Application Form and Guide
Call for Applications
Urban Aboriginal Strategy – Metro Vancouver
Steering Committee Membership
Your application must be received by Greg Eidsness, Metro Vancouver UAS Coordinator, by 12:00pm on April 7, 2008.
You are invited to submit your application to become a member of the Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) Steering Committee. This guide will tell you:
1) what the UAS is,
2) what a steering committee is and what you are expected to do as a steering committee member,
3) how to apply to be a committee member including the application form,
4) and how people will be selected to become a steering committee member and who will be doing the selecting.
Successful new Steering Committee members will be contacted by April 30, 2008 and all other applicants are thanked for their interest in becoming a Steering Committee member and serving their community.
Questions:
On March 31, 2008 a community engagement event is being held at the Sunrise Pavilion Centre (located next to the Surrey Central Sky train Station). You are invited to attend and during the event there will be an opportunity to ask questions about becoming a steering committee member and a chance to submit your application.
If you cannot come to the event and have questions, please contact Greg Eidsness, UAS Coordinator.
To submit your application or ask questions please contact:
Greg Eidsness
Metro Vancouver Urban Aboriginal Strategy Coordinator
BC Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians
7th floor – 1138 Melville Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4S3
Phone: 604-775-6342
Fax: 604-775-7149
The Urban Aboriginal Strategy – What is it?
The Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) is a community-based, five-year initiative developed by the Government of Canada to improve social and economic opportunities of Aboriginal people living in designated urban centres.
Community-based means that the urban Aboriginal individuals of Vancouver, Prince George, Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, Winnipeg, Thompson, Thunder Bay, Toronto, and Ottawa…otherwise known as the designated urban centres…can come together to make recommendations to the Government of Canada on how to support urban Aboriginal communities.
The Steering Committee – What is it?
The Steering Committee will be made up of individuals from the Metro Vancouver urban Aboriginal community and the various levels of government.
The main task of the Steering Committee is to give voice to the opinions, ideas, and needs of the urban Aboriginal community of Metro Vancouver. The Government of Canada, in partnership with the private sector, provincial and municipal governments, community and Aboriginal organizations work to respond to the recommendations of the Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee can do many things to address the issues that face urban Aboriginal individuals and the community. The committee can discuss policy changes with all levels of governments. They can work with service organizations to finds way to improve services and make them more effective.
The Steering Committee can work with associations and places of education to raise awareness of urban Aboriginal issues. In addition, the Steering Committee can make recommendations to all levels of government and others in the community about which projects and initiatives should be supported.
The projects and initiatives recommended for funding by the Steering Committee must not only meet any priorities or needs identified in the community, but also must fit within the National Priorities of the UAS.
Those are:
1. Improving life skills;
2. Promoting job training, skills and entrepreneurship; and,
3. Supporting Aboriginal women, children and families.
The Steering Committee Composition
The Metro Vancouver Steering Committee will consist of community members from the Metro Vancouver urban Aboriginal community, one representative from each of the two urban Aboriginal political organizations (United Native Nations, the Métis Nation of British Columbia), and representatives from the municipal, provincial and federal government. All committee members will have an interest or expertise in the following categories:
A. Life Skills
B. Job Skills/Entrepreneurship
C. Women/Children/Family
The eleven community Steering Committee seats will be allocated as follows:
3 Youth
2 Elders
1 Life Skills Advocate
1 Job Skills/Entrepreneurship Advocate
1 Women/Children/Family Advocate
3 Members at large
Note 1: Youth is defined as individuals 16 to 29 years old. Youth members do not need to be affiliated with any organization.
Note 2: An Advocate is defined as an individual with interest and/or expertise in the subject area, and endorsed by a community elder or Aboriginal organization.
Note 3: Members-at-large do not need to be affiliated with any organization or endorsed by a community Elder. Members-at-large will include 1 Surrey resident, 1 Vancouver resident, 1 Metro Vancouver inclusive resident.
How to Submit an Application
If you would like to apply to sit on the committee you must complete an application form and submit your resume. Before you complete the form, read this section to see if you can, or want to, be on the committee.
To be on the committee you must:
1) Self-declare as a Métis, Inuit, Status or Non Status urban Aboriginal person
2) Reside within the Metro Vancouver Regional District
3) Be 16 years of age or older.
As a committee member you must:
1) Commit to attending at least one meeting a month that will be about 2 hours long, commit to attend a two day orientation/planning session that will likely happen on a weekend, and do your best to attend conferences, workshops, and events that the Committee members are invited to attend.
2) Commit to sharing your opinions and ideas.
3) Demonstrate that you are passionate about serving the urban Aboriginal community of Metro Vancouver and promote the work of the Metro Vancouver UAS.
The application form is found at the end of this guide.
Selection of Committee Members from the Applications
To be selected to be a Committee member you must complete the following tasks:
1) Fill out the Application Form and answer all the questions as best you can
2) Send the completed application form, and a recently updated resume, to the UAS coordinator before the deadline
In addition, you may be asked to participate in an interview with the selection committee either in person, or by teleconference.
A selection committee, made up of community members and government officials will review the applications and select the Steering Committee members.
The following attributes will be considered:
1. Adaptability
2. Communication
3. Community Awareness
4. Problem Solving and Judgment
5. Results Orientation
6. Teamwork
7. Innovation
8. Leadership
9. Relationship Building
10. Strategic Thinking
The 11 successful new Steering Committee members will be contacted by April 30, 2008 and all other applicants are thanked for their interest in becoming a Steering Committee member and serving their community.
Filed under: All News, Child and Family, Health Section, Housing Section, Women's Section, Youth Section
