Modern Treaties 101: A Crash Course

From the desk of Patti Black, Senior Consultant:

   

Do you have questions about Modern Treaties – Comprehensive Land Claims and Self-Government Agreements? Modern Treaties now affect more than 40 percent of Canada's land, waters and resources. What is their regional and national importance?

These Constitutionally-protected agreements define relationships between Aboriginal parties, the Government of Canada, and provincial and territorial governments. Yet little is known publicly or within government circles about the contents of and benefits from modern treaties in Canada. This is your chance to learn how issues like the duty to consult, certainty of ownership, self government, management areas, resource development and other important matters may be affected by Modern Treaties.

• WORKSHOP: Modern Treaties 101: A Crash Course
• DATE: October 30 & 31, 2012
• TIME: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM each day, Registration begins at 8:00 AM
• LOCATION: Rm 201, Ottawa Convention Centre, 55 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa
• CONTACT: Patti Black, LCAC Coordinator, black@consilium.ca

Presented by the Land Claims Agreements Coalition this two-day "crash course" will provide an overview of the agreements, the players, and the implications of modern treaties. Register now to get informed about how modern treaties affect policy decisions, resource development and government processes in your region. Click here for a PDF version of the Draft Agenda.

Registration fees are $595 (+HST) for a two-day pass, $325 for a single day pass (either Oct 30 or 31), and $145 for students (must show a valid student ID card when you arrive at registration). REGISTER NOW on our online registration system!

Healthy Schools and Community Resources

Stonecircle can now add another organization known by its acronym to its roster of clients. The Ontario Physical Health and Education Association (OPHEA) approached Stonecircle, on the recommendation of the Chiefs of Ontario, to ask them to conduct research and prepare an environmental scan on health promotion resources that target Aboriginal students in a school setting. The majority of research will be in a First Nation context, primarily in Ontario, but with Inuit and Métis examples from across Canada also incorporated.

OPHEA was created in 1921 and has been working to support the health and learning of children and youth in Ontario. OPHEA works with school boards, public health, government and non-government organizations as well as private sector organizations to develop programs and services that promote healthy and active school communities. More information can be found at www.ophea.net

If you are aware of any health promotion activities documents or resources that could be shared in the OPHEA database, please email Kory Goulais.

Sagamok Anishnawbek Seals the Deal with Vale Canada Limited – An Impacts and Benefits Agreement is Concluded

After five long years of negotiations, on Friday June 22nd, the day finally arrived for Stonecircle client Sagamok Anishnawbek to sign an Impacts and Benefits Agreement (IBA) with Vale Canada Limited (formerly Inco Limited). The IBA is in relation to Vale’s Totten Mine which is located within Sagamok traditional territory and is the first new Vale mine to open in the Sudbury mining camp in 30 years.

As part of Treaty Day festivities, Chief Paul Eshkakogan and senior Vale representative Kelly Strong attached their signatures to the long awaited agreement. Signing of the IBA was followed by a pipe ceremony, which Elders, members of Council and two Vale representatives were part of. The pipe ceremony, led by Leroy Bennett, was especially important to the community in order to “seal the deal” according to First Nation traditions, and ensure the success of the IBA and overall safety at the mine site.

Other activities were organized throughout Treaty Day to recognize and share information on the IBA and to celebrate the community’s achievement. A “true” sunrise ceremony was held on one of the longest days of the year, starting at 4:30 a.m.. Alex Ker of Stonecircle, who was involved in negotiations since they commenced in 2007, provided an overview of the content of the IBA to community members during a morning information session while treaty annuities under the Robinson Huron Treaty were received by community members. In attendance, and available to answer questions at this session were some of the 15 members of Sagamok Anishnawbek who currently work at the Totten Mine either with Vale, Cementation Canada Inc. (the company responsible for underground mine construction) or with Ted Bell Transportation, Sagamok’s business partner at the site.

After the signing and pipe ceremony a community feast was held at the elaborately decorated Millennium Centre (Bingo Hall) at Sagamok. Speeches and gift exchanges followed. Chief Paul was presented by Vale with a beautiful bronze statue of a miner – a tribute not only to the Chief’s commitment to and leadership throughout negotiation of the agreement, but also to the Chief’s father Frances Eshkakogan who was killed in a mining accident at an Inco mine in 1969. Alex was humbled and overwhelmed to receive from Sagamok the gift of a stunning, large quill box, which was the last to have been made nearly four years ago by a talented Sagamok artist, Martha Toulouse, with the assistance of her mother - the latter having made quill boxes for over 75 years.

