• Valerie Assinewe, PhD. (President), an Anishnawbe from Sagamok First Nations, received her Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Ottawa. She has worked in the federal government delivering and administering social development programs and has worked as a consultant working on environment issues, phytochemical analyses, and organizational development of Aboriginal groups. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at McGill University where she is studying the effect of climate change on the nutritional needs of northern Aboriginal people. She is a member of Health Canada's Expert Advisory Committee on Natural Health Products.

• Jennifer David (Vice-President) Cree/Ojibway, has a Bachelor of Journalism and a B.A. from Carleton University in Ottawa, and has worked in the area of Aboriginal communications for nearly 10 years. As the Director of Communications for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Jennifer helped gather support for the network, saw it through its launch and worked to promote Aboriginal producers and the network until August 2000. Jennifer then launched Debwe Communications Inc., a production and communications consulting company in the areas of public and media relations, writing, video production, research and creating communications strategies. (need picture, have requested from Jennifer)

• Kowyeesa Owpaluk, (Treasurer)  was born and raised in Coral Harbour and Iqaluit, Nunavut. She has been involved with financial areas of business operation since 1980. In the early 1980s she worked as manager of the Inuit Co-operative in Iqaluit, and from 1984 until 1989 she worked as a bookkeeper with the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation. Kowyeesa now runs her own bookkeeping company, KNOW Bookkeeping Services, which provides bookkeeping services to private companies.

• Greg Smith  specializes in project planning and management, program evaluation, cultural and other facilities planning and the extension of communications systems to remote areas.  In the early 1980’s he spent four years in the Western Arctic working on the Inuvialuit Land Claim settlement, and establishing and managing the Inuvialuit Communications Society.  Over the past fifteen years he has consulted to Aboriginal, government and private sector clients in Nunavut and throughout Canada. He has recently been project manager for a videoconferencing demonstration and community museum planning project for Igloolik, in partnership with the Inullariit Society and the Canadian Museum of Nature; for a feasibility study for a Nunavut Language Centre for CLEY, and for an evaluation of the Aboriginal Languages Initiative for the Department of Canadian Heritage.

• Ron Ryan is a specialist in training, human resources planning, and community economic and organizational development. Trained as an adult educator, he has extensive experience in management training, human resource development and project management. He was a founding member of the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO), and has overseen the development of community development loan funds in Ontario and Nova Scotia. Ron has worked in Northern and Eastern Canada for a wide range of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community-based organizations. He chaired the Management Studies Department of Arctic College, and served as Local Program Co-ordinator at the Coady International Institute.

• Last month we proudly announced that Akhaliak Consulting Ltd. and Consilium Nunavut Incorporated (CNI) would be joining forces to provide improved and expanded service to our clients. The joint venture will be formally launched on September 1st, 2003. But as a special bonus for loyal readers of this newsletter, we promised to announce the name of the new company. So here it is...coming in eight weeks to a community near you...drum roll...Aarluk Consulting Inc. (pronounced AHHR-look). Super cool logo to be unveiled next month.
   

• The deadline for the Land Claims Implementation Conference early registration is fast approaching! July 15th is D-day for the special $650 delegate rate. Planning for the event is well underway: conference co-chairs Richard Nerysoo and Joe Kunuk have been announced, and many high-profile speakers have been confirmed. Follow the "Redefining Relationships" link on the Consilium website for more updates and Registration forms.

HAPPY ENDINGS

• NITC launched their website on June 16. Designed by Terry Rudden and Marcel Mason, the site will provide online access to accurate, timely information about NITC's programs, services, staff and Board. It also features links to other Nunavut organizations, training tools and publications, educational institutions across Canada, and many other resources. The site has several unique features, including access to three language versions of the same page with a single click. Check it out at www.nitc.ca

• Last year David Boult and Terry Rudden, working with Virginia Carver and Jackie Rai, helped to develop an Inuit-specific Addictions Treatment day program for Tungasuvvingat Inuit, Ottawa's Inuit community centre. The program has been highly successful, and will be expanding this fall into a full scale residential treatment program. Congratulations to Morgan Hare, Pam Stellick, Ginette Chouinard, Reepa Evic-Carleton, and everyone else whose hard work helped to make this program a success.
   

GOSSIP

• We all know the consequences of all work and no play. Here are some shots from Consilium's staff get together at Greg Smith's house to reassure you that we're in no danger.

Ron and Greg modeling the fall line of Consilium leisurewear

The view from Greg's front step

Consilium...the Next Generation

Together Again...Mary Ann Dohler and
Leslie Sutherland

Fred Weihs shows off Karate Biceps to admiring host

The Old Smith Swimming Hole

• If you drive by Consilium's office on Bronson Avenue, look up...look way, way up...and admire our new roof. Or come in for a cup of coffee and admire it from the inside.