Our Featured Celebration

 

June 27th is Happy Birthday To "Happy Birthday To You" Day, dedicated to celebrating the most popular song in the English language. The melody, originally entitled "Good Morning To All", was written in 1893 by the Hill Sisters of Louisville, Kentucky. The author of the lyrics is unknown, but the copyright is currently held by Warner's Music, and public performance without payment of royalties is technically illegal. So if you're ever annoyed by a swarm of singing waiters - threaten to sue.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CONSILIUM, AARLUK and ARDOS... In this corner of our site we'll be posting notes on new people, new projects, and new online materials you may find interesting. Enjoy, and come back often.

NEW PROJECTS          

Aarluk is developing a special series of intensive management and governance open workshops for delivery this fall in Iqaluit. Based on years of proven material developed, delivered and tested in Nunavut, the workshop series will address many of the highest priority training needs within both non-profit Nunavut organizations and government departments, targeting key areas including intercultural management, strategic communication, and effective Governance for Boards. Our Fall Training Catalogue will be released next month.

ONGOING PROJECTS

Achieving Objectives Land Claims Conference, June 27-30, Hilton Lac Leamy: last chance to join Matthew Cooncome, Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Thomas Berger and Nellie Cournoyea (all pictured above) at the "Achieving Objectives Land Claims Conference" - and over 400 other First Nations, Inuit, government and international participants - in shaping the foundation of a new land claims implementation policy. Don't miss out on the most important land claim event since 2003. Some seats are still available. Download registration forms and more information at www.consilium.ca/alcc2006. See you there!

Consilium from East to West.  Project leader Ron Ryan, David Boult and Ryan Lotan are completing the site visit portion of a project that explores the barriers and challenges urban Inuit face when accessing federal employment and training programs. The research is being conducted at the request of the Inuit Human Resources Development Technical Committee (IHRDTC), and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. Trip highlights to St. John's include David's first encounter with a cod tongue (interesting but a little fatty - the tongue, that is, not David), and experiencing the wonderful hospitality of our brothers and sisters on "the Rock". Ryan was dropped into the turbulence of Edmonton in mid-Stanley Cup frenzy. Upon his return Ryan reported that that Edmonton was "hot": it was unclear whether this observation was intended culturally or meteorologically.

 

Ian Kenney travelled to Vancouver in early May as part of his work with Ron Ryan to coordinate the Workforce Connex Forums for the Aboriginal Human Resource Development Council of Canada (AHRDCC). This forum was the latest in a series of similar forums held recently in Thunder Bay and London, and with future forums planned for Alberta, Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Québec. These forums will link regional private/public sector Aboriginal partners to help resolve barriers and create new opportunities for employers to effectively train, recruit and retain Canada's fastest growing and largely untapped workforce - skilled Aboriginal people who are ready and willing to fill the employment gap. The event was very successful, bringing so many Aboriginal Human Resource Development Agreement (AHRDA) holders together with employers, unions and educational institutions, that the conference was Standing Room Only.

Delivery of training to support Inuit employment on DEW Line sites continues. Helen Klengenberg delivered a specially designed "Introduction to Supervision" course for trainees in Cambridge Bay in May. The course reviews concepts of supervision and management through intensive, interactive learning experiences, including group problem solving and role play exercises. Pictured left to right top:  David Ulikatalik (Gjoa Haven), Ed Powell (KirNuna), Bob Aknavigak (Cambridge Bay), Roert Maksagak (Camridge Bay), Helen Klengenberg (Instructor), Brenda Ittunga (Taloyoak), David Haniliak (Cambridge Bay), Trevor Ohokak (Cambridge Bay), Down right stair rail and right to left bottom:  Sam Kuliktana (Cambridge Bay), Harold Himiak (Kugluktuk), Ken Anablak (Kugluktuk), and Roert Pooyatak (Gjoa Haven), Samson Ittunga (taking the picture - Talogyoak) Missing:  Rebecca Akana (Kugluktuk).

HAPPY ENDINGS

James Arreak delivered a successful two-day workshop to the Board and staff of the Pigiarvik Wellness Centre, a community-based organization in Chesterfield Inlet that helps its clients to work through the legacy of their residential school experience. (Pictured left: An aerial view of Chesterfield Inlet)

One day after his return from Chesterfield James was then whisked off to Kingston, Ontario, where he provided a special workshop to roughly sixty personnel from Defence Construction Canada and other companies, all scheduled to work in Nunavut this summer on various DEW Line clean-up sites. His presentation combined a quick overview of Inuit history and culture with practical workplace tips for managing and supervising effectively in a cross-cultural environment.

 

 

The First Phase Report on Strategic Options for the Resolute Bay Community Economic Development Plan developed by James Forth, James Arreak, Terry Forth, Fred Weihs and Ron Ryan was delivered to the Community Economic Development Committee last month. Phase Two is scheduled to get underway in late August. The plan is being developed in an interactive way with the full participation of the CED Committee who have participated in two days of workshops led by James Forth and James Arreak.

 

 

An interim Report on was presented to the Government of Nunavut Barriers to Business Working Group in May by project leader Terry Forth. The report is based on activities overseen by the Working Group during their first year which included a series of Roundtable Discussions held with government officials and business leaders facilitated by James Arreak, Helen Klengenberg in all three Nunavut regions. Aarluk data whiz - Ryan Lotan also contributed with an analysis of a business survey conducted last fall in most communities by their local Economic Development Officers.

TEN YEARS AGO THIS MONTH

 

Ron and Fred completed a two year process of organisational restructuring, strategic planning, and salary review for the Labrador Inuit Health Commission, Labrador.

 

Terry Forth and Tagak Curley working on behalf of NTI were busy negotiating the Article 24 Contracting arrangements with the Government of the NWT in Yellowknife - forerunner to the now famous NNI Policy of the GN.

Terry Rudden worked with Yew Lee on a training package for community based policing, delivered to the newly integrated Ottawa Police Services under then-chief Brian Ford.

Ron Ryan delivered a training-for-trainers workshop in Arviat to what was then the Department of Economic Development and Tourism for what was then the Government of the Northwest Territories.

 

 

Working with Kendall Lougheed, David Forster and Tanya Koenig, Terry Rudden completed an online, interactive teaching module on solvent abuse for Aboriginal teens. The module, with an intro by actor Adam Beach and "Wayne", its cartoon host, became one of the most popular sections of the award-winning Aboriginal Youth Net.

 

 

BIRTHDAYS

Usually we'd tell you who in our merry band is celebrating their birthday this month. Immediately following the first paragraph of this newsletter, however, we got a call from Warner's lawyers, who warned us that our use of the phrase "Happy Birthday" may represent copyright infringement. So Dan, your secret is safe for another year. And Terry Forth, well, given that we can't say "H___ B____", we shall salute you in the words of a Mr. Zimmerman, born the same day as you: may you stay forever young.

GOSSIP

 

Rumour has it that a Consiliumite may or may not be getting married this fall, but we're not allowed to tell you who until they actually set a date. See below under Cinema Consilium for the exciting non-details.

 

Rumour also has it that another Consiliumite may be moving to newly-acquired house in Almonte, yet more evidence of the mysterious attraction that town exercises on our company. Pictures and identity next month if the deal goes through.

 

 

 

Leslie bought a new washing machine. Yippee. Look, at least we're allowed to name names in this one. It's been a slow month for gossip, what can we tell you? (Leslie's old washer, pictured left)

 

 

 

 

 CHECK BACK EVERY MONTH FOR MORE CONSILIUM NEWS, TOOLS, AND GOSSIP.