The Sagamok Vale IBA for the Totten Mine Project will extend through the life of mine, which is currently expected to be 23 years, and potentially for 5 years after closing out activities begin at the mine site. It provides for benefits sharing in the areas of employment and business contracting, and establishes a significant role for the community in ensuring environmental stewardship, the inclusion of traditional ecological knowledge in environmental management and impacts mitigation. The IBA includes a financial component which is tied to the community’s Ten Year Action Plan for Healing and Development. With implementation, the hard work on this IBA now begins for the First Nation.

Stonecircle congratulates Sagamok Council and community and Vale Canada on the achievement of this agreement and wishes all partners the best for successful implementation of the IBA. We also extend our sincere thanks to the Chief, Council and community for the privilege of being asked to walk with you on this part of your journey.

2012 Staff Planning Meeting

Master facilitator Fred Weihs, facilitating masterfully.

Every year in June the staff of Consilium, Aarluk and Stonecircle meet outside the office for a day-long session filled with talk of strategy, planning, training needs and general camaraderie.  I for one don't often get to see some our senior consulting staff (Ron Ryan, Terry Rudden, Greg Smith and Fred Weihs) in action.....I speak for the rest of the staff when I say, 'they're pretty darned good"!  

The Team at Work

It is safe to say we're a good team on the right track and this yearly check-up ensures we are learning and growing both individually and as a team.  The productive day ended with a team dinner overlooking beautiful Dow's Lake in Ottawa.

Pride and Coincidence - Certified Management Consultants

The first part of the title is easy to understand. We're always proud of Stonecircle Consulting's Vice-President and Manager Jennifer David, whose vibrant energy, unfailing good cheer and commitment to her clients are a model to us all. But we're especially proud this week: Jennifer has just been awarded her Certified Management Consultant designation at the Rideau Club in downtown Ottawa.

Lianti Muller, President of the CMC Ont. Council, and
Newly Minted CMC Jennifer David

The Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation is the profession's only international certification mark, recognized in more than 50 countries. It represents a commitment to the highest standards of consulting and adherence to the ethical canons of the profession. CMC-Canada administers, and its provincial Institutes confer, the CMC designation in Canada.

Our group of companies remain committed to "walking the talk". We provide training and human resource development to clients because we know good training means more productivity, happier people and highly satisfied clients. It also means that we adhere to the CMC's Code of Professional Conduct. Training to receive the designation includes Essentials of Management Consulting, Project Management, Professional Conduct and Ethics, and Best Practices and Professional Standards.

So our heartfelt congratulations to Jennifer for her ongoing commitment to professional development, and to providing the best possible support to Stonecircle clients.

And the "coincidence"? Jennifer was joined that evening by Ryan Lotan, a former employee of our group, also receiving his designation. Ryan is fondly remembered here by many nicknames (Bingley not being one of them), and is now also a Certified Management Consultant - a process he started when he was working with us. Congratulations to Ryan as well!

Denizens of 488 Gladstone, Present and Past

Celebrating Skilled Trade and Technology Careers

Michelle Turpin, Senior Consultant

It is interesting to think about where certain beliefs and stereotypes come from and how they are perpetuated in daily life. When you think of a plumber, or a roofer, what thoughts come to mind? What about a hairdresser or a server in a restaurant? Someone who fixes computers or a person who fixes cars? The people who choose these careers - do they do it because they couldn't think of anything else to do, or because they couldn't get into University? Or do they do it for other reasons entirely?

For the past decade, Michelle Turpin, a Consilium Consultant, has been involved in the promotion of skilled trade and technology careers to youth at a number of different levels - regionally, nationally and internationally - all meant to bring more awareness to the amazing opportunities available in these career paths. They are not careers chosen only because someone 'can't get into' University, but tend to be chosen by bright, committed, passionate, young people who want to use their creative skills to make the world a better place. The acknowledgement and celebration of these careers is carried out by WorldSkills International, an organization with over 60 countries who are 'WorldSkills Members', all of these countries/regions committed to promoting skilled trade and technology careers for young people. In Canada, the organization that promotes vocational education and training is Skills Canada.

And how do these countries go about bringing awareness to these careers? Through competitions of course! Every year, the Member countries of WorldSkills International host competitions, the easiest way to describe these competitions is as 'skilled trade and technology Olympics' where young people gather to compete against their peers in over 40 different trade and technology areas. From bricklaying and baking to landscape design and automotive repair, these competitions set out to do two things: recognize international industry standards in these careers and to celebrate the excellence of young people who are committed to training to be the best they can in their chosen skill area. International competitions take place every 2 years with the next one being hosted in Leipzig, Germany in July 2013. On 'off competition' years, delegates from the Member countries join for a General Assembly to talk about the event, how regions are working to promote vocational education and training and discuss how to best move the organization forward.

