2009 – 2010 AGEN Annual Report

Aboriginal Government Employees’ Network
“A Communications Network for Aboriginal People in Government”
2009-10 Annual Report
20092009-10 Annual Report
A message from the AGEN Provincial
Board Members
The Aboriginal Government Employee’s
Network’s (AGEN) Provincial Board of
Directors, formerly known as the AGEN
Steering Committee, has been pro-actively
revising the AGEN Governance Model and
developing a future strategic plan for the
network. Over the past two years, AGEN has
undertaken a governance renewal process in
collaboration with AGEN’s Contributing
Partners and membership. The
recommendations from the membership at
the 2009 Annual Conference were:
i. Improve accountability mechanisms to all
stakeholders; and
ii. Enhance communication with AGEN
membership.
In moving to address these issues, the AGEN
Board’s accomplishments to date are:
i. Created the AGEN Provincial Board of
Directors.
ii. Developed a Terms of Reference
document.
iii. Reorganized Portfolio Committees:
iv. Administration Committee
v. Communications Committee
vi. Pikiskwewak Speakers Bureau
Committee
vii. Governance & Policy Committee
viii. Conference Planning Committee
ix. Cultural Committee
x. Developing an election process for Board
of Directors.
Page 1
The AGEN Provincial Board targeted specific
objectives for the organization this year, they
were:
The main objectives over the past years and
moving forward remain the same:
i.
Increase and support the AGEN
Membership;
ii.
Strengthen relationships with AGEN
Stakeholders; and
iii.
Promoting awareness of Aboriginal
culture.
AGEN Meetings for the Year 2009-10
Board Meetings……………………...9
Governance………………………….1
Strategic Planning……………...........1
2009-10 Conference Planning……….11
AGEN Operating Auth. Group………2
Total Meetings……………………….24
20092009-10 Annual Report
2009-10 AGEN Board Members List
Name
Department
Email
Arnold, Lela
Resource Development Worker
Belhumeur, Chris
Policy Analyst and Partnership Coordinator
Social Services Ministry
[email protected]
AEDP, Ministry of First Nations and
Métis Relations
[email protected]
Cottrelle, Janice
Senior Advisor, Aboriginal Policy and Relations
Deegan, Cherish
Research Analyst
Desjarlais, Henry
Senior Advisor, Aboriginal Policy and Relations
Saskatchewan
Environment
Crown Investments Corporation
[email protected]
Saskatchewan Environment
[email protected]
Goulet, Laird
Heavy Equipment Mechanic App.
Grainger, Felice
Research Officer
Ly, Jenny
HR Consultant, Recruitment
Matts, Jennifer
Recruitment & Retention
McCloskey, Philip
Workplace Diversity Coordinator Assistant
Ministry of Highways & Infrastructure [email protected]
[email protected]
Education
[email protected]
SGI
[email protected]
Sask. Gaming Corp.
[email protected]
Ministry of Highways
& Infrastructure
[email protected]
Chris McNab
HR Manager (Staffing)
Terry Ross, Corporate Secretary, Human Resources
Policy Governance & Legal Division
Sask Tel
[email protected]
Crown Investments Corporation
[email protected]
Starr Wavell Aboriginal Recruitment Consultant
Public Service Commission
[email protected]
Stonechild, Kara Institutional Liaison
Public Institutions & Infrastructure Branch
Ministry of Advanced Education,
Employment and Labour
[email protected]
20092009-10 Annual Report
Page 3
HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION
AGEN was formed in 1992 by a group of
Aboriginal employees, each with many
years of experience working for the
Saskatchewan government and the
Aboriginal community. They saw that the
number of Aboriginal people working in
government did not reflect the Aboriginal
population of the province.
AGEN’s activities are overseen by a
Provincial Steering Committee that
includes representatives from Crown
corporations and government
departments and agencies. They meet
regularly and the committee holds
planning sessions to establish goals and
objectives in conjunction with members’
input.
VISION, MISSION AND VALUES
They formed an organization that would
work with the government and unions to
create a cultural awareness and promote
Aboriginal employment in government.
AGEN and its membership seek the
organization’s goals and objectives
through the Vision, Mission and Principles
it has established.
