B’NAI BRITH CANADA CONGRATULATES NEW AFN NATIONAL CHIEF

First phase of joint Jewish-Aboriginal initiatives underway

Toronto, July 17, 2003

For Immediate Release

Ottawa, July 17, 2003 … B’nai Brith Canada today extended its congratulations to Phil Fontaine upon his election as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

“We are happy that we have already had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Fontaine to discuss avenues of mutual interest for the future,” observed Rochelle Wilner, President of B’nai Brith Canada. “He is a talented and astute individual who will serve First Nations Canadians very well. With the election over, the time has come for the leaders of our two communities to roll up their sleeves and work together to increase mutual understanding.”

Frank Dimant, Executive Vice President, stated: “On July 28^th, a group of Aboriginal educators will be leaving for Israel on our League for Human Rights Holocaust and Hope Educators Tour. This is one of several initiatives agreed to by B’nai Brith and the former AFN administration in the aftermath of the Ahenakew affair. We are now ready to move forward with the second stage of our planning with visits by B’nai Brith leadership to various First Nations communities in Canada.”

-30-

For further information contact: Joseph Ben-Ami, Director of Communications at 613-294-7313

B’nai Brith has been active in Canada since 1875 as the community’s foremost advocacy and volunteer organization.