April 15, 2010 $399 plus tax

We took our signature aboriginal awareness training program to a whole new level when we developed Working Effectively with Aboriginal Peoples™ based on participant and customer needs and requests.  Further extensive field testing with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Peoples confirmed that any training should be designed to help individuals and organizations work more effectively with Aboriginal Peoples rather than just raise awareness.  In Working Effectively with Aboriginal Peoples our goal is to help participants get beyond aboriginal awareness to practical skills and tools that can be applied everywhere.

Aboriginal issues like land claims and self-government represent some of the biggest change, challenges, risks and exciting opportunities for organizations today. With some tried and proven approaches individuals and organizations can position themselves to take advantage of the major change under way in Canada now. We provide a review of historical events and their relation to the present economic environment; explore critical issues of taxation, housing, and education; show how working with Aboriginal Peoples can enhance your career and business; and help you understand cross-cultural perspectives.

Purpose of the Workshop:

• Provide an explanation of why to work with Aboriginal Peoples at all.
• Provide a safe environment to explore complex aboriginal issues in a non-confrontational way.
• Provide safe opportunity to see both sides of the debate.
• Help participants sift through rhetoric to find creative solutions to their workplace challenges.
• Provide reference material in the form of the book Working Effectively with Aboriginal Peoples.
• Allow you to share your expertise with others and visa versa.
• Assist in enhancing the credibility of your services.
• Provide techniques to help you work more effectively with Aboriginal Peoples and communities.
• Give participants the opportunity to practice and use newly acquired skills immediately.
• Cover key things to say and not say when working in this complex environment.
• Focus on how to develop relationships and why.

Who should attend?

• Those just starting out to those who have been working with Aboriginal Peoples for years
• Government representatives
• Business representatives from the retail, industrial and financial sectors
• Senior executives, managers and board members
• Line managers, project managers and project team members
• Communications and community relations staff
• Properties and lands staff and policy makers
• Human resources and customer services staff who work directly with Aboriginal Peoples or on teams that work directly with Aboriginal Peoples

At this course you will:

• Review historical events and their relation to the present day
• Learn cultural and linguistic information about Aboriginal Peoples
• Become familiar with demographic information
• Review major court cases and their implications
• Begin to understand the cross-cultural perspectives of the same issue
• Be familiar with terminology and know what terms to use in different situations
• Explore business reasons for developing aboriginal relations
• Explore individual and organizational strategies for developing relationships

Agenda:

8:30am – 4:00pm

Morning

Historical Background of Aboriginal Peoples

• Pre-contact
• Contact History
• Post-Contact History
• Recent History

Constitutional, Political and Legal Context

• BNA, Indian Act, Other Legislation
• Political Will
• Legal Decisions

Modern Treaties

Aboriginal Self-Government

Aboriginal Population

• Linguistic Differences
• Hereditary and Elected Chiefs
• 2001 Census
• Reserves
• Aboriginal Youth
• Forces Affecting the Aboriginal Population

Afternoon

Aboriginal Population

• Community Needs
• Misconceptions, Perspectives & Realities

Aboriginal Understanding – Terms

Business Case

• Business Reasons for Aboriginal Relations
• Relationship building opportunities

Aboriginal Consultation

• Risk, Consultation, Accommodation Model
• Risk Assessment

RESPECT Model

Do’s and Don’ts

“Broke down some of the disinformation I wasn’t even aware I was being influenced by.” K. Spowart • RBC Royal Bank

Pre-registration for the public session is required.

Registration can also be done by completing the Registration Form and submitting via fax.

Location details will be confirmed with registration confirmation.