Events

December 20, 2007

Official Opening of NCFNG Prairie Regional Office –
Open House Scheduled for January 10th 2008

Saskatoon - It is with great pride that the National Centre for First Nations Governance (NCFNG) announces an Open House on January 10, 2008 for the Official Opening of our Prairie Regional Office in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Official Opening comments will be provided by NCFNG President Satsan (Herb George) in the boardroom beginning at 11:00 A.M. Satsan is a renowned advocate for the advancement of Indigenous governance and in particular, for the affirmation and recognition of Aboriginal rights, title and Treaty rights.
NCFNG is a national organization and has a two-pronged mandate. First, it is designed to support First Nations as they seek to implement their inherent rights of self-government. Secondly, NCFNG assists First Nations in the further development of their day-to-day government operations.
It is the president’s vision to position NCFNG as a Centre of Excellence so that our First Nations can utilize the services and support of NCFNG as they develop governance processes for their communities. For bands seeking to break free of the Indian Act or simply wanting to exercise jurisdiction and sovereignty over their traditional territories, the Centre will be a conduit to share knowledge and best practices among First Nations.
Satsan states that “Our communities have high expectations and demands in the areas of governance because the era of one-size-fits-all systems of instituting governance is over. It is clear that the time is now to do things in our own way.”

The centre’s services are based upon the principle of choice. First Nations wishing to utilize the services of NCFNG will not be required to do so by legislation or any other means of coercion. The centre operates under the control and direction of our First Nations and is designed to be completely independent from federal, provincial governments and our own political organizations.

The Centre has offices in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic, and now, the Prairies. “Our people are ready to exercise their Inherent Rights. In the prairie region, First Nations also want their Treaty Rights recognized. I think that First Nations and the Centre can work together in a cooperative spirit to solidify a strong sense of nationhood and sovereignty in our respective territories” said the new Prairie Regional Manager, Basil Quewezance.

Quewezance commenced his duties with NCFNG in September 2007 and looks forward to working with the First Nations in the prairie region. Currently, the prairie office employs one other full time staff member but a full compliment of five staff members will soon be in place. The Saskatoon location was ideal to house the prairie office because it provided a central access point for First Nations situated in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

“Now that we are officially open, I want to empower our people with a wide-range of resources, information, research, strategies and assessment tools that are culturally appropriate and diverse” Quewezance adds.

In conclusion, Satsan added a final comment that supports the foundation of NCFNG governing value - “We must dare to consider our own destiny. Our language, our customs, our spirituality: These things set us apart, while at the same time tying us together as aboriginal people. It’s time to move forward together and create that new memory for our children.”