AGEN, which is supported by the
Government of Saskatchewan, is an
organization unique in Canada. The
organization’s goal is to ensure
Saskatchewan’s rapidly growing
population of Aboriginal people is
included in the workforce of the province.
Vision:
AGEN acts as a vehicle for dialogue on
barriers to participation by Aboriginal
people in the workforce. It encourages
government to prepare the workplace of
Aboriginal employees by encouraging
cross-cultural training programs,
supporting Aboriginal networks and by
building positive relationships and
partnerships with government.
Mission:
The organization conducts its activities in
the boardrooms of Crown corporations
and ministers’ offices by lobbying for
change, ensuring accurate data is
available and making recommendations
on Aboriginal employment and training
strategies.
To provide a network that supports
current and future Aboriginal employees
through personal and professional
development while promoting Aboriginal
cultural awareness.
To bring together our collective
workplace experiences for the purposes
of influencing change.
Values:
AGEN operates on the values of:
Respect
Integrity
Culture
Determination
Courage
Trust
Honesty
Unity
20092009-10 Annual Report
Page 4
AGEN’S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
AGEN is an organization that represents
the Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis, and
Inuit) people working in the Government
of Saskatchewan.
The revised governance changes for
AGEN included a new board structure,
governance model and defined roles and
responsibilities of the board members.
Board Structure
The AGEN Provincial Board will comprise
of the following:
i.
Elder;
ii.
11 Board Members from the
Crown Corporations and/or
the Ministries; and
iii.
Three (3) Board Members
appointed from AGEN’s
Contributing Partners
(Saskatchewan Public Service
Commission, Crown
Investments Corporation,
Ministry of First Nation & Métis
Relations).
AGEN MEMBERSHIP
AGEN Member
Membership is open to all Aboriginal
government employees who self-declare
to AGEN as First Nation (Status/Non
Status), Métis or Inuit employed
throughout the Saskatchewan
government.
To become an official AGEN Member,
Aboriginal employees must fill out the
AGEN Membership Form and submit to
the AGEN Office. There are no
applications or membership fees
associated with becoming an AGEN
member. AGEN Membership terminates
when your employment terminates and
all members are assigned the same rights
and privileges.
AGEN Alumni
The “AGEN Alumni” are previous
Aboriginal government employees who
have retired from government service in
Saskatchewan. Alumni members have no
voting rights but can work to support any
of the AGEN Committees, attend AGEN
Conferences and receive AGEN
correspondence.
Friends of AGEN
Friends of AGEN are former government
employees or any non-Aboriginal
government employees or members of
the general public who support the vision
and mission of AGEN.
In 2009, it is estimated that there are
nearly 2,500 Aboriginal employees
currently working for the Government of
Saskatchewan. Of that amount,
approximately 712, or one-third, are
AGEN members.
AGEN’s full Terms of Reference can be
found on our website at: www.agen.sk.ca.
20092009-10 Annual Report
AGEN Committees:
forms of communication created and
disseminated on behalf of AGEN is
current and supportive of our vision. This
portfolio works toward providing our
membership with relevant information in
an effort to ensure that we are "A
Communications Network for Aboriginal
People in Government".
1. Administration, Governance& Policy
Committee
2. Communications Committee
3. Pikikwewak Speakers Bureau
Committee
4. Conference Planning Committee
5. Cultural Committee
The principal goal of the communications
plan is to improve trust in the
organization, part of which includes
refining the image we want, focusing our
messages, and aligning communications
and related management activities to
reinforce this image.
1. Administration Committee Overall
Objective(s):
The Communications Committee
activities include:
1. Establishing and enhancing media
relations by Communications
Portfolio members with various
types of media (ie. Print, TV,
Broadcast, Internet – web, annual
community Events and displays,
and promotional items);
2. Capturing AGEN’s visual identity
(i.e. re-designing and improving
content on the website); and
3. Ensuring prime event coverage for
AGEN’s annual conferences.
