Chemawawin Cree Nation

Community Planning Change, Expectations and Performance Some Observations Chief Clarence Easter Chemawawin Cree Nation Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada National Conference Calgary February 2004

Understanding Community Planning Community Planning is about: –Understanding the need for change –Evaluating choices and expectations –Managing and monitoring performance –Taking charge –Making a decision –Planning and designing a road-map towards the desired future In other words, it a means to adopt a proactive approach

Elements of Community Planning Gathering background information Identifying strengths and weaknesses Researching root causes Establishing a vision Building a framework Developing an implementation strategy Monitoring the plan and/or projects (Source: First Nations Community Building Model)

Drivers of Community Planning Why adopt community planning? –A proactive approach by which to ensure buy-in and participation from the community and its members –A means by which to provide empowerment and sense of pride –A shared sense of collective vision, mission and goals of a better future

Change, Expectations and Performance: An Overview Leaders and administrators are entrusted to fulfill needs and expectations of their members and community. This is easier achieved by: –A shared vision and working as a team and with a community spirit –Working to build a community that is strong and vibrant so that each member has the option of better employment opportunities and prospect of higher quality of life without having to leave home –Embracing change, meeting expectations and performing to our best in our allotted tasks and responsibilities

The Speed and Managing of Change Change is better understood if we have: –Clear purpose and objective –The required capacity to absorb change –Identify and designate champions of change –A plan and road-map –Managing the process –Appropriate capacity at individual and organizational levels –Measurements for achievement and success

Expectations: Meeting the challenge of service Leadership and administration are both responsible to serve the needs of the people and community of Chemawawin Cree Nation. We each do this by: –Outlining our mandate and goals –Ensuring governing policy and procedures are followed –Focus on providing better service- by treating our clients as customers –Through example and repeated success provide each person and community at large to have confidence that they will be served appropriately

Performance: Working Together By together organizations and staff produce better results (1+1=More than 2). We all need to: –Better understand and appreciate each others roles and responsibilities –Leadership provides overall direction, outlines expected outcomes, identifies and allocates resources and establishes time-lines –Management administers and implements the programs –Focus and accountability should be on tasks and not personal aspects –Accept that the people and community have a right to be served well. Hospitality and customer-orientation has to be emphasized

Requirements for effective Community Planning There are two aspects to ensuring effective and meaningful community planning Internal Factors Capacity-building Ensuring Staff & Organizational Policy and Rules Appropriate accountability at all levels through adoption of principles of project-management Ensuring a buy-in from the community and its membership An appropriate fit between culture and required institutions Implementation of appropriate mechanisms that foster a good relationship among all our stakeholders- Leadership, Administrative, Funding Partners and Different levels of Government Promote collaboration and partnerships to achieve desired vision and destination

Requirements for effective Community Planning External Factors First Nations and aboriginal communities need to take charge of their own destiny and choices. Governments and external stakeholders need to transfer –Sovereignty and/or autonomy –Jurisdiction over initiatives and policy –Governance and authority –Appropriate levels of resources to meet the needs and expectations at the same levels of Canadians elsewhere –Understanding that aboriginal communities prefer independence from instead of dependence on welfare economics

Some Concluding Thoughts Effective community planning is about: –Taking charge,making appropriate decisions and adopting the necessary road-map –A proactive and collective expression and undertaking to fulfilling aspirations and goals –Recognizing the importance of partnerships and collaborations –Finally, it is all about making a choice…… and undertaking the journey