Projects and Initiatives
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Coordinated Community Response Network around Elders Abuse
“Early Years Project” (Jordan’s Principle)
Environment Memorandum of Understanding
Heart Lake Bison Ranch
Soil Ingestion in People Following Traditional Lifestyles
Specific Claims - Agriculture Benefits "Cows and Plows"
Solid Waste Feasibility Study
Pre-Employment Supports initiative
Coordinated Community Response Network around Elders Abuse
“Early Years Project” (Jordan’s Principle)
Environment Memorandum of Understanding
Heart Lake Bison Ranch
Soil Ingestion in People Following Traditional Lifestyles
Specific Claims - Agriculture Benefits "Cows and Plows"
Solid Waste Feasibility Study
Pre-Employment Supports initiative
Coordinated Community Response Network around Elders Abuse
- The Elders’ project was initiated in 2016 when it was introduced to Elders living in each of the member First Nation communities. The Elders in each community identified issues and concerns prevalent in their community and discussed strategies that would be helpful for reducing lack of services to seniors, abuse of individuals and implementing specific measures designed to improve upon the concerns. The project is now being undertaken by the member First Nations individually.
“Early Years Project” (Jordan’s Principle)
- The Early Years Project, established in 2017 in response to a decision by the Canadian Human Rights tribunal, delivers services to children within the member First Nations communities when the children have disabilities and are within the 2.5 years of age to 6 years of age range. Adopting Jordan’s Principle, the project aims to meet the developmental needs of children who otherwise do not have supports available to them, and are therefore, not able to engage in Early Childhood Education without additional developmental support. The project initiative started in the first year with supports to about 50 children, providing supports to the children on a comparable basis as Program Unit Funding (PUF), which the provincial government provides to children living off the reserves. The program has seen an increase in the number of children assisted in the second year of implementation and is anticipated to assist many children for years to come.
Environment Memorandum of Understanding
- Chiefs of Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. and Chiefs of the Yellowhead Tribal Council entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Minister of Environment, Government of Alberta, on January 23, 2008. Since that time, an operating plan was developed each year to gather and provide information on a government to government basis through joint dialogue with Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc., Yellowhead Tribal Council, and the Government of Alberta – Ministry of Environment. A water workshop was held where information was exchanged by the First Nations and the Government. Presentations were made by the Government of Alberta on various topics such as cumulative effects, wetlands and water allocation while representatives of the First Nations presented on the water issues and challenges being experienced within their communities. Efforts were made to achieve tangible future outcomes through renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding and negotiations for inclusion of action items to establish First Nation-Government tables for water, land and biodiversity.
- Through the Memorandum of Understanding, Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. and Yellowhead Tribal Council held joint tribal council meetings to address environmental issues of common concern, as well as Chiefs/Minister of Environment meetings to discuss the political strategies required to further the Memorandum of Understanding work.
- TCV undertook climate change and climate monitoring initiatives in conjunction with Tribal Chiefs Employment & Training Services Association. New agreements are needed for increased capacity in each First Nation to address climate monitoring and change.
Heart Lake Bison Ranch
- In 2003, the Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. member First Nations acquired threatened Wood Bison species from Elk Island National Park. The Wood Bison are currently situated at the Heart Lake First Nation on a compatible habitat. There have been ‘gains and losses’ related to the health of the herd, the habitat and predatory animal populations, however, the herd size is increasing. Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. previously received approval for funding to continue with improvements to the habitat for the Wood Bison, for grazing pastures and handling facilities. Heart Lake First Nation is carrying most of the responsibilities for the herd and requires continued support as opportunities can be identified.
Soil Ingestion in People Following Traditional Lifestyles
- This study was conducted by Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. in conjunction with the University of Ottawa, during the fiscal year of 2011/2012. The study was conducted at English Bay at Cold Lake First Nations during August 2012 with 7 members of the Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. member First Nations. Dr. Jules Blais, Graham Irvine and Jamie Doyle of the University of Ottawa were the principle researchers involved in the project. Funding for this project was received from Health Canada under the National First Nations Environmental Contaminants Program to study the trends of human exposure to environmental contaminants and to develop baseline human bio monitoring data on First Nations exposure to persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals.
- The preliminary conclusion of the study was “that exposure to contaminants by soils in the Cold Lake region is an unlikely hazard to residents of the Cold Lake First Nations”. However, it is hoped Dr. Blais’ group will be doing further analysis of the results. Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. is anticipating doing a further study to determine air quality contaminants or water quality contaminants and the effects on the members of the First Nations.
Specific Claims - Agriculture Benefits "Cows and Plows"
- In 2009, Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. proceeded with the initial research and legal opinions for Agricultural Benefits Treaty Claims for the Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. member First Nations. By the end of June 2012, Dr. Derek Whitehouse-Strong completed the research and provided reports to each of the six member First Nations. Garry Laboucan of Ackroyd LLP assisted the member First Nations with the initial legal opinions of their claims for the Agricultural Benefits detailed in Treaty No. 6. Each member First Nation’s Chief and Council is directing their legal counsel to continue their claim on an individual First Nation basis.
Solid Waste Feasibility Study
- TCVI conducted a Solid Waste Management Feasibility Study in 2017-2018 with the 6 member First Nations, Indigenous Services Canada, and with the Saddle Lake Cree Nation’s participation. The study undertook a comprehensive examination of options available to the communities related to waste disposal, opportunities for recycling and a shared Solid Waste Management facility for 7 First Nations. The study took the communities’ present methods and community circumstances into account to develop options and assessed the feasibility of options to determine requirements for the future of operation, location, use and governance of a regional solid waste management facility, complemented by local solid waste transfer stations and recycling methods.
Pre-Employment Supports initiative
- The Pre-Employment Supports program begun in 2015. The program, which was initially titled Enhanced Service Delivery, has the goal of providing pre-employment supports. The program is designed to assist First Nations youth living on the reserve by providing various supports for enhancing their individual work skills, returning to school to complete their education, and obtaining employment such as by entering the trades. The program is delivered within each community and on an individual basis helping youth to reduce their individual barriers to employment. The number of individuals who are receiving supports under this program is approximately 250 persons and involves the collaboration of local programs and opportunities for employment and training, income support, and education.
