Off-Reserve Membership feel completely left out of the picture. No one knows what’s happening (even some on-reserve members say they have no idea what’s happening).

We will establish a proper communications plan to make sure that all membership is communicated with, so we all know what’s taking place.

We need this information because of everyone will be included in the PLANNING, then they need to be included in the Monitoring of the Plan as it moves forward.

NEEDS OF OFF-RESERVE MEMBERSHIP

• Living in urban centers can be difficult, especially for young families trying to raise children. We need to look at ways to assist our members in trying to make their way through working and raising their children off reserve. We will do this by having good discussions with the ones that need the support.

• Going to school in the cities is becoming very costly and even stressful. Our children who attend school off reserve face many barriers and challenges when it come to school supplies, and other necessities needed to be successful. Technology is a huge factor for our kids and is required in most schools. We need to find ways to support that. Thigs, such as bus passes, vouchers, supplies, and access to recreational facilities to keep them active. These are things I want to put in place.

• We need to provide some level of assistance to our relatives who live off-reserve. The cost of housing/living off reserve is getting higher all the time. Rents go up every year. I want to have a discussion with the off-reserve people on ways we can make something happen to support them from falling on hard times.

OFF-RESERVE MEMBERS REQUIRE ASSISTANCE AS WELL.

OFF RESERVE CHILDREN NEED SUPPORT FOR WELLNESS. I want to look at expanding current mental health services to off reserve, by creating partnerships with proper mental health supports in the urban areas.

For many years we have had problems with the way we govern ourselves…and this needed to be corrected for our nation to move forward in a good way…

• While all other First Nations around us are prospering, Ocean Man is SUFFERING.

• WE ARE FALLING BEHIND ALL OTHER FIRST NATIONS IN SASKATCHEWAN & CANADA

• This is why we need a change in direction…The right direction…

• We need to provide input to the future of the Nation, we need our voices heard.

• THEREFORE, WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY WE GOVERN OURSELVES AND OUR AFFAIRS

• I WANT TO DRIVE A NEW PARTICAPATORY GOVERNANCE MODEL WHICH WILL INCLUDE ALL INPUT FROM THE MEMBERSHIP.

• WE WILL ACHIEVE THIS THROUGH SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE COUNCIL

• TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY

o To create TRUST, If I am elected, We will remove the Chief & Council as cheque signers of any band accounts.

o OCEAN MAN IS THE ONLY FIRST NATION IN SASKATCHEWAN WHERE ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE RUNNING PROGRAMS AS MANAGERS.

o YOU DIDN’T ELECTED PROGRAM MANAGERS.

o YOU ELECTED SOMEONE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR RIGHTS AND YOUR GRANDCHILDREN’S RIGHTS

o Leadership’s job is to advocate for our Rights, and to secure more services and resources to bring more supports to our people, not to run a program.

o WE WILL ESTABLISH A FINANCE & AUDIT COMMITTEE made up of Band Members to ensure proper financial health and integrity of the nations financial resources by proper Budgeting & Financial Planning, Financial Reporting, Policy Development, and Investment Oversight.

o We will hire a qualified Director of Operations to take over the running of the Nation administration.

o WE will hire a qualified Director of Finance to run the financial operations of the Nation without direct interference from any member of Chief & Council.

o WE will hire properly qualified Program Managers to run our programs.

o Ocean Man will need to expand transparency by allowing Band Members to review any financial reports, and all financial reports will be accessible to the membership.

o All Plans, Financial Reports, and other critical information for our Nation will be in a membership portal on a new website.

o

• STRATEGIC PLANNING

o Ocean Man hasn’t had a Strategic Plan in many years. We need to renew this…we ALL need input on the future of our children…

o Every government in the world has a plan, but Ocean Man does not.

o The Council will Lead the Strategic Planning process,

o WE need to create a long-term plan, which will include the voices of our youth!

Handing control to citizens with the skills to advance our causes.  Boards and committees will ensure we are transparent and accountable by letting the people lead because the people will share amongst each other.

I begin by developing or strengthening these types committees and boards for the follow areas to start:

• Health Committee

• Governance Committee

• Finance and Administration Committee

• Prevention Committee

• Education & Training Committee

• Elder’s Committee

• Economic Development Board

• To ensure we have a participatory process, we will create a LANGUAGE & CULTURE COMMITTEE which will provide input and recommendations to the Council on the development and implementation of the future of our Nation and the security that our language and culture provides us in our territory, and around the world.

• To ensure our Lands & Resources are properly being managed, we will create a LANDS & RESOURCES COMMITTEE

• To provide oversight of land purchasing, work with a First Nation Lands Manager, and to protect our resources in our territories from predatory resource extractors.

• The Lands & Resources Committee will be comprised of Band Members who have knowledge of our lands and resources to ensure maximum results.

Using fair policies that we all agree upon.  Ensuring we hire qualified people for jobs. Keeping our staff certified in their careers with training and other professional development opportunities.  