Michelle recently returned from the beautiful island of Jeju, Korea where the General Assembly was held. In addition to the General Assembly meetings, the 4th Annual WorldSkills Youth Forum was facilitated by Michelle. The entire event was hosted by WorldSkills Korea, and specifically Human Resource Development Korea and all events were an outstanding success.  Delegates at both the General Assembly and the Youth Forum worked hard to ensure that WorldSkills International will continue to grow and people will come to realize that skilled trade and technology careers offer some pretty amazing life opportunities.

More details on the Youth Forum will follow next week. Stay tuned...

Building Capacity, One Course at a Time

David Boult, Senior Consultant

From the desk of David Boult, Road Warrior:

The Municipal Training Organization (MTO) plays a critical role in developing the capacity of hamlet staff in Nunavut. Partnering with Nunavut Arctic College, MTO delivers the Municipal Government Program, a multi-faceted program that enables hamlet staff to increase their ability to provide better programs and services to the residents of Nunavut.

David Boult has been an instructor for these programs since its inception in 2004. Most recently, David delivered a course on Risk Management for recreation coordinators in the Qikiqtani region. Participants learned how to identify and mitigate risks associated with their facilities. Highlights of the course included visiting a number of Iqaluit’s recreation facilities including the Arctic Winter Games facility, the municipal pool and the old arena. Participants also conducted assessments of several municipal playgrounds around the city.

The program has evolved over the past year with a number of core courses being offered online. Aarluk Consulting Inc. has been instrumental in moving these courses to the online format and supporting their delivery. By all accounts, this transition has been successful. While there are plans to move more courses to online delivery, David, for one, will miss the face-to-face instruction that has played such an important role in enabling hamlets across Nunavut to improve their capacity and provide better services and programs to their residents.

Alex Arnatsiaq, Recreation Leader from Igloolik, making a run for it on one of Iqaluit’s Zambonis. 

A special shout out to the staff at Iqaluit’s Recreation Department. Their assistance and hospitality were much appreciated and the city should be proud to have such great employees. Thanks Jennifer and Tyrone.

Skills Canada Annual National Competition Underway!

From the desk of Michelle Turpin:

Credit: Skills / Compétences Canada Facebook page.

The annual Skills Canada National Competition is underway in Edmonton, AB with hundreds of competitors from across the country competing for their provincial and territorial teams in over 40 different skilled trade and technology contest areas. This annual Competition allows young people to showcase their talents; from bricklaying to baking, mechatronics to mobile robotics, these secondary and post-secondary students are truly at the top of their game!

Training starts early in a school year as these young people prepare for 2 days of intense competition against their peers from across the country. At this particular competition, winners have a win a spot on Team Canada who will travel to Germany in July 2013 to compete at the international WorldSkills Leipzig 2013 Competition.

One of the events is the National Youth Forum. Young people who have competed in a previous Skills Canada event gather together for some leadership training and for a working forum; the young people are the recipients of all of the great events and activities put on by Skills Canada organizations across the world, they are in the best position to give feedback about their Skills experiences. For the second year in a row, Consilium's Michelle Turpin has organized the National Youth Forum for Skills Canada. Celebrating the contributions of the young people who have been involved in Skills Canada is an important step in the whole big picture of the skills movement! 

Amazing opportunities, amazing events, amazing young people filled with passion and talent. To view pictures of the competition, please visit http://skillscompetencescanada.com/en/ to see what it is all about. Good luck to all!

Supporting Co-Management Committees in Clyde River and Arviat

An Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement (IIBA) for National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in Nunavut was ratified in 2008, and an important feature of the agreement was the establishment of Area Co-Management Committees in eight communities that are near to each of the conservation areas in the territory. The Co-Management Committees are responsible for the planning and day-to-day management of a specific conservation area.

An important task of each committee is the development of a management plan. The management plan is to be informed by an understanding of the wildlife and cultural resources, and will be used as the framework for which management decisions are made by the committee, Environment Canada staff, and any other stakeholder group with an interest in the conservation area.

The purpose of a management plan is to maintain the ecological integrity of a conservation area, planning for activities that are allowed in the area while identifying other activities that are restricted and require the authority of a permit. The IIBA ensures that management plans in Nunavut must respect the rights of Inuit specified under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

Aarluk has been supporting two Co-Management Committees, helping to set the foundation for the preparation management plans. In Clyde River, the Ninginganiq National Wildlife Area protects the habitat of bowhead whales in their summer feeding grounds at Isabella Bay. Working with the Ittaq Research and Heritage Society, Aarluk’s Chris Grosset and Christian Cloutier gathered background documents concerning the area, such as research papers, consolidating the relevant information into a management plan template. Chris Grosset also provided a two-day training workshop in Clyde River on management planning for the Ninginganiq Committee.

