STRONGER TOGETHER A Toolkit for First Nations-Municipal Community Economic Development Partnerships STRONGER TOGETHER Acknowledgements and information Stronger Together: A Toolkit for First Nations-Municipal Community Economic Development The Federation of Canadian Municipalities Cando 24 Clarence Street 9635 – 45 Avenue Ottawa, ON K1N 5P3 Edmonton, AB T6E 5Z8 Telephone: 613-241-5221 Telephone: 780-990-0303 Fax: 613-241-7440 Fax: 780-429-7487 Website : www.fcm.ca Website : www.edo.ca Developed by: Morgan Bamford, Theo Breedon, Chris Lindberg, Helen Patterson and Marena Winstanley. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Cando acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). A special thanks to the 16 CEDI communities who graciously shared their stories with the CEDI team in developing this toolkit. CEDI would also like to thank CEDI interns Crystal Swan and Aaron Samuel. Valuable input was provided by Toolkit Peer Review Committee members: John Ingram, Andrew Kemp, Pascal Lavoie, Elizabeth Logue, Malcolm MacLean, Suzanne McCrimmon, Larry McDermott, Sean Markey, Judith Sayers, Peigi Wilson and Wanda Wuttunee. Others who provided feedback and input include members of the Cando Board, Colleen Hamilton and staff members of INAC’s Community Opportunities Branch, Lands and Economic Development Sector. We encourage you to reproduce this Toolkit and credit Cando, FCM and INAC. The opinions expressed in this document reflect current best practices and the experiences of the communities participating in the CEDI program, and they do not necessarily represent the official policies of FCM, Cando or INAC. • 2 • STRONGER TOGETHER About us The Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI) CEDI works with staff, elected officials and other stakeholders from participating First Nations and municipalities to support them as they create joint economic development plans and initiatives. CEDI’s approach is to convene, listen and unite. CEDI gives First Nations and municipalities a chance to come together, learn from each other and work on common priorities. To learn more, visit www.fcm.ca/cedi. The CEDI Program and the Stronger Together Toolkit are the result of an effective partnership between FCM and Cando. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Cando FCM is the national voice of municipal government. Cando is a national, membership-based, non- In leading the municipal movement since 1901, FCM profit Aboriginal organization involved in works to align federal and local priorities, recognizing community economic development with Aboriginal that strong hometowns make for a strong Canada. communities. Cando strengthens Aboriginal With over 2,000 members, FCM represents the economies by providing training, certification and interests of Canada’s largest cities; small urban, rural networking opportunities for economic development and remote communities; and 19 provincial and officers (EDOs) working in Aboriginal communities. territorial municipal associations. In 1990, EDOs from across Canada founded and FCM develops policies and delivers national and mandated Cando to provide a national body to international programs that improve the environment focus on the training, education and networking as well as the social and economic sustainability of opportunities necessary to serve their communities municipalities in Canada and abroad. and organizations as professionals. Since then, Cando has worked in partnership with EDOs, academics, FCM’s involvement in designing and delivering First Aboriginal leaders and senior corporate and Nations-municipal programs that address areas of joint government representatives. concern began in 2005 with the Land Management Pro- gram, which enhanced communication and strengthe- Cando is directed by a volunteer board of elected ned relationships between First Nation and municipal EDOs representing every region of Canada. Cando is governments. Since then, the First Nations-Municipal unique because it is the only national organization Community Infrastructure Partnership Program and that focuses on education and professional the Community Economic Development Initiative have development for EDOs working in Aboriginal facilitated partnerships for shared infrastructure agree- communities or organizations. ments and joint economic development. For more information, please visit www.edo.ca. For more information please visit www.fcm.ca. • 3 • STRONGER TOGETHER Table of contents Acknowledgements and information ............................................................... ............................................... 2 About us ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................... .................................................................... 6 Overview ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 Audience ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 The CEDI communities ................................................................................................................................. 9 How to use the Toolkit ............................................................................................................................... 10 Chapter 2: What communities need to know about joint First Nations-municipal CED .............................. 11 1. What is community economic development (CED)? ............................................................................ 13 2. What is joint First Nations-municipal CED? ............................................................... ............................ 14 3. How should communities choose their partners? ............................................................... ................. 16 4. How can communities build a strong relationship? ............................................................... ............... 16 5. Who should be involved in the process? ............................................................................................... 17 6. What is a relationship agreement and why is it important? ................................................................. 18 7. What structures are needed for joint governance and decision making? ............................................ 18 8. What is different about joint planning and decision making? .............................................................. 19 9. What are some examples of joint CED initiatives? ................................................................................ 21 10. How do community partners select a joint CED initiative to work on? .............................................. 23 11. What is a joint CED strategy? ............................................................................................................... 24 Chapter 3: A guide to joint First Nations-municipal CED ............................................................................... 26 Get ready ................................................................................................................................................... 29 Stage A: Connect ....................................................................................................................................... 32 Stage B: Vision ........................................................................................................................................... 37 Stage C: Decide .......................................................................................................................................... 42 Stage D: Act ............................................................................................................................................... 48 Sustaining the relationship ............................................................... ......................................................... 57 Chapter 4: Tools, handouts and workshop agendas ..................................................................................... 60 Tool #1: Assess readiness for joint CED ..................................................................................................... 62 Tool #2: Write an invitation letter .............................................................................................................. 64 Tool #3: Plan and manage a joint workshop ............................................................................................. 65 Tool #4: Sample agenda for workshop #1: Connect ................................................................................. 69 Tool #5: Dialogue Principles ....................................................................................................................... 75 Tool #6: First Nations and municipal governance and legislation ............................................................. 76 Tool #7: Council resolution template ......................................................................................................... 79 Tool #8: Sample agenda for workshop #2: Vision ..................................................................................... 80 Tool #9: Sample