REPORT JULY 2021

Dear Colleagues/ Land Managers, Subject: Uske Updates 2021 USKE is proud to present our annual report outlining events to date, as well as exciting upcoming projects. We would also like to acknowledge the new Nations who have joined. We welcome them to the USKE family. Meegwetch,

USKE TEAM.

Manitoba Uske Incorporated. B123-1075 Portage Avenue , Manitoba R3G0R8 P: (204) 784-9420 uske.ca F: (204) 784-9422 E: [email protected] Comments from Interim Chair

Tansi USKE Members and Nation Representatives As the Interim Chair of Manitoba USKE, I am happy to share this report prepared by our USKE staff. They have worked extremely hard over this last year during the pandemic in creating more opportunities for our Nations. USKE has also seen a huge uptake from Northern wanting to join USKE which is quite exciting. Since taking on the role of Interim Chair, I have had the opportunity to learn about the importance and significance that this position holds on a National level alongside my colleagues from our partner regional Lands offices. I am very proud to say that USKE is leading the way and is viewed as a trailblazer. We are setting the bar for our colleagues and are proving that we have assembled a strong team supported by strong Land Managers that step up and provide guidance, advice and input when and where needed. This collective approach is proving to highly beneficial to our organization which will allow USKE to keep progressing forward. Ekosi, HORACE CRANE Certified Land Manager Bunibonibee Nation

INFORMATION NOTICE CURRENT PROJECTS

Board Elections: July 15-17, 2021 Sponsored by In-person or Virtual, both TBD Climate & Adaptation Branch - CIRNAC Manitoba Uske is currently looking to elect a Chair, USKE Flood Lands Project: Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. Year 1 (2020 - 2021) - - Roles and Responsibilities of the Board of Directors - Lake St. Martin First Nation The board takes actions and makes decisions to ensure they are - sufficient, appropriate and financial resources for the organization - Poplar River First Nation and the association. CHAIR Year 2 (2021 - 2022) - The Chair’s role is providing leadership to the Board, ensuring - Cree Nation responsibility, communication, development and conducting - God’s Lake First Nation Board meetings effectively. The Chair of Manitoba USKE will attend - Berens River First Nation NALMA Board meetings for the Regional Lands Association. - VICE CHAIR The Vice-chair will conduct leadership in the organization. The Indian Land Registry System - Pilot Project Vice-Chair offers support for the Directors and the members of the Manitoba USKE and Aboriginal Lands organization. If at anytime the Chiar is absent, the Vice-Chair may Association OALA act on behalf of the Chair.

In Partnership with the Government of SECRETARY The role of the Secretary is to attend all meetings, and to ensure Addition to Reserve/Designation Training that the Directors are given proper notice of meetings and (Treaty One) proactively records the meetings for the organization. Kapyong Barracks Flyover TREASURER The Treasurer’s role is to ensure records of finances in the Geomatics/Survery Unit organization is up to date. The Treasurer will implement financial statements, legal agreements that are in-order for the organization. Partnership with ISC Manitoba Region - Water and Sewer: - Land Use Planning (Work with First Nations will be ongoing)

NEW TENTATIVE PROJECTS: First Nation Language Program Uske Materials will be translated in Cree and Ojibway. Uske Land Purchase OR Building and Land Purchase for New Uske Lands Office

Uske appreciates previous Board of Directors’ work and dedication since the opening of the office in 2018. USKE MEETINGS 2020-2021

April 1, 2021 - Finance Uske Audit commences and to be completed by the end of June. GIC was purchased from TD Bank.

March 24, 2021 - Economic Development on First Nation Ancestral Lands Winnipeg (Virtual Workshop) This workshop was designed to help Manitoba First Nations move forward with industrial, residential and commercial development projects. The training and professional development was offered by the National Aboriginal Land Managers Association (NALMA).

February 3-24, 2021 - Lands Training Workshop Winnipeg (Virtual Workshop) - Aboriginal and Treaty Rights (Feb 3) - Urban Reserve Creation (Feb 10) - First Nation Land Regimes Workshop (Feb 17) - Indigenous Mapping within Manitoba (Feb 24)

December, 2020 - Natural Resources Canada: Acosys Contract. USKE implemented a project that involved meeting with community members from the Interlake Region. - USKE Land Managers Virtual Meeting

July 20-21, 2020 - Drone Training The goal was to demonstrate mapping and surveying with drones and teach flight basics with aerial photography. Instructors Ralph Roulette and Shaun Peters from Long Plain First Nation facilitated a Power-Point presentation, along with hands on UAV training which included mapping a section of . Current List of Manitoba USKE Members 1. 2. Brokenhead Ojibway Nation 3. Buffalo Point First Nation 4. Bunibonibee Cree Nation 5. Canupawakpa Dakota Nation 6. 7. First Nation 8. Dauphin River First Nation 9. Fisher River First Nation 10. God’s Lake First Nation 11. Keeseekoowewin Ojibway Nation 12. Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation 13. Lake Manitoba First Nation 14. Lake St. Martin First Nation 15. Little First nation 16. Long Plain First Nation 17. 18. 19. 20. Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation 21. 22. O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation 23. Peguis First Nation 24. Pinaymootaang First Nation 25. Poplar River First Nation 26. Rolling River First Nation 27. Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation 28. Sagkeeng First Nation 29. Sapotoweyak Cree Nation 30. Sioux Valley 31. Swan River First Nation 32. Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve 33. Waywayseecappo First Nation 34. Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation 35. Berens River First Nation 36. Bloodvein First Nation 37. Mathias Colomb First Nation 38. Fox Lake First Nation

JOIN MANITOBA USKE! Manitoba USKE teaches the importance of Land Management, such as capacity building that helps members from First Nation communities build their knowledge of land management issues. USKE provides training through NALMA, which allows First Nation Land Managers to enjoy access to various training and programs. NALMA and USKE can refer members seeking additional assistance to individual First Nation Land Managers, government, or professional agencies. USKE also offers a channel for networking with land managers and First Nations across the country, which helps improve communication, sharing of ideas and the establishment of partnerships and strategic alliances.