Nivvialik Co-Management Committee (left to right): Chris Grosset (Aarluk), Donna Mulders (ACMC), Judy Issakiark (Kivalliq Inuit Association) Simona Baker (translator), Peter Alareak (ACMC), Thomas Ubluriak(ACMC), Shayne Ubluriak (ACMC - seated), David Aglukark Sr. (ACMC), Philip Kigusiutnak (ACMC)

Aarluk is also completing the background document consolidation for the Nivvialik Co-Management Committee of Arviat, who are responsible for the Kuugaayuk (McConnell River) Migratory Bird Sanctuary, an important nesting and feeding ground for Lesser Snow Geese. Chris Grosset led a two-day training workshop with the members of the Nivvialik committee in Arviat.

Both workshops resulted in a greater understanding among committee members of their roles in management planning, as well as work plans for each committee to prepare their respective management plans.

Nunavut Municipal Performance Measurement

What is the average cost of recreation expenditures in municipalities with a population under 600? What is the estimated litres per capita of water delivered in Nunavut municipalities? What is the financial position of all Nunavut municipalities? All of these questions are answered annually by the Nunavut Municipal Performance Measurement Report (NMPMR).

Starting nine years ago, the Nunavut Municipal Training Organization (MTO) has been measuring, benchmarking and publishing municipal performance for all municipalities in Nunavut. The goal of the report is not to endorse any one level of services, but simply to allow municipalities to measure their results against other municipalities of the same size. This can help highlight best practices, identify areas of potential improvement, and, for the MTO especially, help design training programs.

The NMPMR has been published annually, tracking trends and results by population size in all areas of municipal government services. Over 40 areas of performance are tracked, from how much local recreation revenue is collected, to the costs of power/heat, to the bottom line of financial position.

Aarluk's Chuck Gilhuly and Geoff Rigby crunched the numbers on all 23 non-tax based municipalities in Nunavut on behalf of the MTO this year and have forwarded the final report for distribution to all municipalities.

Performance measurement and benchmarking can provide concrete, practical information for municipalities in budgeting, performance improvement, and many other areas. It helps to ensure the best services at the best possible cost, in addition to increasing the accountability of elected officials and staff to local residents. It's a process that any organization can benefit from!

N-CAMP Frolics in Kugluktuk

Jimmy Jacquard, Fisherman

From the desk of Jimmy Jacquard, Fisherman... errr... Road Warrior:

The third and last community consultation for the Nunavut Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (N-CAMP) took place in Kugluktuk April 10th-12th. What a great time to be in Kugluktuk, as the week-long activities known as the Frolics were happening. For those of you city folks (Iqaluit, I mean), the Frolics would be the equivalent of Toonyk Tyme, except that they last longer and there are more events. It was a great time of year to visit Kugluktuk as many people were out and about, which made it easier for us to spread the N-CAMP idea to key community stakeholders.

We were not surprised that everybody we spoke to was very excited about the N-CAMP idea. Providing such training empowers communities and makes them less reliant on outside agencies, and who wouldn’t like that? The Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO), the Hamlet, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KIA), the regional office of the Government of Nunavut's Department of Economic Development and Transportation (ED&T), individuals we spoke to from other various departments, and the general public were all in strong favour of offering such training.

Unlike in Coral Harbour and Igloolik, where the focus was more on developing the economic potential of the local fisheries, the residents of Kugluktuk have a priority that overshadows everything else. That priority is the Coppermine River, the very river that has provided drinking water and food to the Copper Inuit for countless generations. People from the community want to have the ability to test their river for contaminants, and to have the skills to ensure that the fish from the river are safe to eat. There are operating mines at the headwaters of the Coppermine and there is much more exploration and development underway, which is a cause of concern for residents of Kugluktuk. As passionately stated by an elder during our visit, “The river has always been the lifeblood of the community.”

Snowmobile races on the Coppermine as part of the Frolic festivities

Although the N-CAMP program will have a core set of modules for aquatic monitoring and data gathering, additional modules may very well need to be prepared to meet the needs and priorities of communities. For Kugluktuk, this means the Coppermine River. Placing a high value on the very things in nature that sustain life is certainly not done enough in this day and age... Good on you Kugluktuk!

The N-CAMP consultation visits are completed, and it is now time to gather our team and write the report that will be used to gather the support and funding needed to move the project forward to Phase II. Exciting times in the world of aquatic monitoring program development!

The Digital Classroom

The last exercises are done, the last marks are submitted, and the virtual classroom door swings shut. A landmark in Northern training concluded last week, and the results surpassed expectations.

The Internet and new communications technologies have transformed the way we bank, converse, play games, watch movies, and read our news. They've also changed the way we learn. Educators around the world are now delivering courses through the Internet that range from Classical  Greek to Workplace Safety.

