Prince George Nechako Employment and Training Association

URBAN ABORIGINAL WORKING GROUP August 18, 2009 PGNAETA Board Room

Present: Karin Hunt – PGNAETA Linda Lauder – ABDC Pat Pocha – PGMCA Pat Coon - CSFS Karen Aubichon – MNBC (Alternate) Christina Ciesielski – CSTC (Alternate) Keith Henry –PGNFC Norma George – Elder Sandra Small – PGNAETA

Guest: Marlene Erickson – CNC (AEB)

Regrets: Doreen Spence - MNBC Jason Morgan - CSTC

The meeting convened at 1:10 pm Opening prayer offered by Norma George Introductions

1. Review of Agenda Additions: CPAH – Luncheon and Update - Sandra Results Reporting Training - Sandra Consensus 08.18.001

2. AEB – Marlene Erickson – Chair Marlene provided the board with an update as to a survey that is going to be given out to students this fall. The survey was proposed by the “Communities That Care” committee, who approached the School District for approval to have this survey completed this fall. They are targeting grades 6 – 12. The AEB have some concerns on the process that has already taken place which excluded the AEB. The questions that are being asked in this survey need to be reviewed and agreed upon prior to the survey being released. The parents need to be made aware of this survey so that they can make an informed decision.

Chris Bone – Social City Facilitator – City of Prince George joined the meeting 1:40 pm.

Chris presented a Power Point Presentation on the “Beyond Homelessness Standing Committee”-  It was noted that there is no Aboriginal or Métis representation on this committee.  Question: How is this committee working with other Homeless committee’s in the community?  Answer: This committee is really focused on the Provincial Government role. They are aware of the other committee’s and they all have a purpose.  Question: How do you report out to he community?  Answer: Through the membership and council.

1 Chris presented information to the board regarding the Communities That care Committee and the upcoming survey.  She mentioned that this survey was developed by a couple of professors in Washington and the outcomes of a survey such as this would be increased funding for programs in the community.  Prince George and Williams Lake were selected to do the survey.  The boards were set up in Jan 09 – Diane McNamara started recruitment in Feb 09. The board is comprised of Ministry of Child & Family Development; City of Prince George; School District 57; Key Leader’s Board ( Justice Society, PGNFC, Superintendent School District, CSFS) and then there is also a working board which are looking for people.  Charlotte Henay – Aboriginal School District Principal has been quite involved in this process working along side Bonnie Chappell.  Discussed the process of the how the survey will be done, it will be a 3 stage process: (1) Classroom teacher’s will be giving the survey (2) If parents want a copy then a copy will be sent home prior (3) Data available and how to share it will be up to the board. It was mentioned that using the Passive Consent approach is not acceptable; they need to have parental consent.

Chris will follow up on the following three items: 1) Invite the CTC committee to an AEB meeting. 2) That the question be removed asking” Are you Aboriginal”. 3) Talk with the School District and mention that there is more work to be done on this process before the survey is implemented.

It was noted by the board that the community and parents can be contacted by the AEB about this; we should be looking for the voice of the parents.

Chris will send a copy of the PowerPoint presentation to Sandra Small.

It was recommended that a “Research Ethics Committee” with no more than 4 people be struck up to develop policy on research when it comes to Aboriginals, and present this to the chiefs.

3. Minutes of July 23, 2009 corrections: Pages need to be numbered. #6 – add “be” and add ‘co-facilitator’. # 14 – Quotation marks, possibly. # 18 – ‘leave’ instead of lave # 2 Action Item – add UAWG

Consensus: 08.18.002

Karin gave an update on the Successor Strategy – it will be a 5 year agreement. The focus will be on Industry, no enhancements, no decrease in funding. It may be a transition year, but we have asked for it not to be, we’re ready to go. Karin and a couple of her staff will be going down to Vancouver on Sept 17, 18, 2009 to meet with HRSDC. They will be providing information on this strategy.

2 Pat Pocha mentioned that the Metis MNBC is having there AGM in Penticton on Sept 25 – 28, 2009 and he was suggesting that someone from UAWG should attend.

Program Officer addressed the Action items outstanding.

It was suggested that UAWG start sending out a quarterly newsletter as part of the communication strategy.

Traditional Luncheon with CPAH- they do not have a new chair in place yet. It was suggested that we wait until the new chair was appointed and then set a date.

Program Officer reminded the board of Results Reporting Training on Sept 11, 2009 all day at PGNAETA computer lab. Not sure if it will be an all day training or by appointment. Sandra will check with Kelly and advise the participants of the time. Kelly Scarrow from Service Canada will be coming in to provide this training.

4. Community Forums - Sandra reported that the facilitator Zandra will not be date.  Prince George – October 19, 2009  Fort St. James – October 14, 2009  Vanderhoof – October 26, 2009

Program Officer will do an environmental scan of McBride, MacKenzie and Valemount and report back to the board.

5. Concept Paper Budget – Sandra presented a budget for the Concept Paper. The approximate total would be $9,950.00. This does not include hiring a Coordinator for about 3 months who would also do the reporting out. Will take another look and ensure the total needs are included.

6. Spread Sheet – Urban - $229,863 Less Smokehouse 72,000 Less Community Forums 15,000 $142,863 Sandra informed the board that she has a request for funding for a Language Coordinator from the Yinka Dene Language Institute. She has not yet assessed it, the amount is not known yet.

Recommendation: Provide $5000.00 per participant (10 youth – up to 30 years of age) to Gateway and MNBC to a maximum of $60,000.00.  Have to have a full action plan in place.  Including labour market research. Approx $100,000 left to spend.

Consensus: 08.18.003

3 It was recommended that there be training made available for the Logic model.

At the next Board meeting each board member will come back with 3 top priorities from the Labour Market Research paper.

Meeting will be at Fort George Park – BBQ (weather permitting) invite the alternate board members.

Next Meeting date Sept 21, 2009 at 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Meeting adjourned at 5:05 pm

Action items:

1 Chris Bone will follow up with 3 items regarding Sandra the Communities That Care Survey 2 Chris Bone will forward the Power Point Sandra Presentation to Sandra on the Beyond Homelessness Standing Committee 3 Look into setting up a Research Ethics Sandra /Karin Committee 4 Corrections to Minutes of July 23, 2009 meeting Sandra 5 Start a Quarterly newsletter Sandra 6 Results Reporting training, Sandra to advise of Sandra time to participants. 7 Community Forums – Sandra to meet with Sandra Zandra and start the planning of the (3) Forums. 8 Community Forums – Sandra to do an Sandra environmental scan of McBride, MacKenzie and Valemount 9 Meet with MNBC and Gateway to set up funding Sandra/Karin arrangements for Youth 10 Setup training for the Logic Model Sandra/Karin 11 Ensure all Board members have a copy of the Sandra Labour Market Research Paper for next meeting.