committed to the elimination of all forms of racism and racial discrimination against Aboriginal peoples. "The Foundation recognizes the contributions of the AFN's leadership in producing tangible results for the Aboriginal peoples through dialogue and open discussion. We look forward to working with the AFN," said Dr. Ayman Al-Yassini, CRRF's Executive Director.