2017 Annual Report
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Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2016 – 2017 Annual Report Mission Statement FIRST NATION MISSION To assert our Weledeh Dene Rights, as long as the sun rises, the rivers flow, and the grass grows FIRST NATION VISION Our vision is to be a Healthy and Sovereign Weledeh Dene Nation with Excellent Governance VALUE STATEMENTS We the YKDFN Chiefs and Council are guided by the following values: • Weledeh Culture – we practice and promote our traditions, culture, language and spirituality • Integrity – we are caring, respectful and honorable to all people • Well-being – we live a healthy, balanced life that relies on nature • Accountability – we are accountable and transparent to our people First Nation Summary (can be used as background information for proposals) The Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) is part of the Akaitcho Territory Government. It is one of five main Dene groups that live in the NWT and is governed by a Chief and Council which has offices in Dettah and Ndilo. Overall, the YKDFN Chiefs and Council affirm our sacred obligation to serve our people and our commitment to live balanced contemporary lifestyles with culture and traditions important to our community, to speak our traditional language, and protect our natural resources and treaty rights. For Chiefs and Council to lead the YKDFN to a prosperous future requires the support of our members. We will work cooperatively and in partnership with all members, YKDFN administration and legal entities to achieve our proposed outcomes to improve the well-being of all our members. Dene Laws Share what you have Share all the big games you kill; only take what you need and share with others who do not have any. Help each other Help the poor, sick and Elders, who are in need, visit them; give them food, cook, for them. Help them get firewood or whatever needs to be done around the house. When you lose someone in death, go to the family right away, help out the widow as much as possible and help take care of the orphaned children. Love each other as much as possible Treat each other as brother and sisters as though you are related. Help each other and don’t harm anyone. Be respectful of Elders and everything around you Don’t run around when Elders are eating; sit down until they are finished. Sleep at night and work during the day Don’t run around or laugh loudly when it gets dark. Everyone should sleep when darkness falls. Be polite and don’t argue with anyone Don’t harm anyone with your voice or actions. Don’t hurt anyone with your power. Don’t show your anger. Young girls and boys should behave respectfully Don’t make fun of each other, especially in the matter of sex. Don’t make fun of older men and women. BE polite to each other. Pass on the Teachings Elders are to tell stories about the past every day. In this way, young people learn to dis- tinguish between good and unacceptable behaviours and when they are older, they will become the storytellers someday, who will then someday keep the circle of life going. Be happy at all times The Creator have given you a great gift—Mother earth, take care of her and she will always give you food and shelter “Prepare the children for a good life by teaching them in this way— It is your responsibility” Message from the Chief(s) The Chief and Council has once again completed another successful year in 2016-2017. We would like send out a Mahsi Cho to our Administration staff for their hard work and dedication in helping our First Nation flourish. Akaitcho Process Negotiations: The Akaitcho Process Negotiations has received a positive feedback from the Tom Isaac (Special Representative for the Federal Government) report. It gave Akaitcho Negotiations to reach AIP status within 18-24 months. Chief Edward Sangris Budget: Based on the affirmative outlook of YKDFN Budget, it has been another successful year for the First Nation, except for reducing of 2 programs due to mine closure. Trust Agreement: To prevent further shutdown of any upcoming or current programs, the YKDFN have established the Gosoomba Dehshe Trust Agreement, the agreement will put the YKDFN in a more stable position on our financial goals. Det’on Cho Corporation: The Chief and Council and Det’on Cho Corporation Board of Directors has had a successful year. DCC has recruited a new CEO, Paul Gruner. Paul has helped DCC become more financially secured, and became further involved in establishing DCC in becoming one of the leading Chief Ernest Betsina corporation in business ventures. In conclusion with the help of our members and staff the Yellowknives Dene First Nation through governance, we are becoming a more sustainable First Nation. Michael Cheeks Chief Executive Officer Message from the Chief Executive Officer We are pleased with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation’s (YKDFN)’s accomplishments over the past fiscal