Thursday, August 12, 2010
Board of Directors Meeting
Room 310
ACWI, 181 Higgins Avenue
Winnipeg, MB

Good day! My report for August/10

Tripartite
The next Tripartite meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 30/10. This meeting will be hosted by the City of Winnipeg at 510 Main Street (City Hall, Admin. Bldg.

Workplan & Budget 10/11 - The final draft of the Workplan and Budget 2010/11 was submitted to OFI in the 1st week of August. This will trigger our 1st payment for this fiscal year.

City of Winnipeg
The ACW Executive Committee met with the City of Winnipeg CAO Glen Laubenstein and Tripartite table representative James Allum at the ACW offices yesterday. The CAO had requested a tour of the Centre and a meeting to follow up on issues of mutual interest. We succeeded in getting agreement to:

• Proceed with negotiations to achieve the goal of moving Imrie Demolition from the site adjacent to the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg as the activities of this company are not compatible with the many initiatives currently being undertaken by the Centre, CAHRD or Neeginan.
• Proceed with joint action to create an Aboriginal social enterprise that will create jobs for at risk youth and adults, persons with mental health issues, and persons with disabilities. These negotiations are of a sensitive nature and the premature leakage of information could jeopardize this exciting new venture.
• Confirmation that the Youth Intern position funded through the Aboriginal Youth Strategy will be continued as long as funding is provided by the City to the Aboriginal community of Winnipeg.

Urban Conference - Friday, Sept. 24/10, Aboriginal Centre
The final draft of the ACW proposal to Aboriginal and Northern Affairs to host a one day urban Aboriginal conference was submitted in July. We are now awaiting approval of the funding in the amount of $20,000. ACW will contribute $5000 for professional fees to organize the conference. The primary theme of the conference is related to the Community Engagement Report prepared by Leskiw and Associates. We are making extra effort to attract a good cross section of our membership and urban Aboriginal leadership. Some of this work is already in progress as we have a tight timeline and I am confident that we will get this funding.

ACW Youth Action Plan
This project is underway and is being overseen by a Steering Committee. Members of this committee are as follows: Youth Portfolio Chair, Samuel Lavallee, Clayton Prette, Board Member, Maeengan Linklater, Board Member, Michelle Amos, Youth Intern, Shantelle Menson, ACW Summer Student. In addition please review attached list of youth community members.

ACW Youth Retreat - Windy Hill
The ACW Youth Committee is planning a Retreat at Windy Hill on Friday, Sept. 3/10 to Sunday, Sept. 5/10. The purpose of this Retreat is to provide an opportunity for the committee members to get to know each other in a culturally appropriate setting and to discuss and formulate their vision and mission for their committee. Fifteen committee members are planning to attend. Elder, Wally Swain is going with the group to provide support and guidance.

Economic Development
ACW has submitted a proposal to OFI requesting $50,000 in funding to develop a web based Aboriginal Knowledge Centre relative to Social Economy/Social Enterprise. We are anticipating approval of this funding within the next few weeks.

ACW-MMF Memorandum of Cooperation
Please review MMF President David Chartrand's letter to the Council that has been put in your board package.

Memorandum of Collaboration
This agreement between the federal, provincial and municipal governments was signed on June 23/10 at the Urban Circle Training Centre. I have put copies of the document in your board package.

ACW AGM
Planning and preparation for the ACW AGM is underway. The required notice will appear in the Winnipeg Sun this Saturday. The AGM will be held here at the Aboriginal Centre. There are two (2) Board of Director positions to be elected. Both are three (3) year terms. A copy of the ad proof has been put in your board package. We are working hard to ensure a good turnout for the election and the business meeting.

Children and Youth Culture, Sport and Recreation
ACW is undertaking major effort to raise its profile in Winnipeg. Accessible, inclusive, affordable and organized cultural, sport and recreation programming for inner city children and youth is in short supply. ACW has spearheaded a coalition to develop an indoor soccer facility for inner city children and youth. The kick-off event for this major initiative was held at Central Park on Sunday, August 8/10. ( See poster in your board package) Partners in the Coalition include ACW, Winnipeg Afro-Aboriginal Cross-Cultural Association, Winnipeg Alliance Soccer Club, Central Neighborhood Development Corporation, Coalition of Youth Serving Agencies (14 orgs), and the Winnipeg Police Service. We will also be meeting with the U of W as they have been undertaking work on a soccer project. This is a exciting initiative and it will produce many positive spin-off benefits to this Council.

Winnipeg Round Table on Poverty Eradication
ACW participated in this event at the Union Centre on Broadway Avenue on Wednesday, August 4, 2010. I was asked to speak to the issues of Aboriginal poverty. This event was captured via video conferencing. Our message was then delivered to the Premier's meeting and this resulted in a commitment by all the Premiers and Territorial leaders to continue to implement measures to reduce poverty in all provinces. ACW continues to be a member of the Make Poverty History coalition and I attend most meetings.