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Program Information
Overview
This introductory online program explores new and creative ways to move beyond standard Western models of governance to embrace culturally grounded models of Indigenous governance. Learn the principles of good governance while understanding how they can be incorporated into the teams you work with.
Please note, this program does not count as credit towards the Certificate of Indigenous Leadership, Governance, and Management Excellence.
What does the program offer?
- Principles of good governance and wise practices in community development and nation building
- Building on traditional Indigenous structures of governance
- ‘Indigenizing’ corporate systems of governance to make the corporate models work for you
- Ensuring organizational effectiveness through good governance at the board/council level
- New insights on roles, responsibilities, and performance
Who should register?
- Elected Officials and senior administrators of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, councils, and boards
- Indigenous economic and social development agencies
- Legal entities for Indigenous profit and not-for-profit organizations
- Managers and administrators of service delivery agencies and organizations
- Indigenous arts and culture organizations
- Urban Indigenous organizations
This program prioritizes Indigenous learners, and those working for Indigenous communities and organizations. Programs are filled on a first come, first served basis. Please register early to secure a confirmation of your spot.
Itinerary
- Online Lectures: Use of Zoom for live sessions
- Workbook: Learning Journal PDF
- Use of SharePoint for sharing program resources and materials
- Engage in group work
To maximize learning for this program, students are required to dedicate approximately 22 hours during the week to this program.
- Complete pre-program assignments (approx. 1-2 hours)
- Participate in four live Zoom sessions: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, each day from 10:00 am – 2:00pm MDT (4 hrs x 4 days = 16 hours for the week)
- Complete homework outside of class time (approx. 4 hours)
Faculty
Elder Edmee Comstock
Edmee is the youngest of 17 children from one of the most important historical families of the Red River Settlement. Her great grandfather was John Bruce (Jean- Baptiste Bruce), the first president of the Métis Provisional Government at the Red River Colony. Louis Riel was his secretary.
Edmee considers herself blessed to be raised in a traditional Métis family with a strong work ethic and sense of community, spirituality, and belonging. In the early 1900’s, while others were hiding their culture, her father taught them to be proud of their heritage. This is a legacy she carries on today through her generous sharing of her cultural teachings, Michif language, and history through various educational outreach programs for youth and families.
Edmee’s calm, reflective and welcoming spirit urges everyone to forgive and march on, to not hurt anyone and to always help others. Wearing her Métis sash with great pride, she is now a well-respected elder and a beloved representative of the Bruce clan of the Red River Colony.
In 2012, Edmee was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work in the community.
Elder
Tracey O’Donnell
Tracey O’Donnell is a member of Red Rock Indian Band. She has practiced law in Ontario for over 20 years. Her practice is focused entirely on providing legal services to First Nations, their members and their organizations – both on- and off-reserve. Currently, Tracey is in private practice with an office at Nipissing First Nation. Tracey has experience in providing services in a range of areas including corporate/commercial law, employment law, civil litigation, as well as self-government negotiations, land claims negotiations and litigation. Tracey has worked with First Nations across Canada to support community and capacity development including facilitating the drafting of First Nation constitutions, visioning and strategic planning, drafting First Nation laws, developing community consultation and communications plans and resolving resource and revenue sharing disagreements. In May 2005, Tracey argued on behalf of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund, and the Disabled Women’s Network of Canada: at the Supreme Court of Canada in the first Indian residential school case that reached the Supreme Court of Canada – Blackwater v. Plint. Tracey was an elected Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada from 2003 to 2007 – the first aboriginal woman elected since the Law Society was founded in 1797. Tracey has volunteered on a variety of community-based committees and Boards of Directors and with CESO. Tracey earned her Honours B.A. in Political Science from Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario in 1990, and her L.L.B./J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, Ontario in 1993. Tracey is married to Tom Robertson and together they are the proud parents of three children – Katie born in 2000, Emma born in 2003 and Noah born in 2007.
Faculty
Mitch Case
Mitch Case is an avid beadworker who practices a traditional Métis floral beadwork style. Mitch began beading in 2012, when he learned to bead in order to prepare gifts for his elders when he became Midewiwin (Great Lakes Indigenous spiritual society.)
In the years since, Mitch has become a very well respected beadworker, known across the Métis Nation. Mitch is known for his traditional floral style that has been described as “Old School” “keeping the Métis floral tradition alive” and “firmly rooted in a Métis way of seeing the world.”
Mitch spearheaded the #beadworkrevolution, an online movement of Métis youth reclaiming and revitalizing their Métis beadwork traditions, with hundreds of participants including dozens of first-time bead-workers. Mitch created the Métis Nation of Ontario Youth Council bead kits, which are sold as a fundraiser to raise money for Métis youth cultural initiatives. Over 3000 bead kits have been sold across Canada, raising tens of thousands of dollars for Métis youth initiatives.
Mitch joined the Indigenous Leadership faculty team at Banff Centre in 2019.
Faculty
Technical Requirements
What's Included
Online Lectures
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Join in online lectures
Electronic Workbook
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Electronic workbook for course materials.
Group Seminars/Workshops
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Join in group seminars/workshops.
Asynchronous Learning
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i.e. discussion boards and online resources
Fees & Financial Assistance
*Financial assistance is available for Indigenous peoples or non-Indigenous peoples working for Indigenous organizations only.
To be considered for financial assistance, please ensure that you select "Yes" to 'I would like to apply for financial assistance' during registration, and log into your Student Portal to complete your funding application form within 48 hours of submitting your initial registration. We strongly recommend timely submission of the funding form, to be considered. Note that we reserve the right to cancel registrants who select 'No' to financial assistance if payment and confirmation of attendance is not received within 7 days of registration.
Banff Centre will issue official tax receipts for eligible tuition fees and all financial assistance and awards as required by the Income Tax Act. You will receive a T2202 (Tuition and Enrolment Certificate) for eligible tuition fees paid and a T4A (Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income) for applicable financial assistance and awards.
How to Apply
Learn more about the steps to Complete Your Application.
If you have requested financial assistance,please ensure that you log in to your Student Portal within 48 hours of registration, to submit your funding request form.
If you do not require financial assistance, please ensure that you log in to your Student Portal and complete confirmation of attendance and full payment as soon as possible, but no later than 7 days from completing step 1.
Note that non-completion within the timelines stated may result in your place being offered to the waitlist.
Participants must be ages 18+ at the time of the program start date.
All programs, faculty, dates, fees, and offers of financial assistance are subject to change. Program fee is subject to applicable taxes. Banff Centre reserves the right to cancel a program up to seven days prior to program start date if there is insufficient enrolment, and in this case all fees will be refunded. Please note that Banff Centre is not liable for any personal/travel expenses incurred. Non-refundable fees and deposits will be retained upon cancellation. Any other fees are refunded at the discretion of the Banff Centre. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.