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Capacity Development Workshops - Host a Workshop in your Community

Community Workshops Now Available - AFOA Instructors will come to you!

Travel can be costly when you are trying to access training for management and staff and elected leaders. AFOA is pleased to offer workshops on key financial and management issues that are delivered right at your door, in your community, at a location of your choice. Participants are provided with all necessary publications, tools and guides.

For Aboriginal Management

Performance Measurement and Reporting in First Nations—2 Day Workshop

This workshop is the first to be offered in Canada that tackles the issue of performance reporting in First Nations. The focus is on reporting on performance to community members. The workshop focuses on core principles of performance reporting in First Nation environments and draws the link to financial reporting. Participants will be introduced to the Aboriginal Performance Wheel. Issues examined include: the appropriate level and frequency of reporting; identifying the important aspects of performance; identifying the kinds of information to be reported; and, preparing reports on goals.

An Introduction to Comprehensive Community Planning in First Nations—2 Day Workshop

Many communities throughout the country are undertaking Comprehensive Community Planning (CCP) in an effort to improve their economic base while asserting their independence and ownership of community resources. Using best practices and case studies this workshop focuses on: history and evolution of CCP; exploring indigenous principles; and current models and insights from First Nations who have completed CCP.

Developing an Effective Management Action Plan—2 Day Workshop

This workshop now replaces AFOA's original workshop on "Developing an Effective Remedial Management Plan (RMP)". It includes information on the new Default Prevention and Management Policy introduced by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada on Aprl 1, 2011, and new tools developed to support First Nations, including the Management Action Plan (MAP) which replaces the Remedial Management Plan (RMP), as well as intervention levels and when a MAP is required. With the support of case studies, issues examines include: What is a Management Action Plan (MAP); What different levels of intervention can occur in a MAP; Understanding the MAP and its' impact; Who does what and when in the MAP; How to develop an effective MAP; and, Measuring and accessing performance of the MAP.

Strategic Planning in First Nations—2 Day Workshop

Strategic planning is key to the success of every Aboriginal organization and community. Everything you wanted to know about strategic planning is covered in this 2 day workshop. How do you identify your strategic vision? How do you identify resources required and performance indicators? What is the process that is followed? How do you evaluate and report on your strategic plan? These and more issues will be explored in this workshops.

Values and Ethics in the Aboriginal Workplace—2 Day Workshop

This 2 day workshop will provide participants with a broad understanding of maintaining good values and ethics within the Aboriginal workplace. The workshop will examine business ethics and how they relate to Aboriginal traditions. Participants will learn the fundamentals of human resource management of human resource management and how to develop a code of ethics for you organization. How does the issue of ethics impact governance and accountability and the increasing number of community and economic development activities?

Introduction to Community Economic Development—2 Day Workshop

Increasingly, economic development is being recognized as a way for Aboriginal governments and communities to increase their wealth, citizen employment, and community pride, and to build the influence and financial resources needed for other important goals. Economic development can be approached in many different ways and it can all seem overwhelming. This workshop provides you with an understanding of what economic development is and encourages discussion about best practices and lessons learned, and provides the basic tools needed to begin your own successful strategic economic development planning process.

For Elected Leaders

Demystifying Finance for Elected Leaders—1 Day Workshop

Understanding financial information is one of the key challenges facing elected officals in Aboriginal communities. Elected officials are an important element of the financial governance of any Nation. They must understand and interpret financial reports and information to make key decisions with significant impact on their communities. The workshop focuses on 1) building financial literacy and 2) developing financial capacity. Topics covered include:

  • Building Financial Literacy
  • Roles and responsibilities of First Nation leadership in context of financial management
  • Basic financial accounting concepts and reporting
  • Role of budgets in helping elected leaders manage community funds
  • Understand the importance of and the tools available to achieve accountability and transparency
  • The federal contribution process and the importance of risk
  • Opportunities and tools for economic development
  • Duty to consult and accommodate

The Politics of Ethical Decision Making for Elected Leaders—2 Day Workshop

This two day workshop was designed specifically for elected Aboriginal leaders and focuses on the vital role that ethics plays in their daily lives and the importance of ethical leadership in an Aboriginal setting. The workshop examines rights, responsibilities and ethics, how they interact, and how each influences how Aboriginal elected officials carry out their day to day jobs. It looks at common situations faced in elected positions where ethical issues are at stake, examines critical questions leaders must ask when wanting to make an ethical decision and outlines the essentials for creating an ethical work environment.
Topics to be covered include:

  • What is meant when discussing ethics, values, morals and ethical behaviour in relation to governments, and what unique ethical situations are faced by elected officials?
  • Ways of regulating ethical behaviour and the importance of a Code of Ethics.
  • A focus on ethics in Aboriginal settings and the importance of strong leadership in creating an ethical Nation.
  • What are the differences between rights and responsibilities, and the significance to Aboriginal leaders of making decisions using rights as the measure?
  • A framework for making ethical decisions.
  • Common reoccurring ethical dilemmas that elected officials face on a regular basis.
For Finance Officers

Tangible Capital Assets Workshop—1 Day Workshop

Effective January 1, 2009, all First Nations will be required to account for tangible capital assets on their statement of financial position. First Nations will have to report capital assets on their financial statements at historical cost and amortized over the assets’ estimated useful life on the statement of operations. This is as a result of INAC’s requirement for First Nations to report using the Common Government Reporting Model beginning January 1, 2009.

This is a significant change to the way First Nations prepare and present their financial statements. This workshop is intended for financial staff working within an Aboriginal Community.

Converting Financial Statements Workshop—1 Day Workshop

This one day workshop is a practical hands-on workshop that AFOA developed to provide insight into the changes in First Nation Financial reporting and the Common Government Reporting Model.

Topics include:

  • Identifying the changes that must take place in First Nations financial reporting systems
  • Developing a list of new ledger accounts
  • Working through existing financial information and beginning the process of conversion
  • Recognizing that revised financial statements look like.
Contact Information:

For more information on pricing and availability, please contact Sheila Howard at AFOA at 1-866-722-2362 ext. 117 or showard@afoa.ca.