Earlier this year Aarluk Consulting teamed up with the Municipal Training Organization and Nunavut Arctic College to adapt and deliver five courses from the popular Municipal Government Program (MGP) online. The five core MGP courses cover Introduction to Northern Government, Management Communications, Public Sector Finance, Human Resources Management and Introduction to Computers. In the past, learners were flown from across the Territory to participate in classroom sessions. That would mean an absence of up to two weeks, training in a new community and environment, and a mountain of work on their return.

Enter online learning. The new approach spread the training over  three weeks. Learners attended a 'class' with their virtual peers a couple of times a week, and worked on courses on their own time - sometimes during the day, sometimes during the evening and on the weekend, but always with a dedicated e-teacher in the background, technical support, and other students learning at the same pace and style.

We have to admit to some pre-course jitters in the days leading up to the first delivery. Many Nunavut communities have trouble accessing the Internet, and we weren't sure students would establish the same sense of community and mutual support that a classroom could achieve. 

No worries. The online delivery was a complete success. Some of the comments made by the students include "I am hooked, I want to learn more", "This course was way better than I thought it was going to be - very interesting", and "I couldn't have done this without the support my employer and my family gave me - I'm so thankful to have completed these courses!"

Many students started out not really knowing what to expect (as did the instructor!) and much to everyone's delight, an online learning community was quickly established. Several sessions of synchronous learning took place each week; everyone discussed key questions arising from the course material online, dealt with technical issues, and in general, got to know each other in the virtual world. Everyone spent several hours working through the course material, all of it online. Quizzes, assignments and posting one's thoughts in an interactive forum were all part of the course that learners pursued on their own time.

There were the usual technical glitches, of course; but thanks to the instructors, the technical support team,  and support on the ground in the communities from Arctic College and SAOs, these were quickly solved, and challenges often became great learning opportunities.

With the first batch of courses done, reflection can take place. More than one student commented that they wouldn't have been able to finish these courses if they had have been required to travel to complete them - this online method of training opens many new doors for adult learning.

Kudos to a great team. There are too many to thank - you all know who you are - but we would especially like to tip our hats to:

• all those at Arctic College who supported the program, including Jason Brown, Fiona Buchan-Corey and Mike Shouldice;
• the folks at the Municipal Training Organization, and especially Matthew Ayres and Aseena Allurut;
• the Aarluk team, including Michelle Turpin, Scott Black and Kory Goulais (instructors), Neil Burgess (Moodle Wiz and Instructional Design), Terry Rudden (andragogical review and quality control) and Chuck Gilhuly (Project Management);
• the SAOs and Arctic College staff who leaped into the breach and helped out with local problem solving when needed;
• and last but never least, the wonderful participants whose willingness to commit their time and patience to this project made it the success it was. Kujannamik!

N-CAMP Group Finds Best Pizza in the Circumpolar World

Jimmy Jacquard, Aarluk Manager
and Senior Consultant

From the desk of Jimmy Jacquard:

Yes you read that right, Igloolik boasts the best pizza in the circumpolar world! On Monday April 2nd, the N-CAMP (Nunavut Community Aquatic Monitoring Program) group left from Iqaluit to go to Igloolik for a few days to promote the program. We were welcomed with open arms by Tujurmivik Hotel owner Elijah Evalujarjuk, who quickly showed us to our rooms and gave us a tour of the 8 room hotel. I had been told by a friend in Iqaluit that the pizza was incredible, so I asked Elijah about his famous northern pie, and he proudly proclaimed that it was "the best in the circumpolar world."

We did have the pizza the following night, and I must say that it was…actually, I think I will tell you later in the blog, to make sure you read the N-CAMP update first!

Both the Igloolik Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO) and the Hamlet were very excited about the possibility of training community members to do fisheries and aquatic monitoring. The HTO has completed an application to the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for the granting of an exploratory fishing license for one of the lakes that is much closer to the Hamlet than the current commercial fishing lakes. Once such licenses are granted, the DFO needs five years of data gathered to complete the analysis needed in order to grant a commercial license and determine a fishing quota. If we can get the N-CAMP program developed, communities like Igloolik will have local people trained to do all of the testing and measurements required during this process. All of the community members were in favour of such a program being developed, but for more reasons than just developing their local fisheries. Igloolik is a very traditional community that relies heavily on country foods for subsistence, and we heard from elders that they are concerned about contaminants, both on the land and in country foods. We were asked whether the training could include a module on contaminants as well, which is a possibility, as the idea is to cater the training to community needs and concerns. Hunters and fishermen in the area are also interested in exploring what other potential commercial species reside on the ocean floor close to the community. These are exciting times in Igloolik.

Not quite pizza... Bannock making contest on Hamlet Day! 

Now, back to the pizza. It was the best I have had in the north. Sorry Iqaluit, Yellowknife, and Rankin, but Igloolik wins in terms of both taste and price! You can’t get 2 two large pizzas in Iqaluit for less than $40. Nevertheless, the price of the plane ticket to Igloolik will not make it feasible to fly there for a pizza supper.