year 2016-2017. Our organization has pursued a number of important goals, that have undeniably benefited the Yellowknives Dene. The Yellowknives Dene First Nation’s success is owed to the drive and commitment of its competent Administration, Program Managers, support staff, Chiefs and Council, Elders Senate, Youth Council, and the Yellowknives Dene Members, whom we serve under the guidance of the Dene Laws. The YKDFN is fortunate to have a strong and talented team of dedicated leaders, managers, and staff. We want to personally thank the Chief and Council for their role in providing good governance, and their recognition that the vital role that they play in guiding management in the carrying out of our day to day duties, with integrity. The annual reports from each of the Departments highlight program successes, and identify opportunities which are abundant in Chief Drygeese Territory. The YKDFN administration will continue to champion the Yellowknives Dene First Nation priorities, as articulated in the 5-year strategic plan, and the Building for the Future reports. The YKDFN organization will continue to be managed through the application of best practices for all current and future generations. This annual report provides highlights of our 2016-17 achievements i.e. Secured support for the establishment of a Yellowknives Dene Trust by working together in order to ensure the future prosperity of our region, and the health and well being of all Yellowknives Dene. We have initiated community infrastructure projects to build an additional 2-bay garage, renovate and expand the Wellness building in Dettah, and Daycare for Ndilo, a regulation size gymnasium, a multiplex cultural Centre, and a multiyear skills development initiative. We expect that all of these initiated projects will advance and be completed over the next three (3) to five (5) years. We, will continue to work tirelessly in building a strong Yellowknives Dene First Nation organization that strives to provide for a healthy nation with positive intergovernmental relationships with other governments and industry partners. Current Chief and Councillors Chiefs Edward Sangris Ernest Betsina Councillors Jonas Sangris Bobby Drygeese Napoleon Mackenzie Philip Liske Mary Rose Sundberg Randy Baillargeon Lena Black Catherine Lafferty Gordie Liske Paul Betsina Community Wellness After School Program Chekoa Program in Ndilo and Dettah is designed for children to attend after school to continue to learn in the structured program. The staff follows an activity calendar with different daily events. They focus on healthy lifestyles, reading, spelling, mathematics, and arts and crafts. A healthy snack is provided each day. This program is from Monday to Friday, 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm. The Chekoa program will run throughout the year. Gym Program The gyms in both Ndilo and Dettah are open on a daily basis. Hours are 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The gym workers have been organizing structural activities with different age groups; focusing on sport activities in hopes Jennifer that the youth will gain some insight in a sport that will take them to Drygeese different places in Canada. The youth play a lot of soccer, soccer baseball, Wellness volleyball and floor hockey. Division Spring Carnival A Spring Carnival was held in Dettah and Ndilo in April 1-3, 2016. This Spring Carnival April 1/16 April 2/16 Staff Challenge (afternoon) Adult Events/Youth Events Children Events Talent Show (evening) Kiddie Carnival Drum Dance (evening) April 3/16 Pancake Breakfast Adult Events Youth Events Kids Events Event Awards Community Cookout/Closing Prayer Our carnival was very successful with a great turnout that everyone looks forward to each year. Mothers/Father’s Day Celebration Our office hosted a barbeque at the Weledeh Site for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. As usual, husbands and sons cooked for the mothers, and wives and daughters cooked for the dads. It was a great time for people to socialize at a positive event – this was a huge success. Career Fair On May 12, 2016 the Wellness staff assisted with the annual Career Fair by setting up booths on health and wellness, addiction awareness, restorative justice and the Dechinta Naawo Program. The Wellness Staff also assisted with the overall planning and implementing of career fair. National Aboriginal Day Celebration On June 21, 2016 the YKDFN Wellness Department organized an Aboriginal Day Celebration at the YKDFN Wiilliideh traditional grounds (YK River). The Wellness program and the YKDFN Lands department collaborated on portions of the program. The Lands department opened the celebration with an opening prayer, drum prayer song and then commenced with awards and recognition. We held a fish fry with bannock and potatoes, traditional food works in which Elders demonstrated how to prepare a muskrat, ducks, beaver, fish and traditional sewing.