Everybody Has a Piece of the Puzzle Citxw Nlaka’Pamux Assembly Elders and Youth Roundtables Findings Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Everybody has a Piece of the Puzzle Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly Elders and Youth Roundtables Findings Report July 2016 Harold Tarbell / Beverley O'Neil ABOUT THE CITXW NLAKA’PAMUX ASSEMBLY The Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly (CNA) was formed for the purpose of managing and administering the Ashcroft Indian Band, Boston Bar First Nation, Coldwater Indian Band, Cook’s Ferry Indian Band, Nicomen Indian Band, Nooaitch Indian Band, Shackan Indian Band and Siska Indian Band (Participating Bands’) commitments in the Participation Agreement and Economic Community Development Agreement as well as overseeing the Nlaka’pamux Trust and Trust distributions. (www.cna-trust.ca) The Consulting Team This project was performed by Harold Tarbell (Mohawk) of Tarbell Facilitation Network (www.tarbell.ca) and Beverley O’Neil (Ktunaxa) of O’Neil Marketing & Consulting (www.designingnations.com). Each consultant has more than 25 years of experience working with First Nations and Indigenous groups with building strategies, research, and economic development. Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly Everyone has a Piece of the Puzzle: Elders and Youth Roundtables Findings Report Contents 1 Introduction – How We Got Here .................................................................................................................................................. 1 2 CNA Participating Bands Profile – A Snapshot .......................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Population ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4 2.2 Occupation and Industry Activity ................................................................................................................................. 6 2.3 Health and Social Services ............................................................................................................................................... 7 2.4 Social Activities and Employment Services ............................................................................................................... 8 3 Other Experiences – Literature Review ....................................................................................................................................... 9 3.1 Best Practice Principles and Criteria ............................................................................................................................. 9 3.2 Other Youth Studies ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 4 Discussing Ideas – Roundtable Discussions ............................................................................................................................. 13 5 Gathering Individual Responses – Surveys .............................................................................................................................. 18 6 Conclusion and Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................... 22 6.1 Strategic Approach ......................................................................................................................................................... 22 6.2 Key Recommendations ................................................................................................................................................. 22 Appendix A: List of Community Coordinators ................................................................................................................................. 28 Appendix B: Survey Questionnaire ...................................................................................................................................................... 29 Appendix C: Survey Results .................................................................................................................................................................... 33 List of Tables Table 1: Regional Umbrella Organizations for First Nations Health ........................................................................................... 7 Table 2: Best Practice Principles and Criteria...................................................................................................................................... 9 Table 3: BC Aboriginal Friendship Centres Aboriginal Youth Direct Supports Needed – Merritt & Kamloops ......... 12 Table 4: Top Programs and Services Rank ......................................................................................................................................... 19 List of Figures Figure 1: CNA Priorities .............................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Figure 2: Location of Roundtable Sessions ......................................................................................................................................... 2 Figure 3: Roundtable Sessions and Attendance ............................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 4: Band Population ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Figure 5: CNA Band Elder and Youth Population 2011 ................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 6: Band vs Municipal Employed Rates, Census 2011 ......................................................................................................... 6 Figure 7: Formula to Reducing Individual and Community Problems .................................................................................... 10 Figure 8: Share of Survey Respondents by Band ............................................................................................................................ 18 Figure 9: Top Eight Programs and Services ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly Everyone has a Piece of the Puzzle: Elders and Youth Roundtables Findings Recommendations 1 Introduction – How We Got Here In 2013, the Ashcroft, Boston Bar, Coldwater, Cook’s Ferry, Nicomen, Nooaitch, Shackan and Siska Indian Bands entered into a Participation Agreement and Economic Community Development Agreement with Teck Highland Valley Copper (HVC) and the Province of British Columbia (Province) over compensation for an expansion of the existing mine located outside of Logan Lake. The HVC mine operated in the traditional lands of the Nlaka’pamux Nation for more than 60 years. Teck became owner of the mine about 30 years ago. Until the agreement was signed, the HVC operated without a formal relationship with First Nations of which few opportunities and benefits were granted to the First Nations. The Agreement specifies shared mine profits and other benefits related to the mine. The terms also resulted in the creation of a Trust. The Trust founded the Citxw Nlaka’pamux Society, a not-for-profit entity, made up of the Chiefs of each of the Participating Bands. Both the Trust and the Society’s operations are bound by terms, specifically Section 6 of the Trust Agreement, on how the funds are managed, how money is shared amongst the Participating Bands, and what the funds can support. Accordingly, funds can only be used to “assist in the long term socio-economic well-being of the beneficiaries (i.e., the Participating Bands), including the improvement of their cultural, communal and economic sustainability.” The priority areas and desired results are outlined in the Statement of Trust Priorities, Goals and Outcomes 2014-2016. These are reviewed every three years. The eight priorities are illustrated below. Culture, Environment Social Economic Education Community Sports & Governance Heritage, /Natural Development Development /Training Infrastructure Recreation Language Resources Figure 1: CNA Priorities Within the process of defining priorities, goals and outcomes, the Chiefs specifically identified Elders and Youth goals within their Social Development priority. Fulfillment of these initiatives of strengthening involves stronger relationships and support systems with Elders by first ensuring there CNA Elders and Youth Roundtables Findings Report 2016 is an opportunity to hear their collective voice through an Elders Council, and fostering of Youth leadership through skills and creation of a Youth Council. As part of these priorities, the Chiefs felt more information on the activities for each of these groups was needed. The CNA wanted to hear from Elders and Youth on what activities and support they want and subsequently issued a Request for Proposals on Elders and Youth Roundtables. This project was to coordinate and facilitate community and urban-based roundtables for each target group, and then provide a report on findings and a program guide. The project scope was expanded to include a survey which invited Participating Band Elders and Youth, as well as other community members, to provide their input on program priorities and principles. Further, interviews with select leaders,