Annual Report 2017-2018
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Annual Report to the Community 2017 /2018 EDUCATION • TRAINING • RESEARCH Rupertsland Institute’s vision for a skilled, knowledgeable and self-reliant Métis Nation is integral to enhancing the self-sufficiency and well-being of Alberta Métis through quality education, training and research. Contents INTRODUCTION Message from the Chair ................................................................04 Message from the CEO .................................................................05 Organizational Chart ......................................................................06 Board of Governors ........................................................................08 Rupertsland Institute ......................................................................09 Head Office Contacts.....................................................................10 EDUCATION................................................................................11 Alberta Métis Education Council ................................................12 Teaching & Learning ......................................................................13 Métis Education Foundation ........................................................14 Métis Scholar Awards ....................................................................16 Framework for Reconciliation ..................................................18 TRAINING ...................................................................................22 ASETS ...............................................................................................23 RLI Employment Outcomes .........................................................23 Certification Achieved by Métis Clients .....................................24 French Immersion Pre-Employment Program ......................25 Province-wide Projects ..................................................................28 Métis Business Showcase ..........................................................29 Northeast Region ............................................................................32 Northeast Region Office Contacts ..............................................33 Northwest Region ...........................................................................34 Northwest Region Office Contacts .............................................36 Central Region .................................................................................37 Central Region Office Contacts ...................................................39 South Region ...................................................................................40 South Region Office Contacts .....................................................41 Post-secondary Training ................................................................42 Mobile Units .....................................................................................44 RESEARCH ................................................................................45 Annual Report to the Community 2017 - 2018 3 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR AudreyFrom Poitrasthe Chair The past year will always be remembered by that support for Métis students entering post- a number of historical events and seminal secondary institutions continues to grow. accomplishments at the Métis Nation of I am pleased to inform you that we are in Alberta (MNA); the most significant of which the midst of creating new endowments at is the November 16, 2017 signing of the SAIT, Medicine Hat College and Concordia Canada-MNA Framework Agreement for University, and the potential for even greater Advancing Reconciliation. The significance activity in this area may be imminent due to of this milestone for the Rupertsland Institute the federal budget that includes an allocation (RLI) is the insertion of a clause in the annex for Métis endowments. With this funding, of that Framework Agreement which allows there are possibilities that we can establish the MNA-RLI to negotiate a replacement an endowment fund targeting Métis students labour market development strategy for attending secondary school. the MNA. This will take place under the framework of Nation-to-Nation negotiations As mentioned previously, we continue to where the larger activity is the negotiations for work in collaboration and partnership with a self-government agreement between the University of Alberta on the Rupertsland the MNA and Canada. Centre for Métis Research (RCMR). The RCMR continues to offer research As such, RLI representatives have opportunities and hosts the Métis Talks been participating with the MNA since it events twice yearly featuring interesting began negotiations on the next labour market forums for academic discussions and strategy with the Government of Canada. For artistic expression. In addition, the MNA-RLI the first time in organizational history, a MNA is working closely with the RCMR on an affiliate is taking part in bilateral negotiations upcoming 2019 Métis Scrip Conference. The on a 10-year labour market strategy under goal of this exciting conference is to educate the auspices of self-government negotiations the public about Métis Scrip and to highlight that may include wrap-around services and the historical wrongdoing under the federal possibly, RLI services to Métis students in policy on Métis Scrip and its effects on Métis primary/secondary schooling. people in Alberta and the historic northwest. At the provincial level, I am also happy to In closing, I would like to dedicate final report that the Alberta Métis Education comments to RLI staff for their many Council is making progress with its work contributions to our community. Without them, and relationship building at different levels of RLI achievements would not be possible. Alberta Education. We have been approved As such, I bid a sad farewell to two departing for membership at the Alberta Research staff, Joan Isaac and Lloyd Gwin, both of whom Network which funds research projects in the have made huge contributions to RLI and, area of Kindergarten to Grade 12. As a result, in particular, the labour market development RLI can now apply for funding to conduct program. Both of these former staff served Métis-specific research on education that will the Métis Nation for almost 20 years and have have an impact on future generations of Métis recently retired from the Métis public service. students in the public school system. And just We will always thank both Joan and Lloyd, not as important, RLI partnerships and affiliations only for their contributions to the development of with Alberta Education and its stakeholders RLI as an institution, but also for their unwavering are beginning to include relationships with commitment that far surpassed the call-of-duty. school authorities and the Alberta Teachers’ Association which expands the range for Respectfully, Métis Nation involvement with key players Audrey Poitras and decision-makers in the field of education. Interim Chair, Rupertsland Institute At the post-secondary level, I want to note 4 Rupertsland Institute MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Audrey Poitras LorneFrom Gladu the CEO The Rupertsland Institute (RLI) is a Métis I would like to turn for a moment to the future Centre of Excellence that strives to be at the of RLI. In the coming years, there will be forefront of accountability, professionalism and a profound labour market and economic innovation. Created in 2010, RLI is recognized transformation. A new industrial revolution for its sound arms-length administration and is looming and it will be identifiable by the innovative program development and delivery. development and proliferation of artificial RLI’s mandates include Education, Training intelligence, quantum computing and and Research and in 2012, the Métis Nation genetic splicing (which will make possible of Alberta extended the education mandate individualized genetic treatments), among to include K-12. other developments. These changes will revolutionize the way we train people and The newest mandate to primary and secondary the type of training that future generations education has proven both challenging and of Métis will need in order to succeed in the rewarding. This past year, RLI became widely new global economy. Some of those changes recognized by education stakeholders as are beginning to emerge now in the form of an authoritative voice for Métis education in electric cars, autonomous driving, acceleration Alberta. We are now partners and/or members of robotics and green energy production. of important education institutions such as the As the speed of knowledge acquisition College of Alberta School Superintendents, increases over the coming years, it is the Alberta School Boards Association and imperative that we start developing the the Alberta Research Network. Further, RLI foundations of teaching and learning that will will deploy a new resource site shortly where lead to Métis success in such circumstances. educators from across the province will be able to download resources and materials to use in This is why, as part of the bilateral negotiations their classrooms. For the first time in Alberta’s with ESDC on the next 10-year labour market history, the Métis voice and lens will be taught strategy, RLI wants to focus on training Métis to students across the K-12 spectrum. to understand quantum computing, to develop robotic skills, and to engage in climate change The Education, Training and Research training and employment development. mandates are made possible through funding RLI’s activity for the