Urban Aboriginal Strategy Prince George
The Prince George Aboriginal Strategy engages the expertise and talents of the entire Prince George community to champion the vision of improving the quality of life for Aboriginal people, today and tomorrow.
Membership
Chair / Co-Chair
Two members of the Management Team shall be selected by the group to act as the Chair and Co-Chair.
Duties
The Chair and/or Co-Chair will confirm the agenda and ensure the meeting and is conducted in an orderly fashion. Agendas will be made in advance of meetings with the assistance of the Project Officer and the representative from OFI. If committee members wish to have time on the agenda for a specific purpose they may request it from the Chair, preferably in advance of the meeting.
All meetings will commence in a timely manner and be structured with an agenda, record of decisions, and minutes. The Chair and/or Co-Chair will conduct meetings according to the consensus decision-making process outlined in these Terms of Reference. A record of decisions and minutes shall be produced from each meeting and will be the shared responsibility of OFI co-ordinator and the project officer.
The Chair and/or Co-Chair will represent the PGUAS Management Team on the National UAS Caucus, and as necessary, as a part of any UAS outreach and liaison activities.
Members
As endorsed at the Community Engagement Session, held at the Prince George Native Friendship Centre on September 28, 2007, the Management Team has a minimum of 11 seats and a maximum of 14 seats.
Three seats are reserved for Youth Representatives, (one First Nation, a Métis, and an Urban Aboriginal seat). There are four additional seats for a representative from each level of government, (a Federal, Provincial, Municipal and local First Nation seat).
Duties
Members of the PGUAS Management Team are responsible for attending each meeting or sending their alternate to act on their behalf. Members shall be responsible for appointing their alternate and introducing them to the Management Team in advance of a meeting, as well as briefing them on all PGUAS activities and processes, or have them attend when available.
Members shall review necessary materials before meetings operate on a consensus basis when making decisions and agree to abide by the Confidentiality & Code of Conduct Agreement. Members may participate on working groups – as necessary – that target key issues.
Members shall participate in the promotion of the work of the Management Team and the PGUAS. There shall be a commitment to contribute to monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, partnership and community outreach activities. Members shall also report back to the Management Team on any meetings or functions they attend as a delegate on behalf of the PGUAS.
In order to encourage capacity-building, Alternates may attend meetings alongside, (as opposed to instead of) the Management Team member they represent. This decision will be left to individual Alternates and Management Team members to discuss. As the decision-making process is carried out according to the Aboriginal Consensus Model - and in accordance with Conflict of Interest guidelines -the participation of additional individuals will not create any kind of "voting" imbalance.
Resignation and Absenteeism
Upon missing three (03) consecutive meetings without just cause, the member will be notified in writing that further absences may be deemed as resignation from the Management Team. The Management Team has authority to select replacements to the committee either at the request of a leaving member or upon consecutive absences.
Public Attendance at Meetings
Non-members may request – in advance of a meeting – to attend by submitting a written inquiry to the Chair or the Co Chair. Guests may be invited with the consensus of the Management Team prior to a meeting.
Selection Process and Terms
There are four ways a community member of the Prince George urban Aboriginal community may become part of the Management Team:
- They are one of the nominated members from the September 29, 2007 community-based selection process;
- They may be named an alternate by an existing member of the Management Team;
- In the case of a vacancy, they may be appointed – on a consensus basis – by the Management Team; or,
- They are nominated during the next community-based selection process, which shall commence in March 2010.
Role of the Community Entity
Community Entity Duties
The community entity assists in project development with the funding tools, provides contract management, oversees the administrative requirements of the project funds, and distributes the funds in compliance with Treasury Board Terms and Conditions for the Urban Aboriginal Strategy Pilot Projects. The Community Entity is responsible for:
- Assigning a Program Officer to assist the Management Team with the review of all proposals submitted by the project groups.
- Provide capacity-building and/or guidance with proposal development and project reporting
- Provide information on linkages to other funding sources for possible partnering opportunities including the Prince George Urban Aboriginal Working Group.
Project Officer Duties
The Community Entity’s Project Officer will be responsible for the following:
- Ensuring eligibility of proponents and projects in accordance with eligibility guidelines developed by the PGUAS Management Team;
- Supporting the PGUAS Management Team during the selection and review of projects for funding;
- Preparing contribution agreements between project proponents and the Community Entity (on behalf of the PGUAS) and ensuring monitoring until the project is closed;
- Working with proponents to develop their projects and select appropriate performance indicators from the nationally developed performance indicators, and ensuring proponents report on this information in a timely fashion;
- Assisting with PGUAS capacity development as necessary and in co-operation with the PGUAS Management Team and the Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians.