Communications & Intergovernmental Relations

- Hunting- Fishing- Gathering - Language- Culture

LandsLand Title

Forest ResourcesAccess

Roads & Rights of WayFisheries

Wildlife & Migratory BirdsEnvironmental Assessment

& ProtectionNisga’a Government

Administration of JusticeCapital TransferFiscal Relations

TaxationCultural Artifacts & Heritage

Eligibility & Enrolment

ModifiedNisga’aAboriginal Rights

SECT. 35AboriginalRights(CommonLaw)

1 Tripartite Implementation Committee

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Implementation Report:

2 Land Claims Agreement Coalition

3 Communication & Intergovernmental

Relations

This report is presented in the context of

one element of our vision statement,

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“we inspire trust and understanding through effective communications”

The Communications & Intergovernmental Relations team includes:

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Kevin McKay: Executive Chair

Fred Tolmie: CEO

G. Les Clayton: Director

Eric Grandison

Bobby Clark

Jim Stone

Fran Johnson

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The governments of Canada, British Columbia, and the Nisga’a Nation are partners in the Nisga’a Final Agreement, which sets out Nisga’a Lands and the Nisga’a people’s right to self-government.

Tripartite Implementation Committee

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The Implementation Chapter of the Agreement requires that an Implementation Plan be established. On the effective date, the Parties established the Implementation Committee for a term of 10 years

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On-going opportunities and challenges

1. Building an organization capable of carrying out the strategy successfully.

2. Allocating needed resources to ensure that Nisga’a government has sufficient people and funds to function

successfully

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On-going opportunities and challenges

3. Establishing strategy-supportive policies and operating procedures

4. Installing information, communication, and operating systems that enable NLG personnel to carry out their

strategic roles effectively day in, day out.

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On-going opportunities and challenges

5. Instituting best practices and programs for continuous improvement

Land Claims Agreement Coalition

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NLG works with the Land Claims Agreements Coalition, which is composed of members from all 21 Inuit and First Nations land claim organizations and governments in Canada.

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Primary Implementation Issue:

Getting our partners to recognize and respect the fact that our Treaty is with the Crown — not with the Department of Indian Affairs

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How This Issue has Affected the Implementation of our Agreement

1) Our Treaty and Fiscal Financing Agreement states that where federal and provincial programs and services are not included in the Agreement, they will be available to the Nisga’a Nation upon application. However, we are continually rejected or ignored by federal officials.

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How This Issue has Affected the Implementation of our Agreement

2) The federal approach to implementing our land claims agreements is an approach that focuses on achieving narrow obligations rather than mutual objectives.

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The Way Forward

1 Recognition that the Crown in Right of Canada, not the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, is Party to our Agreements;

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The Way Forward

2 There must be a federal commitment to achieve the broad objectives of our Agreements within the context of the new relationship

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The Way Forward

3 Implementation must be handled by appropriate senior level federal officials representing the entire Canadian

government

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The Way Forward

The Department of Indian Affairs cannot provide: A new federal Implementation Policy that reflects (among other issues) that our Agreements are with the Crown, not with the Department of Indian Affairs.

Communication & Intergovernmental

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We ensure that information about Nisga’a Lisims Government is accessible to Nisga’a people, and have the responsibility for leading and coordinating communications with internal and external clients.

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We provide the following services:

1. Coordinating cross-government initiatives

3. Strategic communication planning and advice

3. Media relations and media monitoring

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We provide the following services:

4. Event planning and event management

5. Writing and editorial services

6. Graphic design

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7. Advertising and marketing

8. On-line communication services and management of web content for two Nisga’a web sites

9. News releases and backgrounders

We provide the following services:

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Our Mission is to provide a framework that supports the communication of NLG policies, programs and services that benefit all Nisga’a citizens.

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Challenges

Communication & Intergovernmental

Challenges

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Clearly communicating:

1. Our vision of government

3. Our mission for our organization

3. Our activities and plans and how they are benefiting the Nation.

Challenges

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Clearly communicating:

1. Our successes and initiatives

5. Our commitment to accountability and transparency

Challenges

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Continually improving:

1. Newsletters

2. Web pages

3. Pamphlets

4. Speeches and speaking points

Accomplishments

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Accomplishments

1. Launch of two Nisga’a web sites: our corporate website and our community website for internal government administrators

2. Improved newsletter

3. New information packages

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Accomplishments

4. Improved media relationship

5. Timely and effective press releases

6. Effective and efficient event management

7. Effective branding of Nisga’a self-government