Forum Background
While attending the Economy and
Employment Summit, which was hosted by the Quebec government
in 1996, the AFNQL Regional Chief, Mr. Ghislain Picard,
expressed the wish that the First Nations get the same
opportunity as the society in general to get together,
discuss and agree on the Socioeconomic priorities which
affect them, and on the actions required to organize
a structural change susceptible to improve the living
conditions of our people. The Regional Chief transmitted
this same message at the Forum of Generations, which
the Charest government hosted in October 2004, and from
where the idea of organizing a First Nations Socioeconomic
Forum emerged.
In a resolution adopted on June
16 2004, the Chiefs of the AFNQL mandated the Regional
Chief, Ghislain Picard, to take the necessary steps
to ensure the presentation of the Socioeconomic Forum
with the support of the Chiefs’ Strategic Committee.
It was also resolved to engage the regional commissions
and organizations of the AFNQL into the achievement
of the event. Based on its mandates and mission, and
with the consent of its board of directors, the FNQLEDC
was designated as the regional organization of the AFNQL
that will coordinate the Forum’s activities.
In its 2005-2008 strategic development
plan, the FNQLEDC identified values ensuing from its
mission. The value of sharing and information transfer
indicates that the FNQLEDC plays a role of sharing and
information transfer on the stakes of economic development,
both to its members and to the First Nations communities.
Through this value, the FNQLEDC has the mandate to organize
an event to fulfill this role. Also, the value of monitoring
and the value to develop the economic development of
the First Nations, explicitly mention the organization
of an event which will allow the implementation of tools
and mechanism for the benefit of the regional economic
development of communities of the First Nations of Quebec
and Labrador. Therefore, the FNQLEDC has all the necessary
support from its members and authorities of the First
Nations of Quebec and Labrador, to go ahead with the
organization of the Forum.
Thanks to a financial contribution
from the Secrétariat aux Affaires Autochtones,
the FNQLEDC was able to set up a Secretariat of the
First Nations Socioeconomic Forum, as of October 31
2005.
VENUE
AND DATE OF THE FORUM
The Forum will be held
on October 25, 26 and 27 2006 and the Innu community
of
Mashteuiatsh will be hosting the event.
MAIN
OBJECTIVE OF THE FORUM
The main objective is to
set in motion and sustain a series of actions and measures
which will make it possible to improve the social and
economic conditions of the First Nations, in a concrete,
effective and viable manner.
SPECIFIC
OBJECTIVES OF THE FORUM
Ensuing from the main objective,
five specific objectives were identified:
A)
Gather all the parties
concerned by the social and economic development related
issues of the First Nations
No concrete result can possibly emerge from the Forum
without the participation and mobilization of all governments
and all First Nations organizations. The active participation
of non-Aboriginal players, either from the public sector
or the private sector, is more than desirable. The principle
of partnership should underlie the works and discussions
of the Forum, which will be at the basis of concrete
actions to be undertaken following the event.
B)
Clarify and define issues related to First Nations development
The organization of such an event cannot be achieved
without clearly defining the complex difficulties and
current challenges influencing the socioeconomic conditions
of the First Nations. The organization of the Forum
is thus an opportunity to assess the current situation
and the perspectives of solution, by taking into account
the recent works in this field. The preparatory works
are proving to be of a major importance for the constitution
of the Forum’s basis of discussions. First, consultations
with the various players and the population of the First
Nations are foreseen in order to draw concrete actions
which will serve as background to the discussions at
the Forum.
C) Draw
proposals and define concrete actions to improve the
social and economic conditions of the First Nations
The Forum is not an exercise
to report on findings, this exercise has been completed
in the preliminary phase as described at the second
specific objective. The Forum must pave the way to concrete
commitments, first on the part of the First Nations
governments and various ministries, and then on the
part of all other players and representatives who will
be taking part in the Forum.
