Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) Aboriginal Patient Journeys (July 2015)

Williams Consulting worked with the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) and South West Local Health Integration Network (South West LHIN) to undertake a project entitled “Aboriginal Patient Journeys”. This project aimed to understand the Aboriginal patient experience through the studying of comprehensive patient journeys in the South West LHIN healthcare system.

Iskatewizaagegan Independent First Nation Prescription Drug Abuse Project (March 2015)

Williams Consulting designed a proposal which was approved for funding for Iskatewizaagegan Independent First Nation.  Williams Consulting supports the implementation of the three-prong approach: 1) to provide an after care coordinator for IIFN clients for their return as community members seeking relapse prevention, 2) to enhance community-based cultural programming, and 3) to improve capacity within the community as it relates to the current rise in illicit prescription drug use.

Canada World Youth Aboriginal Program Evaluation (September 2013)

CANADA WORLD YOUTH (CWY) has recently established a program stream for Aboriginal youth as part of its commitment to being representative of the Canadian population and its aspiration to engage youth from diverse backgrounds. The Aboriginal program identified the need for additional analysis of the processes, mechanisms and activities employed that engage Aboriginal youth as volunteers and interns that support or hamper the development of a sustainable Aboriginal Strategy.  Williams Consulting, was contracted to provide this examination.

Needs Assessment for After-School Programs for Ontario First Nations (June 2010)

Williams Consulting completed a needs assessment focusing on after-school programming for First Nations communities in Ontario. The final report provides recommendations for allocation of on-reserve after-school funding in the 2010-11 school year, ranking top priorities for the funding including consideration for remote and more urban reserves.

Project Title: Canadian Heritage – Task Force Consultations On Aboriginal Languages and Cultures Centre

(In Association with the Task Force or Aboriginal Research Institute)

Date (Month/Year): June-Sept 2004

Client Name and Telephone Number:

Norman Williams, Acting Director General, Aboriginal Affairs Office, Canadian Heritage

Phone: 613 994 5683

Philippe Doré, Executive Director (former Director General)

Phone: 613 290 2901

Subject Matter:

The Minister of Canadian Heritage established the Task Force on Aboriginal Languages and Cultures to address concerns for the protection of Aboriginal languages and resources for language fluency among Aboriginal children and future generations. The Aboriginal Research Institute was contracted to coordinate on behalf of the Task Force, 13 nation-wide consultations with the diverse Aboriginal population to solicit input from: National Aboriginal Organizations, interested and affected groups including Elders Youth and parents; the Circle of Experts; and other individuals and organizations with expertise in the preservation, revitalization and promotion of Aboriginal languages and cultures. ARI subcontracted Williams Consulting for the coordination; facilitation and we produced a report summarizing those community findings. DPRA was also sub-contracted to manage the logistics under Andrea Williams’s direction.

The Government of Canada had committed $172.5 million over 11 years for Aboriginal languages and $160 million will go towards the creation of the entity that will work to preserve, revitalize and promote Aboriginal languages and cultures in Canada. The Task Force was mandated with traveling across Canada to meet and consult with Aboriginal peoples about the structure and activities of the entity and about a national strategy for Aboriginal languages and cultures. In addition, Williams Consulting Team members, on behalf of ARI provided analysis and assisted with the drafting of the Task Force’s Interim Report to the Minister of Canadian Heritage providing recommendations regarding the Aboriginal Languages and Cultures Centre. Williams Consulting supported the Task Force as a neutral facilitator while they worked to achieve consensus for a process that often had conflicting interests. They submitted their report to the Minister of Canadian Heritage in late spring of 2005. Williams Consulting team members played a key role in facilitating and recording all consultations in this process and it is an excellent example of First Nations, Inuit and Métis working together with the federal government for a common goal.

Methodology:

On behalf of the Task Force, ARI who also subcontracted Williams Consulting and DPRA, coordinated a number of consultations with the diverse Aboriginal population to solicit input from: National Aboriginal Organizations interested and affected groups including Elders Youth and parents; the Circle of Experts; and other individuals and organizations with expertise in the preservation, revitalization and promotion of Aboriginal languages and cultures. The Task Force and Secretariat held three consultations and the ARI consortium planned and delivered a further 13 consultations across Canada, with a more than 310 participants and Elders and a total attendance of 410 people, as follows:

