Mentoring

When the Salt River First Nation (SRFN) Band Council wanted to hire a band manager, they decided to partner with INAC and the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO) to implement a band manager training program. Bill Graham, a volunteer CESO advisor based in Yellowknife, used his years of business experience to work one-on-one with Dave Poitras, the SRFN band manager trainee.

The Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO), a not for profit organization, provides volunteer advisors who, through their professional business experience, offer mentoring, training and advice to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organizations, companies and communities. CESO describes capacity building as “being a process of increasing knowledge, skills, resources and capacity to identify and/or meet needs in an effective, efficient and sustainable manner.” This is exactly what the CESO mentoring program provided to the Salt River First Nation.

“The mentorship program was a unique one,” says Toni Heron, Sub-Chief, Salt River First Nation. “Initially we thought it would run a year but with Bill's help and expertise, it took only four months to get Dave up to speed.”

Over the four months, Bill and Dave completed a number of essential tasks and produced a variety of documents critical to the administration of band activities. They defined human resources policies, wrote job descriptions for all existing and potential staff, and addressed budgeting and financial management procedures. These formalized practices and policies improved the ability of the band to meet the needs of its members and also create a solid foundation for growth.

The skills and aptitudes developed through the mentorship program are being put into practice to the benefit of the band council and community members. The implementation of better governance practices, improved administration and increased internal capacity will help to increase self-sufficiency and build a sustainable community.

“continuing to build capacity”