August 28, 2006

Annual General Meeting, Monday, August 28, 2006

Travel Lodge, Thunder Bay, ON

9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Present: Dr. L. Hayes, Vice-President (Academic) & Provost)

Dr. L. Gilchrist, Associate Vice-Provost (Aboriginal Initiatives)

P. Capon, M.F.N

D. D. Frenette, N.A N.

D. Loney, LUNSA Alternate

M. Maracle, LUNSA Alternate

T. Neganegijig, O.N.W. A.

R. Ranger, FWFN

P. Smith, Advisor

Advisors: Dr. J. Iseke-Barnes, CCRC

S. Bebonang, NTEP

Dr. G. Boire, G&IS

Dr. L. Lovett-Doust, S&ES

Dr. E. Gardner, Aboriginal Education

C. Hartviksen, NNEP

L. Wabange, ACSS

Regrets: T. Pile, M.N.O.

Dr. F. Gilbert, President

Elders: Agnes Hardy

Ernie Kwandibens

Charlotte Kwandibens

Isabelle Mercier

1. Opening Prayer: Elder I. Mercier opened the meeting with a prayer and a smudge.

2. Approval of Agenda: That the Agenda be approved as amended.

a) Add Aboriginal Orientation under Other Business:

b)Add Article in Argus

3. Approval of Minutes: That the Minutes of May 15, 2006 be approved as presented.

Moved by T. Neganegijig, and Seconded by C. Hartviksen. All in favour. Carried.

4. Native Access Program Update: Dr. L. Hayes reported on the progress of NAP. She explained the admissions process of the program. July 31, 2006 was the cut off date for NAP Admissions. Students who applied after July 31^st were encouraged to apply in September 2007. NAP is undergoing changes for 2007. This year an Aboriginal Student Declaration Form was included with the Registration process. The University will not know how many Aboriginal students attend Lakehead until November 2006.

C. Hartviksen suggested actions that have transpired from the recommendations she presented in the NAP Report to the Dean be written up on how each one is being handled. Dr. Hayes agreed to discuss at the next meeting in September. Another suggestion was to have the Aboriginal Student Declaration Form posted on the ONECA website for information of all Aboriginal Postsecondary Counsellors.

5. Nomination of Vice-Chair: At the meeting of May 15, 2006, M. Frost was voted in as Vice Chair. She has moved away and will not be available. P. Capon was nominated as the new Vice Chair.

6. Negahneewin College Memorandum of Understanding: Negahneewin Council at Confederation College and AMC are planning to meet in the next few months to put together an MOU to outline how AMC and Negahneewin can work together on access programs.

7. Membership: LUNSA asked to have two alternatives per position. This would require a bylaw amendment. A Notice of Motion was passed to accept a bylaw change for LUNSA to change their alternate representation.

8. Member-at-Large: B. Vermette, Member-at-Large has been absent for 3 consecutive meetings. P. Fisher is interested in being the new Member-at-Large. D. Wawia will confirm B. Vermette's interest in membership. In the meantime, P. Fisher will attend meetings as an Observer. The suggestion was to have an alternate member. This would require a bylaw change. A Notice of Motion was passed to allow an alternate member for the Member-at-Large position. Moved by L. Gilchrist, and Seconded by Dr. Hayes. All in favour. Carried.

9. Annual Report Draft: A one page summary of what will go in the AMC Annual Report was circulated. Members were asked to review it and forward any changes to Aboriginal Initiatives. The Annual Report is to be submitted to the Board Secretary by September 5, 2006.

10. Aboriginal Initiatives Review: Dr. Gilchrist's two year performance evaluation is due September 30, 2006. Members were more concerned on the effectiveness of the Office of Aboriginal Initiatives. They agreed a committee should be struck to examine the following: job description and reporting structure of the AVP (AI), function, mandate and the relationship of the Office of Aboriginal Initiatives to AMC and to other institutional structures of the university. A current job description of the AVP (I) will be sent out to everyone. At the next meeting, a committee will be appointed to review the Aboriginal Initiatives office and make recommendations for changes that will occur.

On topic of AETS, a question came up as to the continuity of AMC within the university; would AMC dissolve if AETS funding was be discontinued? P. Smith said AMC should stay and become part of the university's council. L. Hayes added that the original intent and role of AMC was mainly to advise and make recommendations to the President, and not to the university structure. The Advisory Council existed long before the AETS funding was implemented.

P. Capon suggested a Terms of Reference be drawn up for the Review Committee. An updated AMC Resolutions list for the last 3 years is to be emailed to everyone. The Resolutions are to be posted on the AMC website.

11. The following three items: Works assignments for the year, Yearly work planning committee, and Strategic Plan Monitoring Committee go hand in hand. Dr. Gilchrist was concerned about future funding for Aboriginal programming if AETS were to be discontinued. The Office of Development has a directive to raise funds for the Orillia Campus, and Aboriginal Initiatives is not a priority. Dr. Hayes suggested a report be obtained from the Development Office to look at priorities. She further explained the internal budgeting process which comes out every year in December. Aboriginal Initiatives can submit proposals to the Administrative Executive Committee to obtain funding for identified needs and projects.

P. Smith suggested bringing the original copy of the Strategic Plan to the Committee meeting in order to see what was removed by the President. The final copy was edited with the changes that the President made. The final copy of the AMC Strategic Plan will be emailed to all Members and Advisors.

12. Elders Council: Elders on the Elders Council were introduced to AMC. Gifts were presented to welcome all the Elders. At the last Elders meeting, a cultural program for the year was set. At the next meeting, the Elders will make their own decisions on who will do what and when. A Terms of Reference will be drafted for the Elders Council.

13. AETS Review: The government has yet to announce the Consultants who will do the AETS Review. The AETS Review is expected to be complete by end of November 2006. D. Frenette suggested that all AETS material be compiled for the Review.

14. Nominations for Honorary Degrees: L. Gilchrist reminded everyone to nominateAboriginal candidates for the honorary degrees to be awarded at the May 2007 Convocation. Nominations must be submitted to Dr. Rachel Waburton, Chair Senate Committee on Honorary Degrees by September 21, 2006.

15. Aboriginal Orientation: Members, Advisors, Elders were encouraged to attend the Aboriginal Orientation powwow and feast on September 6, 2006 at the Bora Laskin field beside the gym.

Meeting adjourned.