It will be paramount that the proposals
and actions ensuing from the Forum suit as much as possible
concrete solutions that will make it possible to develop
a schedule of implementation of actions, in order to
improve the social and economic conditions of the First
Nations.
D)
Develop
a movement and a structure allowing the swift implementation
and effective monitoring of proposals and actions
It is important to
reiterate that the Forum does not intend to report on
findings; it is planned with the goal of creating a
movement that will oversee a structure responsible of
ensuring that the contemplated actions are implemented
within realistic and reasonable delays, in order to
bring about real changes to the current socioeconomic
conditions of the First Nations.
This structure’s
mandate will consist in implementing the actions and
proposals as defined by the Forum’s participants,
based on an implementation schedule. All the concerned
players will be called upon to engage proactively into
the dynamics of implementation of these actions.
E)
Reiterate,
develop and maintain harmonious and respectful relations
This forum will provide an ideal
opportunity to the First Nations, the interveners of
various circles and the representatives of ministries
to reiterate and strengthen their partnership links
in a framework of open-mindedness, mutual respect and
attentive listening. A better understanding of each
other, in such a way as to envisage new types of productive
partnerships, remains a fundamental issue that will
be reflected in all aspects and challenges of the Forum.
THE
STAKES THAT WILL BE TACKLED
The Forum is intended to be a large-scale
event with an opportunity to highlight the stakes and
to suggest concrete solutions that will engage the First
Nations and all the concerned sectors. The stakes, whether
socio-cultural, political or economic, are numerous,
and for many, they might appear very complex and in
certain respects, be a cause for concerns. A large number
of people, organizations and businesses have been working
daily and relentlessly for years now for the greater
welfare of the Aboriginal populations, in an effort
to improve the living conditions of the First Nations
people, often described as worrisome, if not alarming.
There are data available on the
effects of various social difficulties which affect
the level of community-based economic development of
First Nations communities. Solutions have also been
recommended; some were retained and implemented, while
others are still awaiting their implementation. In spite
of the good will, actions and considerable amount of
work invested from all over, the challenges remain numerous,
and obstacles, over which the First Nations have no
control, are seriously hindering the continuation of
efforts whose objective is the greater welfare of the
First Nations; this obstacle is not a contributing factor
to the promotion of a significant improvement of the
psychosocial health situation, economic growth, education
level or environment of the First Nations. A large number
of people working or caring for the social and economic
development of the First Nations feel that it is urgent
to act, considering that the First Nations would like
to envision a better future for their upcoming generations.
The Forum must be approached with their future in mind,
taking into account several variables and settings that
are peculiar to the life and survival of the First Nations.
All in all, the Forum aims at opening
the paths to a positive future, which are essential
to the required changes, keeping in mind the objective
of improving the fate of the First Nations in regards
to fundamental issues linked to land, resources, taxation,
social difficulties, health, economic development, culture,
identity values, education, employment and sustainable
development. All the participants representing various
sectors will be called upon to share their capacities,
and debate the real challenges in a respectful and harmonious
climate.
THE MAIN THEMES THAT
WILL BE ADDRESSED
Four main themes will be addressed:
- Economy
and employment;
- Health and social services;
- Culture and education;
- Infrastructure and sustainable development.
It
is important to note that the themes are not restricted
to the outline listed hereunder. The preliminary works
of the Forum will be an opportunity to be more specific
and to polish the subjects, in order to determine by
consensus those that will be the object of discussions
and priority actions.
A) Economy and employment
This theme will be addressing the
participation of the First Nations in the labor market,
their fair participation in economy, their involvement
at the level of development of renewable power, creation
of financial tools, the importance of social economy
in First Nations communities, the place of tourism in
aboriginal economy (support to be developed), business
coaching and acquisition of skills.
B) Health and social services
This theme will address particularly
the availability and access to health services, the
complex difficulties that are peculiar to the First
Nations in the area of health and social services, the
promotional and prevention programs, the development
of research and the cultural adaptability of programs.