• Winnipeg, Manitoba – May 14/15, 2004 (42 attended in total; 6 Participants, 15 Elders, 10 Task Force, 11 Circle of Experts)
• Truro, Nova Scotia – May 28, 2004 (25 attended in total; 17 Participants, 2 Task Force, 2 Circle of Experts, 4 Secretariat/PCH)
• Quebec City, Quebec – May 28, 2004 (22 attended in total; 15 Participants, 2 Task Force, 1 Circle of Experts, 4 Secretariat/PCH)
• Brantford, Ontario – June 9, 2004 (24 attended in total; 16 Participants, 1 Elders, 2 Task Force, 1 Circle of Experts, 4 Secretariat/PCH)
• Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan – June 12, 2004 (24 attended in total; 13 Participants, 2 Elders, 4 Task Force, 2 Circle of Experts, 3 Secretariat/PCH)
• Calgary, Alberta – June 18, 2004 (27 attended in total; 16 Participants, 1 Elders, 4 Task Force, 3 Circle of Experts, 3 Secretariat/PCH)
• Kamloops, British Columbia – June 19, 2004 (29 attended in total; 20 Participants, 1 Elders, 2 Task Force, 3 Circle of Experts, 3 Secretariat/PCH)
• Whitehorse, Yukon – June 25, 2004 (30 attended in total; 14 Participants, 5 Elders, 4 Task Force, 4 Circle of Experts, 3 Secretariat/PCH)
• Squamish, British Columbia – June 26, 2004 (29 attended in total; 23 Participants, 1 Task Force, 2 Circle of Experts, 3 Secretariat/PCH)
• The Pas, Manitoba – June 29, 2004 (29 attended in total; 22 Participants, 3 Task Force, 2 Circle of Experts, 2 Secretariat/PCH)
• Chisasibi, Quebec – June 29, 2004 (36 attended in total; 22 Participants, 9 Elders, 2 Task Force, 1 Circle of Experts, 2 Secretariat/PCH)
• Yellowknife, Northwest Territories – July 7, 2004 (24 attended in total; 13 Participants, 2 Elders, 4 Task Force, 2 Circle of Experts, 3 Secretariat/PCH)
• Ottawa, Ontario – July 7, 2004 (31 attended in total; 11 Participants, 4 Elders, 5 Task Force, 9 Circle of Experts, 2 Secretariat/PCH)
• Cambridge Bay, Nunavut – July 21, 2004 (24 attended in total; 11 Participants, 4 Elders, 4 Task Force, 4 Circle of Experts, 1 Secretariat/PCH)
• Edmonton, Alberta – August 6, 2004 (24 attended in total; 18 Participants, 3 Task Force, 2 Circle of Experts, 1 Secretariat/PCH)
• Winnipeg, Manitoba – September 2 (35 attended in total; 24 Participants, 3 Elders, 4 Task Force, 2 Circle of Experts, 2 Secretariat/PCH)

The consultation process utilized Traditional Aboriginal community protocols and social relationships to create a safe place for participants to explore the issues and provide insight into the consultation agenda. By facilitating a participatory-action oriented process, the Task Force ensures that the voices of all stakeholders are represented in the final recommendations.

Local Aboriginal facilitators and Elders were engaged at each session in an effort to respect local Aboriginal community protocols and cultures. In keeping with general Aboriginal values, a special session entitled “meet and greet” was held the evening before each consultation to provide an opportunity for the consultation participants to establish relationships and share their background and personal interest in this initiative.

In addition, for most sessions, the consulting team included an Aboriginal Elder or Traditional person to assist with understanding and supporting local protocol. Most consultations included an Elder from that geographical area to provide guidance on protocol and open/close the meeting in the culturally appropriate manner for that area.

The participants in the various consultation activities across Canada were provided with an information package, developed by the Task Force, which offered background information on the Consultation process, draft agenda, outlined key issues and provided the four questions that were asked in the consultation activities:

The consultation participants were asked to provide input on four questions to assist in the development of the report to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and recommendations with respect to the establishment and operation of a national Aboriginal Languages and Culture Entity. Their responses to these questions will also contribute to the creation of a National Strategy on Aboriginal Languages and Cultures. The list of individuals to be invited to each workshop was provided by the Secretariat after input from the Task Force Members. Upon confirmation of their attendance, each person was sent an invitation letter and where possible background materials by e-mail, fax, courier, or mail.

Each one and one-half day workshop was attended by a variety of stakeholders, including federal government representatives, provincial/territorial Aboriginal organization representatives, Aboriginal Language program administrators, teachers, linguists, Aboriginal Head Start program staff, Elders, youth and interested community members. Consultation attendance varied from 22 to 42 persons with 28 persons being the average. The workshops were also attended for the most part by at least one representative of Canadian Heritage and the Secretariat. One of the two Co-Chairs of the Task Force (including Mary Jane Jim) attended each session.

One locally based Aboriginal facilitator, identified by local Task Force Representatives, co-facilitated the workshops. Some sessions had two facilitators. For the purposes of consistency, the same professional minute-taker, Jana Anderson, recorded consultations. In addition, each session was audio-recorded and video-recorded as per the request of the Task Force. The Secretariat took responsibility to provide each participant with a transcript of the consultation session they took part in.

The draft final report has been approved by Canadian Heritage who is responsible for distribution and will post the report on its website. (www.aboriginallanguages.ca)

Summary of Core Competencies:

The important comparisons are our ability to:

• work collaboratively with an oversight committee,
• professionally facilitate meetings in a non-partisan manner and facilitate productive discussions;
• organized well-structured forums enabling all participants to express their thoughts and points of view;
• communicate clearly with the Parties to enable successful attendance and participation;
• develop effective approaches for complex and sensitive issues;
• professional note taking/transcription of consultations completed in a tight time frame (within 3 business days);
• develop data collection tools within a short time frame;
• synthesize key issues and priorities, provide analysis and synthesize the material into useful evidence based reports.