Page 5
THE AGEN COMMITTEES:
Responsibility for the various activities
undertaken by AGEN is distributed among
five committees:
Maintains the AGEN financial records;
presents a financial report at each AGEN
Board meeting; presents an annual report
to the general membership at the annual
conference; responsible for recruitment,
and performance evaluation, of AGEN
staff, and responsible for conflict
resolution within AGEN.
Once a concern has been brought to this
committee's attention, it follows agreedupon procedures for conflict resolution.
When necessary it requests the AGEN
Board to approve consultation with an
Elder.
Responsible for maintaining an accurate
and current membership list;
2. Communications Committee Overall
Objectives(s):
The Communications Committee provides
the membership with all AGEN related
information and is represented at some
level within all other portfolios. It is the
duty of this portfolio to ensure that all
3. Pikiskwewak “They Speak”
Speakers Bureau Overall Objective(s):
Will focus on Aboriginal youth, but can
benefit all Saskatchewan youth. The
AGEN members will be the ambassador’s
on behalf of government and act as the
role models in their own communities to
promote the importance of staying in
school and the benefits of getting an
education. They will bring with them their
own career success stories and will
highlight their current government
workplaces. Speakers reiterate the vision
our ancestors, and Elders, had for future
20092009-10 Annual Report
Page 6
4. Conference Committee Overall
Objective(s):
The Conference Committee:
1. arranges and organizes the annual
conference with the assistance of
the AGEN Manager;
2. creates a forum for members to
network;
3. Creates a forum for members to
develop skills and learn through
professional development offered
at the conference.
4. Unveils Framework for Success
Model
The committee uses the conference to
formally recognize and acknowledge the
contributions of their Aboriginal
colleagues by offering an AGEN Awards
component. The AGEN Awards have been
temporarily suspended due to the
governance review and new direction of
AGEN.
generations by including a cultural
component in their presentations.
5. Cultural Committee Overall
Objective(s):
The Cultural Committee is responsible for
public relations and disseminating
information to members regarding
cultural traditions. They involve
traditional Aboriginal culture in the
participation with, and advising of, Elders.
They are responsible for the education of
new members and the public about AGEN
and the network’s functions.
20092009-10 Annual Report
Page 7
AGEN LAUNCHES THE ‘FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESS’ PROGRAMMING MODEL
The Aboriginal Government Employees Network’s (AGEN) ‘Framework for Success’
Programming Model was launched at the
‘FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESS’ PROGRAMMING MODEL
September 2009 AGEN Conference held in
Saskatoon, SK.
Mental
The AGEN learning cycle is based on the
traditional Medicine Wheel teachings and
understanding of the significance of the
Physical
Spiritual
Circle of Life that have been taught to us as
Aboriginal people by our Elders for
Emotional
generations.
AGEN’s ‘Framework for Success Model’ is
based on our network logo, where ‘the
sunburst surrounding the circle is symbolic
of new beginnings, of a new dawn. The circle
is divided into the four quadrants of spiritual, mental, emotional and physical well being.
The colors red, black, yellow and white are representative of the four races of People.
The flags of the Métis Nation, Canada and Saskatchewan and the Eagle Staff of the First
Nations are also contained within the circle. They illustrate the four governments acting
together for the common good of the people of Saskatchewan.’
Examples of workshops would be, but not limited to, the following subjects:
North: White
East: Yellow
•
Performance Planning
•
Culture Awareness Training
•
Project Management
•
Cultural Engagement in the
•
Public Speaking/Leadership Skills Workplace
•
Preparation of Briefing Notes
•
Cultural Programming/Events
South: Red
•
Stress Management
•
Work - Life Balance
•
Healthy Eating Habits & Nutrition
West: Black
•
Creative Conflict Resolutions
•
Emotional Intelligence
•
Personality Tests
•
Ethics
20092009-10 Annual Report
Page 8
AGEN CELEBRATES THE 17TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE: SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS
AGEN hosted their 17th Annual Conference at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre in
Saskatoon on September 21–23, 2009 with the participation of 329 delegates from across
the province, providing a significant networking opportunity for Aboriginal public servants.
Every year our conference is focused on strengthening and renewing the cultural and social
bonds we share as Aboriginal employees within the provincial government departments
and crown corporations. The annual AGEN gathering allows us to form new relationships
with our colleagues and peers from across the province while renewing those that already
exist.
