Public Education & Communications
Scope
Public Education and Communications is of crucial importance in the further development of First Nations governance in Canada. Knowledge of First Nations’ history and realities is often ill informed, resulting in misunderstanding and conflict. The general public and the media in particular, tend to picture First Nations as marginal protest groups claiming special treatment. First Nations on the other hand struggle with the impact of the Indian Act system on their governance and their inherent right to Self Government. The National Centre for First Nations Governance focuses on an active and innovative two-pronged approach to public education; First Nations citizens and communities and the Canadian public at large.
Activities
The Centre will sponsor and co-sponsor conferences and forums on important issues. These conferences are not focused to raise money for the Centre, rather to provide large audiences, in a variety of venues across Canada, with access to open discussion and high-quality resource people. A major goal will see a national/international conference in which the Centre will set a high standard – a range of international delegates with significant experiences in instituting governance in situations of underdevelopment. This could provide an opportunity for United Nations leaders to validate the importance of governance or for the Prime Minister to reaffirm commitment to supporting efforts on this front in the First Nations context.
The Centre will produce and distribute public information regarding First Nations governance in easily accessible formats and language to First Nations and the general public. The communications initiative will encourage more understanding regarding the role and place of First Nations governance in Canada.
The Centre will also provide media services that focus on audio-visual presentations about the challenges and accomplishments of specific First Nations and the dynamics of selected governance issues.
The NCFNG is service-oriented. It is a tool for First Nations that desire those services. This service emphasis will continue to drive the Centre and characterize its approach to productivity and effectiveness.