Initiating Partners

From Vision to Reality

The initiating partners from First Nations, Inuit & Aboriginal Health, Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, and Synergos Instituted, conceived of the Aboriginal Leadership Initiative and moved it forward into being as Ahp-cii-uk.The first phase of the Initiative was funded jointly by First Nations, Inuit & Aboriginal Health and BC Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation which also both contributed a significant amount of expertise and in-kind support. The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council facilitated entry into communities, provided expertise, and administration support. Synergos Institute provided expertise on multi-sectoral partnering.

Together the Initiating Partners hired a management team to co-design and implement the Initiative, and they continue to guide it forward as it gathers momentum. Dedicated individuals from each participating organization spent many long hours helping to plan and implement the Initiative.

Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council

“Systemic change cannot be done through development of policy or programs in Ottawa that are trickled down to Aboriginal Communities. They have to be done at the community level with all stakeholders. First Nations need to be provided with an opportunity to utilize their knowledge to help themselves. They need to have an opportunity to learn from one another and from external stakeholders as well. 150 years of assimilation policies have created a dependency, ultimately a reliance on government to solve the problems for First Nations. Through Ahp-cii-uk, we as a collective have an opportunity to address this dependency.” - Dr. Michelle Corfield represents the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council at the table of Initiating Partners.

We are the Nuu-chah-nulth

We continue to follow our ancestors' true self-determination and real self-sufficiency when they lived and thrived on the lands and waters on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Through the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, our vision is self-government that promotes strong, healthy Nuu-chah-nulth communities, which are guided by n'aas (Creator) and ha’wiih (hereditary Chiefs). We will fulfill our vision by providing equitable social, economic, political, and technical support to Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. We will seek the wisdom/knowledge of our Elders and look upon our Children to give us the desire to succeed.

First Nations, Inuit & Aboriginal Health

First Nations, Inuit & Aboriginal Health was represented by Sheila Bryan (retired) at the table of initiating partners. First Nations, Inuit & Aboriginal Health continues to fund and provide support to Ahp-cii-uk Community Society.

British Columbia Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation

Arlene Paton, Assistant Deputy Minister, Partnerships and Community Renewal, represented BC MARR at the table of initiating partners.

“British Columbia is involved in this initiative because we are committed to a New Relationship with Aboriginal people. This initiative will contribute to closing the socio-economic gap between Aboriginal people and other British Columbians by assisting Ahousaht, Ehattesaht and Tseshaht toward self-sufficiency. We also hope that this initiative will provide a model for working with other communities throughout the province.”

Synergos Institute

John Heller is the Senior Director for Partnerships at The Synergos Institute. Mr. Heller represented Synergos at the table of initiating partners.

“The Aboriginal Leadership Initiative is connected to and builds on a global portfolio of similar initiatives at the Synergos Institute that address critical development challenges, through its Partnerships program. These initiatives convene stakeholders from across sectors to work together on specific issues, such as child undernutrition in India, public health systems in Namibia, orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa and urban life in Rio de Janiero. Whether housed within Synergos’ Partnerships program, or elsewhere, Synergos provides each initiative with programmatic support and guidance from its 20 years experience in bridging social and economic divides to reduce poverty and social injustice around the world, connecting initiatives to lessons learned, common experiences, tools and resources.”

Synergos is an independent non-profit organization that supports leaders and partnerships to change the systems that keep people in poverty.