Welcome to March...National "Talk to Your Teens About Sex" Month

     Good idea.  You're never too old to learn.

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 PEOPLE

We're delighted to welcome Jennifer Bradshaw to the Consilium fold…she'll be the new voice you hear on the phone when you call the office. Jennifer has an extensive background in office management, marketing and sales, and can make you laugh within thirty seconds from a distance

NEW PROJECTS

Avataq is a well established Nunavik organization with a long track record of success in the promotion of arts and culture in Inuit Northern Quebec. Consilium is delighted to work with Taqralik Partridge of Avataq on a special project to help Inuit artists access funding from the Canada Council for the Arts. Project leader Terry Rudden and Consilium associate Ian Kenney will be producing a communication strategy for the end of March.

First Nations and Inuit Health Branch have asked Consilium to work with them on the development of a series of case studies illustrating best practices in system integration and horizontal management for Early Childhood Development. The case studies will be developed in six communities, and a final, summative report will be prepared by Ron Ryan, Terry Rudden and Ian Kenney.

Aarluk Consulting will be evaluating the well known Nunavut Teacher Education Program, launching the project with meeting in Iqaluit March 4. Team members include Ron Ryan, Blair Stevenson, James Arreak, James Forth, Greg Smith, David Boult, and Ryan Lotan.

Aarluk Consulting will be developing a sectoral training strategy to support the roll-out of broadband services across Nunavut. The Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation has done an incredible job over the last few years to support the introduction of broadband services to Nunavut's remote communities: the training strategy will help ensure that businesses, schools, organizations and the general public have the training they need to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity. Working under Project Manager Chris Grosset are Terry Rudden, Neil Burgess, James Forth, James Arreak, David Boult, Helen Klengenberg, Ryan Lotan, and Comguard. Pictured left: Jackie Maniapik of Pangnirtung (foreground) and Jack Willie (background) of Arctic Bay – two Community Service Providers participating the Baffin region CSP workshop in November of 2004. Photo courtesy NBDC.

ONGOING PROJECTS

Intrepid David Boult braved the extremes of a Gaspé winter to continue a project with the Listuguj Mi'gmaq First Nation. The scenic community boasts a beautiful church located on a point overlooking the Restigouche river. In the absence of a hotel in the community David sought shelter and sustenance at the HoJo's across the river. The project involves assisting the Band update its policies and procedures and the job descriptions of 150+ employees.

Greg Smith and Carol Rowan are completing work this month on a strategic plan for Avataq Cultural Institute. As part of the planning process, consultations were held with nearly 60 people throughout Nunavik including individuals and representatives of organizations, as well as other partners in provincial and federal government. The results showed that Avataq has an excellent reputation and is held in high regard by all parties for its management abilities, and the projects and activities it undertakes. The consultations also showed that the Inuktitut language is the number one priority of Inuit in Nunavik and that they want language and culture to be incorporated into all facets of the new Nunavik Government.

Greg Smith has provided a draft final report on the evaluation of the Canada-Nunavut Cooperation Agreement which provides funding for Inuktitut language projects in Nunavut. Greg will present the findings in Iqaluit this week to representatives of the Government of Nunavut Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth (CLEY), with officials of the federal Department of Canadian Heritage joining in by teleconference.

 

HAPPY ENDINGS

The Aurora Group (Aarluk, Earthlore and Akhaliak) Senior Officials' workshop on Risk Communications in Nunavut was held on February 16-17, 2005 in Iqaluit, with a full house and an enthusiastic, highly skilled group of participants. Facilitator Clive Tesar led fourteen senior officials through a series of techniques for ensuring that audiences get the right message on high-risk issues. The workshop is the first of series planned by the Aurora Group for Nunavut, and response was excellent…as one participant commented, "Everyone working for the GN should take this course!"

GOSSIP

A clutch of Consiliumites convened last week chez Chris Grosset to bid adieu to the soon-to-be-missed Terrilynn Chiasson, who is leaving Consilium to tour Canada and the US from the cab of a tractor-trailer. Food was eaten, drinks were drunk, the conversation sparkled, and Terrilynn was presented with a Trucker's Survival Kit, including U.S. cash, a CB Lexicon, an 8-track of depressing country and western songs, and an authentic Korean plastic compass.

All the best, Terrilynn!

 

 

Jennifer David's "Story Keepers: Conversations With Aboriginal Writers" is now officially published and available from Jennifer, or online from Ningwakwe Learning Press, at:  http://ningwakwe.on.ca/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=31   An early review described the book as "…well-written, thoughtful and thought-provoking. Even before you realize it, you discover that something subtle and mysterious is happening". It's a wonderful one-volume introduction to some of the most interesting authors working in Canada today. (Pictured left: Caleb reads aloud to sister Grace from Mom's new book.)

TEN YEARS AGO

 

In March, Terry Rudden and Ron Ryan completed the development of operating procedures manuals for the transition teams that would eventually become the Nunavut Institutions of Public government.

Terry Rudden completed an analysis of the policies and regulations that impacted on Aboriginal broadcasters.

Greg Smith and Fred Weihs were working on business planning for an office complex, bakery and hotel in Moose Factory, and also on a pre-feasibility study of a warehousing operation in Cochrane, both for the MoCreebec Council of the Crees.

Ron Ryan and Fred Weihs began strategic planning work with the Labrador Inuit Health Commission on for a major organizational restructuring.

 

Separated at Birth?

 

 

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