One more stop on the N-CAMP tour, Kugluktuk. More to follow…

Goodbye Hal!

Ron Ryan, Senior Consultant

From the desk of Ron Ryan:

One of Baffin Island’s innovators has decided to leave the north to pursue another career. Hal Timar, Executive Director (ED) of the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce (BRCC) for the past seven years has tendered his resignation. He has added a number of dimensions to the Chamber that will have lasting effects on the Baffin business community and beyond. As Hal prepares to move south of the tree line, we would like to acknowledge the many initiatives that took shape under Hal’s stewardship.

Community Economic Development (CED) Weeks. Working on the premise that if ‘they can’t come to us, we will go to them’ the CED weeks were managed by Hal and his amazing team at BRCC. The Chamber organized and coordinated travel to Baffin communities for development agencies, government departments, businesses and organizations that allowed these groups to share information and connect with people and businesses in communities. These mini trade shows allowed the participants to put on a display of what they had to offer and dialogue with residents. This consisted of different program offerings, the kind of finance that might be available for entrepreneurs, license applications for outfitters, insurance for tourist operators or how to access training, among many other things.

Development of materials and training tools. The Chamber developed materials, training tools and ran workshops on sector opportunities where various sectors of the economy such as tourism, mining, and arts & crafts were examined for potential business opportunities. Information was provided on how a business could get started and where financial resources could be found. For businesses in communities, access to this kind of information was important and essential to have.

Hal Timar, former Executive Director of BRCC, at
Northern Lights 2012

Nunavut Trade Show & Northern Lights – Business and Cultural Showcase of Canada’s Easter Arctic and North. Both of these events have grown tremendously under Hal’s leadership. Northern Lights boasts a great partnership between the BRCC and the Labrador North Chamber of Commerce and this high profile business and cultural showcase of Nunavut, Nunavik, Labrador and Nunatsiavut has had 3 major successful events including Ottawa in 2008, Montreal in 2010 than in Ottawa 2012. The Nunavut Trade Show has consistently grown and is now the largest annual business to business event. It is hard to imagine that there will be no more ‘Hal on the microphone’ at these trade shows. Not only are these events themselves very successful, the BRCC developed a manual and other resource material and ran workshops on how businesses can be better prepared for and benefit from attendance at these trade shows.

Creation of training partnerships. Ask any northern business what one of their biggest challenges is and one will find out that having qualified bookkeepers has been an obstacle to the success of a business. Through funding from Department of Economic Development and Transportation (ED&T), Department of Education and Kakivak Association, BRCC offered a certified bookkeeping program to Baffin residents. Now there are certified bookkeepers working in the communities as the result of the efforts of the Chamber. Not only was this accomplished , these bookkeepers if they so desire can move on to a higher designation in accounting such as Certified General Accountant (CGA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) as they now have the foundation to do so.

Hal’s enthusiasm, energy, interest and insights have been major contributing factors to the success of these initiatives and others not mentioned above. He will be missed but not forgotten. We all wish him well in his new chosen career as Sr. VP North American Operations, Plugin Construction Solutions (PICS).

Museum of Civilization Cape Dorset Online Exhibition

From the desk of Scott Black:

A recently released Canadian Museum of Civilization online exhibition is giving people across Canada and around the world a new opportunity to learn about the incredible artistic community of Cape Dorset, Nunavut.

Credit: Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation

Initially the Museum engaged Stonecircle to provide only the educational elements of the site, but Scott Black and Chuck Gilhuly worked with the client and other project partners over several months in 2011 to help develop the overall site design, select the images for inclusion and beta test the finished product.

The result is a site that delivers a variety of perspectives on Cape Dorset to a wide range of users. Very cool lesson plans (make your own prints! Produce a video!) cover grade levels from kindergarten through high school, quizzes test the adult user’s knowledge of Cape Dorset art trivia, and games enable virtually anyone to assemble puzzles of Cape Dorset art, or use individual art pieces to learn Inuktitut words.

Fans of Cape Dorset prints will see 63 gorgeous pieces, each shown with the name of the artist, technique used, date produced and other information. The pieces are also organized according to themes, such as “Animals,” “Myths,” “History,” “Hunting,” and “The Land.” The history section, organized by decade and written by curator Norman Vorano, is packed with photographs, more prints and fascinating details about the genesis of Cape Dorset printmaking in the 1950s and its evolution up to the present.

Teachers will find the lesson plans available in PDF format for download, and loaded with supporting content in the form of "how to" videos, websites profiling annual Cape Dorset print collections, and some other video content that’s just plain awesome, like the guy on a really big, loud snowmachine rocketing down an ice road at top speed. Oh yeah, now that’s Nunavut culture!

