• This may be the newest face we've had the pleasure of announcing...Consilium Conference Wizard Patti Black and husband Scott are expecting a new Consilium Associate early next summer. We are now negotiating distribution rights for the first Ultrasound pix...stay tuned.

• A new corporate face in Iqaluit...Aarluk partner Helen Klengenberg presided over the opening of Akhaliak Graphics a high quality graphic design and printing firm in Nunavut's capital.

• Terry Rudden and Jerico David spent a week in Iqaluit working with David Kunuk of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. on the expansion of NTI's implementation management system. The visit coincided with the Government of Nunavut's announcement of its Aboriginal Film and Video policy, giving Terry had the opportunity to hang out with old friends from IBC (not to mention a memorable evening of music, courtesy of NTI Executive Director John Lamb).

• Aarluk Consulting won the contract for organization and conduct of the next NTI election.  Helen Klengenberg of Aarluk will be Chief Returning Officer, and Lazarus Arreak will be Assistant Chief Electoral Officer.  The election for the President and Second Vice President of NTI will take place on March 16, 2004.  Nominations for candidates seeking these two offices will be open from January 12-26, 2004.

• Greg Smith will be drafting a report on Aboriginal broadcast policy issues for the Department of Canadian Heritage, based on discussions at a national meeting of the broadcasters held last year, as well as a policy paper prepared by Terry Rudden.

• Aarluk’s Helen Klengenberg has been appointed to the National Task Force on Aboriginal Languages and Culture by Minister of Heritage, Sheila Copps.
   

NEW PROJECTS
 

• Our intrepid data base specialist, Ryan Lotan, is eagerly awaiting TNI audience survey results from Nunavik, so he can begin processing and analysing the information. The survey is being carried out in most of the fourteen Nunavik communities to help TNI assess and improve its Inuktitut language radio and television programming. Local fieldworkers are conducting the interviews.

• Fieldwork on the Evaluation of the Canada-Nunavut LMDA has started, with David Boult being the brave pioneer in Pangnirtung, with help from local associate Jonah Kilabuk. The project is subject to rigorous methodological scrutiny, including peer review, by HRDC and the GN. Over the next few weeks, additional research and consultations by David and Aarluk partners Terry Forth and Helen Klengenberg will take place in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay and Arviat.
   

HAPPY ENDINGS

• Redefining Relationships", the national Conference on Land Claims Implementation held in Ottawa November 11-14, lived up to its own promotion...it truly was the "the most important Aboriginal event of the year." Over 350 leaders, policymakers, government representatives, media, academics and others participated in two days of intensive working group and plenary sessions, enjoyed a gala dinner and concert featuring Leela Gilday, and provided input and recommendations for a strategy developed by leadership on day 3 to re-energize the Land Claims process. Sponsored by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the NWT Aboriginal Summit, the Grand Council of the Crees, the Council of Yukon First Nations and the Nisga'a Lisims Government, the conference was covered by Aboriginal media from across Canada, and will be fully broadcast by CPAC. Kudos to the Consilium, Aarluk and ARDOS staff (Leslie, Ryan, Fred, Ron, Jennifer, Dave, and others) who supported the conference by volunteering to facilitate key sessions, including Terry Forth and Lazarus Arreak who facilitated the key closing Leadership Meeting. Additional thanks to the volunteers from Nunavut Sivuniksavut. But most credit goes to Patti (Sure, I Can Do That) Black, the tireless organizer whose hundreds of hours behind the scenes made the conference the success it was.

• This just in… The proceedings of the “Redefining Relationships” Conference will be broadcast on Canada’s Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) on Monday December 8th from 12:30 pm - 6:00pm Eastern time. 

As is always the case with a news or public affairs channel, this time is subject to pre-emption or rescheduling, depending on events: check the online CPAC network schedule (www.cpac.ca) to confirm the airtime.

Additional broadcasts of the conference proceedings will be scheduled and announced on the CPAC website.

• Speaking of conferences...Ron Ryan organized and facilitated a national consultation meeting for the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Council, bringing Sector Councils and Aboriginal Human Resource Development Agreement Holders (AHRDAs) together to develop strategies that will enhance Aboriginal skills and learning. A second conference is scheduled for January 2004 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

• Say, what is it with conferences this month? One more...Dr. Valerie Assinewe, ARDOS, was a featured speaker at the International Biodiversity and Health Symposium. Her presentation on "Finding the Science in Tradition" was quoted in the National Post and the Ottawa Citizen.