This year’s conference provided participants with relevant human resource tools,
networking experiences and best practice knowledge based on the new “AGEN Framework
of Success Model”. This model takes into consideration the four directions with topics
relating to the physical, spiritual, emotional and cultural development of an individual. The
objective of the conference was to position the Government of Saskatchewan’s Ministries
and Crown corporations as the ‘employer of choice’.
The theme this year was “Soaring to New Heights” chosen to recognize the rebirth and
revitalization of AGEN. It represents partnership, renewal, professional and personal
development. It is based on each individual’s success story and new challenges. The theme
also reflects the current state of AGEN, evolving to accommodate and assist the
membership in enhancing their future through employment within government.
Highlights of the conference included the selection of five (5) new Board members from the
AGEN membership, conference workshops based on four directions model with topics
relating to physical, spiritual, emotional and cultural. More importantly, a partnership
renewal ceremony was held between AGEN and the Contributing Partners. The intention
of the ceremony is to honor the Contributing Partner’s continued support to the network
through AGEN’s growing stages, recognizing the past 17 years of commitment to see AGEN
succeed and demonstrate to the AGEN membership and other stakeholders, the value in
Canada’s first provincial Aboriginal government-wide network of employees.
Denby Poitras
Delia Davis
Maureen Wolfe
20092009-10 Annual Report
Page 9
April 2009- March 2010
Financial Statement
REVENUE
Contributing Partners*
Registration
Registrations - Prior Years
Corporate Sponsorship*
Display Booths
Interest Income
Net Revenue
TOTAL REVENUE
48,000.00
86,807.39
30,933.12
24,000.00
350.00
5.58
190,096.09
190,096.09
EXPENSE
Conference Expenses
Audio, Video, Photos
Facilities
Speaker, Facilitator Fees & Travel
Elders Honorariums
Conference Giveaways
Cultural Activities
Entertainment, Fees & Travel
Printing
Misc Purchases & Rentals
Total Conference Expenses
14,456.66
50,389.60
8,248.12
9,847.23
10,258.24
483.70
16,636.71
4,305.00
1,141.70
115,766.96
General and Administrative Expenses
Operational
AGEN Manager Salary *
Education
Elders - Honorarium
Elders - Gifts
Promotional Items - AGEN Merchandise
Casual Labour
Food
Misc
Web Site Expense
Accounting & Legal
Interest & Bank Charges
Office Supplies
Parking
Strategic Planning
Total General & Admin. Expenses
Net Expense
NET INCOME
*See next page for Notes*
887.38
48,000.00
2,400.00
4.97
50.00
1,116.00
1,217.54
10.00
1,015.50
96.00
480.85
1,500.00
56,778.24
172,545.20
17,550.89
20092009-10 Annual Report
Page 10
* Notes*
Registrations - Prior Years
The amount carried forward is late payments for the previous year
conference registrations.
Contributing Partners*
Public Service Commission, Crown Investments Corporation,
Executive Council and
Ministry of First Nations & Métis- each provide $12, 000 towards the
AGEN Manager Salary.
AGEN Manager Salary *
All funding from the Contributing Partners goes to the AGEN Manager
Salary
Corporate Sponsorship*
Enterprise Sask
CIC
Investment Sask
SLGA
Ministry of Justice
SGI
SK Watershed Authority
Information Technology
Sask Gaming- Casino
Regina/Moose Jaw
WCB
Sask Water
Sask Energy
FMNR
Ministry of Education
Sask Power
500.00
1,000.00
500.00
1,000.00
1,500.00
1,500.00
500.00
1,000.00
5,000.00
1,000.00
1,000.00
1,500.00
1,500.00
1,500.00
5,000.00
Cultural Brochure:
A brochure on cultural protocol has been made available at the AGEN office. This brochure
provides a general guideline to following traditions at meetings and conferences to ensure the
guidance of our Elders is followed and respected.
Aboriginal Government Employees’ Network
5th Floor, 1919 Saskatchewan Drive
Regina SK S4P 4H2
Ph: (306) 787-9080 Fax: (306) 787-6014 Website: www.agen.sk.ca