Lesson plans for the higher grades explore the relationship between the original artist and printmaker, challenge students to find the artists in their own communities, and encourage students to create their own art with techniques in use at Cape Dorset, such as block printing.

One lesson plan video features renowned artist Kenojuak Ashevak working in her home, commenting on both her work and on receiving the Governor General’s Award. Pitseolak Niviaqsi and other artists are also featured. Other videos introduce the visitor to the community of Cape Dorset from the air, and show artists at work on a hot summer day.

What this online exhibition offers, in addition to excellent information about the Cape Dorset art scene, is a window into Nunavut life that belies popular stereotypes. Having viewed the art, played the games, taught the lessons and checked out a few videos, the visitor comes away with a clearer sense of how life is really lived in Canada’s newest territory. You can visit the online exhibition of Inuit prints of Cape Dorset (Kinngait) here: www.civilization.ca/capedorsetprints/.

End of a Training Era: NITC Shut Down

(Former CEO Lorne Kusugak, Peter Kapolak, Hugh Nateela: NITC Offices in Rankin: Zak Kunnuk films NITC workshop)

After nearly twenty years of operation, the Nunavut Implementation Training Committee (NITC), one of the first organizations created in 1993 following the ratification of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA), closed its doors for the last time on Friday.

Despite NITC’s track record of successful training, the federal and territorial governments decided not to renew funding to support scholarships, workshops, and employment training for Inuit in Nunavut.

"This is an organization that really made a difference,” says Paul Quassa, President of the organization. “I’m very proud of what we achieved. Many of Nunavut’s leaders worked for NITC over the years, or served on our Board. Just about everyone received NITC-funded training or scholarships. Today is a sad day.”

NITC was established under the NLCA to support training within the complex network of implementation organizations in Nunavut. As part of its mandate it administered the popular Nunavut Beneficiaries Scholarship Program. It was also intended to assist the territorial and federal governments in implementing Inuit employment plans, and to help the planning and delivery of training.

Former Board Member Joanasie Akumalik in the spotlight; NS graduating class: NITC sponsored workshop on the land.

Consilium has worked with the organization since - and even before - its creation. Ron Ryan served on an advisory group planning for HR in Nunavut in the early nineties, and helped steer the formation of NITC. Terry Rudden was actually NITC's first employee, designing the organization, hiring its first permanent staff, and overseeing its incorporation. And it was an NITC project that  brought the original partners of Consilium together for their first  contract - a project that yielded the comprehensive, seven volume Implementation Training Strategy that shaped NITC's training plans and programs for the next twenty years.

"I don’t know what’s supposed to happen now", said NITC CEO Dorothy Merritt. "Over the years our scholarship helped hundreds of Inuit students through school, and we provided dozens of workshops on management, governance, special skills – training Inuit in literally every community. There’s no other funding for training like that."

Paul Quassa agrees. “The needs that NITC was created to address—training for Inuit in DIOs and IPGs, trying to establish representative levels of Inuit employment with the federal and Nunavut governments, coordinating training funding and programming for maximum impact—those needs remain after NITC ceases to exist. I hope NTI and the government don’t forget that. We changed a lot of lives: I hope our work wasn’t wasted.”

NITC’s last day of operations was Friday, March 30th, 2012.

And the Winds Blow in the Kivalliq! Again...

Jimmy Jacquard, Road Warrior

From the desk of Jimmy Jacquard, Road Warrior:

It is well known that the Kivalliq region is famous for bad weather. That large body of water called Hudson Bay can make Mother Nature a little unpredictable at times to say the least. The first N-CAMP (Nunavut Community Aquatic Monitoring Program) consultations were slated to be held in Coral Harbour from March 13th to 16th. Luckily, I was able to get to Coral Harbour directly from Iqaluit on the 13th. Not so lucky was Sarah Arnold, Fisheries Sector Specialist for the Government of Nunavut's Department of Environment, who was stuck in a blizzard in Rankin Inlet. Zoya Martin from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans was slated to fly to Coral as well, but ended up flying over Rankin (because of a blizzard- surprise!) and ended up in Yellowknife. To make a long story short, I ended up by myself in Coral without the fisheries and biology experts! Arghh!

So, off to work I went in trying to promote the N-CAMP idea. I must say that the consultation was a complete success. The visit generated support from all of the key stakeholders, including Sakku School, the local Hunters and Trappers Organization, the Hamlet Council and the MLA for the Hamlet, Johnny Ningeongan. All stakeholders are looking forward to sharing their insights and providing feedback as the N-CAMP program is developed. It was apparent that the people of Coral Harbour are very passionate about their island and its resources. The opportunity to have local people trained in aquatic monitoring was fully supported, as it will help Coral Harbour develop some of the char fishery potential on Southampton Island.

