Honesty takes courage. SOCIAL AGENDA CONFERENCE REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS Conference Preparation ........................................................ 1 Conference Participation ...................................................... 1 Conference Agenda .............................................................. 2 Conference Proceedings ....................................................... 2 Welcoming Participants .................................................................. 2 Conference Visions ........................................................................ 3 Conference Presentations............................................................... 3 Conference Small Group Discussions ............................................ 4 What Is Causing These Problems? .......................................... 5 Colonial History .............................................................................. 5 Generations of Trauma ................................................................... 5 Leadership...................................................................................... 6 Public Attitudes and Social Norms ................................................ 6 Lack of Vision and Understanding ................................................. 7 Narrow Focus ................................................................................. 7 Shifting Economic Base.................................................................. 7 Lack of Personal Skills ..................................................................... 8 Government System and Programs ................................................ 8 Past Programs ................................................................................. 9 Education System .......................................................................... 9 Housing ......................................................................................... 9 Income Support ............................................................................ 9 Daycare ........................................................................................ 10 Program Infrastructure .................................................................. 10 Program Staffing ........................................................................... 10 Program Funding .......................................................................... 10 Gaps in Service ............................................................................ 11 What Strategies And Action Plans Will Address The Causes Of Our Problems? ......................... 11 New Vision................................................................................... 11 New Relationships ....................................................................... 11 Power Sharing ............................................................................. 12 Service Delivery ............................................................................ 12 Holistic Approach ....................................................................... 12 Holistic Philosophy ...................................................................... 12 i Holistic Approaches .................................................................... 13 Teamwork ..................................................................................... 13 Community Responsibility ........................................................... 13 Community Ownership of Problems and Interventions ............. 14 Regional Resources....................................................................... 14 Community-Based Programs ........................................................ 14 Cultural Revitalization ................................................................... 15 Institutional Cultural Focus............................................................ 15 Cultural Healing ............................................................................ 16 Learning ........................................................................................ 16 Leadership Training ...................................................................... 17 Literacy and Life Skills................................................................... 17 Women ......................................................................................... 17 Trauma Recovery ......................................................................... 17 Legislation, Policy and Funding ................................................... 18 Legislation ................................................................................... 18 Policy ........................................................................................... 19 Funding ....................................................................................... 19 What Are The Next Steps? ................................................. 20 Personal Commitment ................................................................. 20 Implementation Committee ........................................................ 20 Conference Report ....................................................................... 20 Implementation Committee Responsibilities .............................. 20 Implementation Committee Alternatives ..................................... 20 Regional Meetings ........................................................................ 21 Social Inventory ............................................................................ 21 Communications Plan ................................................................... 21 Legislative Assembly .................................................................... 21 Conference Evaluation ........................................................ 22 Appendix A Our Vision For The Future ............................................................ 23 Appendix B Small Group Discussions ............................................................. 27 Appendix C Participant Contact List ................................................................ 83 Appendix D Conference Presentations ............................................................ 89 ii CONFERENCE PREPARATION The Ministerial Committee on the Social Agenda, which is chaired by the Honourable Jane Groenewegen, initiated the Social Agenda Conference held on June 18, 19 and 20, 2001 on the Hay River Dene Reserve. A multi- sectoral Social Agenda Conference Planning Team was appointed by the Ministerial Committee to undertake detailed conference planning. The planning team was composed of representatives from social envelope government departments, non-government organizations and Aboriginal organizations and governments. The goals of the conference were as follows: • to provide an opportunity for front line workers to meet with government, and non-government, Aboriginal and community leaders and policy makers in order to increase understanding about our social problems, Listening and build partnerships and together find workable solutions • to begin the process of finding solutions to social problems that allow learning – individuals, families and communities the opportunity to benefit from current economic development initiatives working • to balance the government’s economic agenda with a comprehensive social agenda together • to recognize the important connection between a territorial social agenda and self-government, identify new roles and discuss how governments for healthy, will work together in the future (one aspect of Self-government is that Aboriginal governments will have jurisdiction and responsibility for the safe and decision-making and delivery of social services) • to kick-start the development of an NWT Social Agenda prosperous CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION communities. The goal for conference participation was to ensure that the full spectrum of front line human service delivery workers were present along with leaders and policy makers from public and Aboriginal governments. The conference planning committee aimed for two-thirds representation from service providers and one-third representation from leadership. Approximately 250 people attended the conference. A list of participants, with contact numbers, is included in Appendix C. Social Agenda Conference • Hay River Dene Reserve • June 2001 1 CONFERENCE AGENDA The Social Agenda Conference Planning Team made the decision to follow an agenda that encouraged the exploration of the underlying obstacles to universal wellness followed by identifying strategies and action plans that could begin to address these issues. The planning team decided on a balance between presentations, that would inspire creative problem solving and hope, and small group sessions designed to create ownership, insight and solutions that target the root causes of our social problems. Accordingly, presenters were invited from within and outside the Northwest Territories to describe the situation as they see it and offer a variety of solutions that have worked well in the NWT and elsewhere. The conference was not intended to produce a set of solutions in just over two days. By starting a dialogue about social issues between governments and front line service providers, the event was intended to begin the process towards the We can collaborative development of a Social Agenda. all take CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS Given the conference lasted only two full days and an evening, it is responsibility impressive that so many ideas came from the participants who attended