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Outreach
From Annual Report 2001/2002
The annual report covers the activities for the Windigo First Nations Councils' Employment/ Outreach Program for the fiscal year April 2001 to March 2002. The newly hired Employment/ Outreach Officer, Roy Thunder, from Sachigo Lake First Nation, handled the Outreach Program during this time. Roy was the Band Economic Development Officer for the above named First Nation before joining the Windigo First Nation Administration office on February 14, 2001.
Roy has been busy getting familiar with the operations of the Windigo First Nations Council. During his first week in office, Laura Calmwind (then the Executive Director) and Lisa Bull (Economic Development Officer) provided orientation in the areas of Personnel Policy and the mandate of the Windigo First Nations Council.
The following are some of the highlights of activities completed by the Outreach Worker during the past fiscal year:
Employment and Training for an Economic Development Project.
Assisted Economic Development in locating alternative funding sources for the Windigo First Nations communities to access.
Assisted and completed narrative reports for various Windigo First Nations communities.
Visited Windigo communities to meet with the Chief and Council, Band Staff and the community people who wanted to talk to the Outreach Worker about the Program and Services.
Conducted informational session by means of the community radio station at some of the communities that were visited by the worker.
Assisted in the preparation of various employment contracts.
Assisted in the development of the Resource Centre Proposal for the Windigo First Nations Council.
Attended various meetings on Resource Centre proposal for employment and training initiatives.
Assisted in development and preparation of summer student employment proposals for the WFNC administration office and WFNC communities.
Assisted the WFNC communities in the completion of their final narrative reports and payment claim to include financial information regarding project spending.
Attended various workshops and information sessions related to employment and training (e.g. SLAAMB, Interagency meetings, etc.).
Various incoming employment opportunities notices were sent to WFNC communities on a monthly basis.
Assisted various WFNC communities in preparation of E.I., SAR, SIN, Status Cards, Birth Certificates and other forms as requested by WFNC members.
Drafted various SLAAMB related proposals for Windigo First Nations communities.
Assisted in the preparation of advertising employment opportunities within the WFNC office and communities.
Preparation of all interview materials and relevant documentation needed for the interview process.
Participated in the WFNC monthly Staff and Program Managers meetings.
Attended the Economic Development Forum in Toronto, including participation in various workshop topics, networking and establishing resource contacts.
Attended the Chiefs of Ontario meeting representing North Caribou Lake First Nation as their Proxy as requested by the Chief and Council of the North Caribou Lake First Nation.
Participated as a Windigo First Nations Council Board member in the Nitawin Housing Corporation as directed by the Council Chair.
Participated in the Sioux Lookout Anti-Racism Committee meetings as a Windigo Board member.
Attended Sioux Lookout District Chiefs' meeting in Dryden regarding discussions on Economic boycott to the businesses in the town of Sioux Lookout.
Attended and co-chaired the Sioux Lookout Districts' Economic Development Officers and Outreach Workers annual conference in Thunder Bay, ON.
Attended the annual Nishnawbe Aski Nation Keewaywin Conference in North Caribou Lake First Nation as an observer.
The Windigo First Nation Council's Outreach department's main focus this past fiscal year has been on Employment and Training initiatives and client interaction. There has been success in terms of providing ongoing communications to the Windigo First Nations communities that the Windigo First Nations Council serves. We will endeavour to continue to assist WFNC communities through our program and services and by visiting each WFNC community for their support and input in promoting new employment and training initiatives.
Recommendations:
Ø That the WFNC Chiefs continue to support the Outreach program by requesting SLAAMB Board of Directors increase the Outreach workers salary and travel allocation due to the increased demand in workload placed on the workers.
Ø Encourage community based training for the Economic Development Officers and Outreach Workers to include computer training.
Ø That the community based training programs be certified by the accredited educational institutions like the Confederation College in the areas of Heavy Equipment, Carpentry, Plumbing, Computer Skills, and Water Treatment Plant Technicians, etc.
Ø Continue to support and encourage the Outreach Worker to actively participate in workshops and seminars related to Employment and Training so the worker can be more aware of other resources that can be networked and passed on to the member communities.
Ø Continue to have the Outreach Worker access funding from sources other than SLAAMB, INAC, HRDC, etc. For example, private businesses and foundations can be sought after for funding.
Ø Assisting with the Cat Lake First Nation community crisis by visiting their community at the time of their crisis and collecting money and food as donations from various businesses so the community can feed the Resource workers, Crisis workers and visitors.
Conclusion
I would like to thank the Windigo Chiefs for giving me the opportunity to work as their Employment/ Outreach Officer for the past year. Indeed, it was a pleasure to work with the WFNC Staff and the Chiefs who provided their wisdom and knowledge to this organization. I enjoyed visiting the WFNC communities to meet with the people and the community elders to assist them in anyway I can.
From Annual Report 2002/2003
The Windigo First Nations Council Outreach Department experienced staffing turnover twice this fiscal year. The year started with Roy Thunder as the outreach officer, who left the position for other career opportunities. Debbie Kakegamic, a Windigo employee who was promoted to the position and later left the organization for employment with another organization, replaced Mr. Thunder. Finally, John Kamenawatamin was hired to the position in the latter part of the calendar year.
With the limited amount of funding available, travel was very restricted and done in the early part of the fiscal year. There has been increased demand for client assistance and interaction and the lack of travel dollars limits the quality and quantity of assistance provided as most of the information is processed over the telephone.
Between the three staff members that have endeavoured to provide and promote the outreach services on behalf of the Windigo First Nations Council performed the following duties.
· Prepared and submitted funding applications for the Windigo communities requesting assistance.
· Monitored the status of the funding applications and provided monthly and final reports for approved projects that were the responsibility of the Windigo First Nations Council through agreement the First Nations and as requested.
· Assisted Windigo community members with employment applications and resume preparations as required.
· Assisted Windigo community members with applications for Birth certificates, social insurance numbers etc as requested.
· Visited Windigo Communities to provide information on services provided and to receive input on how to improve the services.
· Worked on funding proposals for summer student applications.
· Prepared employment opportunity advertisements within the Windigo First Nations Council as they became available.
· Screened applications for employment and prepared interview packages for successful applicants to be interviewed.
· Participated on the interview and hiring committees.
· Participated with the monthly staff meetings.
· Forwarded information on employment opportunities as they became available.
· Attended information and skills workshops on government and social services for the latest criteria and guidelines.
· Attended meetings on behalf of First Nations and senior management as requested.
· Explored career opportunities available in policing and armed forces and disseminated information to the communities.
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