Now, getting home from Coral. Did I mention that the winds like to howl in the Kivalliq? The first try to fly out was unsuccessful, and the drive from the community to the airport was one of the only times I've worn my seatbelt in Nunavut! Gordon, our driver, was very cautious and an experienced driver, but there were times that we had practically no visibility. We made a second attempt later in the day while the weather was still quite bad, but the taxi managed to make it to the airport, and the plane landed while the winds had subsided for a few minutes. Although the people from the community were of the friendliest kind, I was happy to be able to make it back home to Iqaluit.

The next N-CAMP consultation is in Igloolik in early April- let’s hope the weather gods are nicer to our group this time around! More to follow after Igloolik...

A Global Celebration of Trades and Technology Careers

For all of our global differences, there are many commonalities found around the world when it comes to careers and education. It can be easy to think that one country or industry is unique with its successes and challenges; however, upon further investigation, common themes can be found. The reality is that traditional trades, new technologies and multi-skilled vocations make an essential contribution to the economic and social well being of people everywhere. WorldSkills International is an organization that celebrates the successes and spreads the word about these careers using a number of different methods. The largest by far is the WorldSkills Competition, held every other year in a different 'Host' city.

The Leipziger Messe in Leipzig,  Germany.
Credit: John Cox, WorldSkills International 

The last WorldSkills Competition was held in London, UK in October 2011. Approximately 200,000 visitors attended to see almost 1,000 young people from 51 countries/regions compete in 45 different trade and technology areas. From Bricklaying to Baking, Mechatronics to Milling, this is by far the largest global celebration of skilled trade and technology careers and it is the most amazing site to see. Planning is already well underway to deliver the next WorldSkills Competition that will be held in Leipzig, Germany in July of 2013. Consilium's Michelle Turpin is also the Project and Special Events Manager for WorldSkills International. She recently travelled to Germany for a board meeting and for planning meetings for the 'most exciting Competition ever'. It takes a team of committed individuals to pull off these incredible Competitions, and WorldSkills Leipzig 2013 will be no different. To see what WorldSkills International is all about, be sure to visit www.worldskills.org. Stay tuned for more details as the planning continues.

Research on Indigenous Health Promotion

Credit: Mark van Manen, Vancouver Sun 

Stonecircle was recently awarded a contract to conduct a literature review/environmental scan on health promotion initiatives in a school setting, aimed at First Nations in Canada.

There are a number of innovative models across the country related to what is called comprehensive indigenous school health, which is a holistic and multi-disciplinary way of teaching healthy living, and making the links between health and the environment.

Wanda Brascoupe-Peters, Jennifer David and Kory Goulais will be the team to delve into the promising practices of programs that encourage healthy eating, healthy lifestyles, exercise and community development. The team will be interviewing various stakeholders, and reviewing published and grey literature on the topic.

Testing the Waters- Nunavut Style!

From the desk of Jimmy Jacquard:

Aarluk has just embarked on a very exciting project with the Fisheries and Sealing Division of the Government of Nunavut's Department of Environment. The goal of the project is to develop and pilot a training program for monitoring water quality, aquatic invertebrate species, and fish populations in Nunavut. The training will result in individuals from Nunavut communities becoming certified in both marine and freshwater monitoring procedures.

The program has been named N-CAMP. You may be thinking "OH NO! Not another acronym to add to the already exhaustive list that exists in Nunavut!" Well, at least this one makes sense, and it will be easy to remember because, unlike many of the acronyms we find in Nunavut, CAMP is a real word that will be easy to remember. N-CAMP stands for Nunavut - Community Aquatic Monitoring Program. The logo is in the final stages of development and will be unveiled soon. Also, there is a website that is currently under development www.nunavutwaters.ca and all the information pertaining to this exciting new program will soon be available.

The goal is to equip people from communities with the skills needed to gather the necessary data required to conduct an exploratory fishery on a species with commercial potential. We will be working very closely with a number of organizations and stakeholders, including the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and industry partners. The skills that will be acquired through this new certification program will also develop community capacity and make people more employable. Being able to use and read field meters for pH, conductivity, turbidity and dissolved oxygen is also useful and necessary in mining exploration, contaminant clean-up and climate change impact assessments.

Dissolve Oxygen meter- Hey, fish need to breathe too!

How cool does this sound? Camped out on the shores of pristine Hansine Lake on Southampton Island, iridium based satellite phone in one pocket, high tech underwater camera in another. Holding a d-ring collapsible kicknet with 500 micron carrying bag in one hand, a specialized knife in the other that is about to remove the otolith from a freshly caught char. As the sun beats down, and char is cooking on the coleman stove, you record your data, and think of how lucky you were for taking the N-CAMP certification program.

More to follow…