• Consilium Community Economic Development planning and implementation processes were presented by Greg Smith at a conference of northern Ontario Economic Development Officers in Thunder Bay organized by the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund. The presentation, in three workshop sessions, covered planning terms and processes, development of a report template and implementation and monitoring of economic development plans.

• In October 2000, the Natural Resources and Environment Branch of DIAND began developing a policy statement regarding the management of human activities in barren-ground caribou calving and post-calving areas on federal lands. In 2000 - 2001, Dr. Peter Usher of P. J. Usher and Associates and Fred Weihs of Consilium were contracted to carry out consultations in Nunavut and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region with Aboriginal groups who own and manage portions of these habitat areas; institutions of public government and co-management organizations responsible for wildlife management, land use planning and environmental assessment; territorial government departments responsible for wildlife; and DIAND. Dr. Frank Mallory provided advice on the technical feasibility and appropriateness of management options. The results of the consultation made it clear that federal policy must be developed in conjunction with the other parties involved in the claims-based land and resource management systems in Nunavut and the ISR. The final report, Towards the Development of a Policy on the Management of Human Activities in Caribou Calving and Post-Calving Grounds, presented key factors to be considered and recommendations on elements to be included in a common policy. At the recent "Redefining Relationships" conference on Land Claims implementation in Ottawa, we received very positive feedback on the report from a number of groups including the Nunavut Planning Commission, which has used the report in developing rules concerning wildlife habitat.

• Consilium (actually, the Organizational Development Consulting Group in those days) moved into its first digs...short-term rented offices on Slater St. Two Mac computers, a borrowed printer and dozens of incompatible computer programs and versions really, REALLY bad coffee, and no rock steady support and troubleshooting from our most essential staff member, Leslie Sutherland (who joined us in 1995). Those were the days (and quite a few sleepless nights)!

GOSSIP

Response to our tenth anniversary quiz was enthusiastic, creative, and...mostly wrong. Never mind. We've decided to award the coveted Consilium Commemorative Golf Shirt to that inveterate musicologist, meditator on the Human Condition, and Business Development Guru...come on down, Brian McLeod of Kakivak. Not because he got all the answers right, but because his answers were funniest.

And now, answers to the questions that have been keeping you awake for the last month...

1. Before Consilium became Consilium, its corporate name was...
   Correct Answer: The Organizational Development Consulting Group.
   Best Answer: "The Beatles".

2. Which of the following countries has Consilium NEVER worked in? Belize, Kazakhstan, the United States, or the Ukraine?
   Correct Answer: The US. Consilium helped establish an Indigenous Training Institute in Belize, trained telecommunications and banking professionals in Kazakhstan, and negotiated a joint venture agreement in the Ukraine.
   Best Answer: "Oz". (Not sure whether the respondent was talking about Australia or the Land of the Emerald City, but we've haven't worked in either.)

3. What does the Consilium logo represent?
   Correct Answer: Four partners and you...the client...sitting together at a round table.
   Best Answer: "A fire hydrant, seen from above. Because you guys are always putting out fires. Did I get it right?" Well...yeah. But...no.

4. There are actually four companies linked under the heading of "The Consilium Group". They are...?
   Correct Answer: Consilium, Aarluk Consulting Inc. (a Nunavut-owned consulting firm based in Iqaluit), ARDOS (an Aboriginal company), and St. Crispin Towers (property management).
   Best Answer: John, Paul, George, and Ipeelie.

5. Which of the following organizations has Consilium NEVER worked with? The Assembly of First Nations, Volkswagen, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Boy Scouts of Canada, or Newbridge Networks?
   Correct Answer: The Boy Scouts of Canada (although Terry was a Wolf Cub).
   Best Answer: "The Pentagon. I think they need you guys." Well...yeah. But...no.
    

All of us at Consilium, ARDOS and Aarluk would like to wish everyone the very best for the upcoming holidays and the New Year. We look forward to another wonderful year of working together.