C) Culture and education
This theme will address among other
things the enhancement of the aboriginal know-how, the
aboriginal languages, and the necessity to preserve
them. The complex difficulties of the dropout rate and
the issue of adapted training, and the necessity to
establish cultural rapprochements will be discussed
within the scope of this theme.
D) Infrastructure
and community development
The improvement
of the road network in First Nations remote communities,
the catching-up and development of new access formulas
to housing and the implementation of the First Nations
sustainable development strategy will constitute elements
to create a proactive and productive discussion.
THE FORUM PARTICIPANTS
The Assembly of First Nations
of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL) will be inviting the
local and regional contributors who are linked to the
sectors broaching the identified themes. It comprises
the representatives of First Nations organizations.
On the federal side, the plan is
to invite numerous ministers and members of parliament
from the two levels of government, along with representatives
of the opposition parties.
As for the participation of other
players, the working unions, the municipal circle, the
financial circle, business people and various associations
will be invited to participate in the Forum.
All in all, we aim at a participation
of approximately two hundred and fifty (250) persons.
It is important to stress that our members of the First
Nations will also be invited to participate; after all,
they are the main players of change in our communities.
THE PRELIMINARY AND POST-FORUM PHASES
The Secretariat of the
First Nations Socioeconomic Forum began its work on
October 31st. A director has been contracted and a working
team will be set up to achieve all the activities linked
to the Forum.
The plan is
to spread out the organization of the Forum into five
phases :
A) Establishment of the stakes
and presentation of assessment reports
During
this phase, it will be important to engage the various
government players in getting themselves involved into
the materialization of a specific project. This phase
must promote a vast reflection on the socioeconomic
stakes that affect the First Nations and bring all concerned
players in putting a lot of efforts in the initiative
leading to the Forum. With the help of a consultation
questionnaire divided into activity sectors, the various
players will be required to define the stakes which
affect the social and economic development of the First
Nations.
A consultation handbook, including
a questionnaire on the different themes, is being developed
and shall be distributed within the respective networks
of each commission and regional organization of the
AFNQL, and in regional organizations of the First Nations.
In order
to set in motion a real participation of all members
of the First Nations, the officers of the Forum Secretariat
are planning to visit different communities in order
to consult the First Nations members who will not have
been consulted by the networks of AFNQL’s regional
organizations.
B) Sectoral meetings to summarize
the stakes
Simultaneously to the consultations,
summary sessions (or sessions by main theme) will be
taking place in order to present to a concertation table,
the actions defined during the consultations. Therefore,
the main players gathered around the same table will
be adopting the actions that need to be undertaken,
in link with the specific stakes that will be presented
at the Forum.
The collected data will be compiled
and presented at a Chiefs’ Assembly in order to
get the political opinion and the Chiefs’ assent
as to the appropriate formula to achieve the Forum.
C) Series of activities jointly
developed for in-depth reflection and for identification
of solution paths and actions to be submitted at the
Forum .
It will be important to present
the defined actions to several groups of interest, particularly
in the private sector, so hat the actions gather a consensus
from all the parties concerned by the socioeconomic
stakes of the First Nations.
D) Presentation of the event
The Forum will be taking place over
a three-days (3) period, with workshops and plenary
meetings. A socio-cultural event will be organized within
the scope of the Forum. Exhibitors will also be on the
site.
E) Post-Forum period and implementation
of actions
Subsequent to the Forum, orientations
will be presented to the Chiefs’ Assembly in order
to prioritize the initiatives required for the achievement
of actions and the development of a structure responsible
to monitor the proactive implementation of actions and/or
strategic plans involving the commissions and regional
organizations, and this, in order to materialize the
solutions which are essential to the improvement of
the socioeconomic conditions of the First Nations.
Following the gradual implementation
of actions, an assessment process will have to be contemplated
with the use of certain indicators which will enable
the gauging of effectiveness and productivity of actions,
on a monthly basis.
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