WE WILL IMMEDIATELY:

• Wage, Compensation & Salary Review and Adjustments as required

• Education and Training Plans for staff capacity development

• Policy for Staffing, Retention and Development for developing long-term careers

Ocean Man has never had a website EVER.

• We will make sure that the new website includes content which will be Modern, and functional for this day and age.

• MODERNIZATION:

o WE can also use other communication platforms such as a App we can use for communications, so we are all in touch with up-to-date happenings of our Nation.

o Access to Information: All available information that a member needs will be available online through a website members portal.

o NO MORE FORMS! – Why are we still filling out forms and using fax machines!

o DIRECT DEPOSITS – The days of making cheques out will be gone. It is such a struggle now to get fuds from the band. We will move towards Direct Deposits for all band member transactions!

o Social Assistance Clients will receive direct deposits as well…

Effective communication is vital for First Nations communities to share their vision, engage with members, and interact with external stakeholders. We can benefit from resources such as the First Nations Communications Toolkit. It is a valuable resource providing comprehensive guidance on various aspects of communication, including planning, media relations, community engagement, and the use of social media. We could use strategies such as these to help modernize Ocean Man and give our entire nation a voice!

Key components of effective communication include:

• Clear Messaging: Developing and delivering messages that are easily understood and resonate with the citizens of OceanMan.

• Community Engagement: Actively involving citizens in discussions and decision-making processes.

• Cultural Sensitivity: Ensuring that communication respects and reflects the cultural values and traditions of our Nation.

• Band Meetings play a crucial role in the life of a Nation. Band Meetings allow for Information sharing, Problem solving, decision making, and fostering new ideas. These meetings also provide a way for leadership to be ACCOUNTABLE to the people in a direct way. Under the current Chief, we have never had band meetings. This will change under my leadership.

• WE WILL HAVE BAND MEETINGS…

o First Band Meeting I would like to have will be SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2025

o THE 2nd Band Meeting will be tentatively schedule for SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2025

o We will also have annual Band Meeting for Annual reviews and Audit Meeting.

o We will also move towards having band meeting access through video technologies such as Zoom or Teams.

o We will create a process, so information is communicated before hand to ensure everyone has the knowledge they need to go into the meeting. I am a firm believer in Free, Prior and Informed consent. We each need to take this responsibility to heart.

• CHIEF & COUNCIL MEETINGS:

o I will work with the new council to establish a regular occurring schedule of Council Meetings, at a minimum of at least once a month, if not more wen required.

o These meetings will allow for membership observation, as well as any member wishing to address the council to review any matters not able to be addressed by administration.

o I would like to see a full Year of meetings posted in advance…

• COMMITTEE & BOARD MEETINGS

o All of the sub-committees under the Band Council will also have a set of regularly posted meeting dates throughout the year. These meetings as well will be posted in advance.

To ensure our Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Vulnerable Personal & Disabled members are well cared for, I am proposing to develop and hire a “ELDERS ADVOCATE” to monitor and protect our Elders to ensure proper rights are being enforced, and ensure proper benefits from the government are implemented for them, and that we assist them in navigating the online world from threats and scams, and to protect from Elder Abuse and neglect.

Elders will also be given the opportunity to participate in Elder/Knowledge Keeper Events, provincially and nationally, as well as be Elder Representatives in ALL SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE BAND COUNCIL.

WE NEED ELDER KNOWLEDGE & OVERSIGHT AT ALL OUR MEETINGS

• Over the next few years, we will have several Elders and Knowledge Keepers who will be looking to come home to retire.

• As the younger generation, it is our responsibility to ensure that they have a good place to come home too.

• ELDERS who live on reserve have always been take care of, by way of Rent, Power & Energy bills paid.

• Our Elders are Our Elders regardless of where they live.

• WE will develop a policy for fair and equitable payments of utility bills for all elders regardless of where they live. These are our Parents & Grandparents. They need to be respected and cared for.

To ensure we have a participatory process, we will create a LANGUAGE & CULTURE COMMITTEE which will provide input and recommendations to the Council on the development and implementation of the future of our Nation and the security that our language and culture provides us in our territory, and around the world.

o The Ocean Man Youth Conference will be held annually. The conference will contain a number of topics which will be discussed including how drugs impact them, understanding of intergenerational trauma, good mental health, etc.

o The youth of Ocean Man should be also able to participate in other youth conferences around the province. WE are all related.

Youth leadership council

o Create a leadership program for youth to actively participate in the community through advisory committees, mentorship programs, pre-employment programs and actively acquire knowledge for leadership through western and traditional experiences.

Housing will soon become one of our biggest challenges moving forward.

• The way housing on reserve is allocated is COMPLETELY UNFAIR TO MEMBERSHIP.

• To help with proper planning of our housing assets, we will establish a HOUSING COMMITTEE who will work with a new Housing Manager which will be hired to manage our housing assets, and to ensure safe and secure housing for our Nation.

• A new housing policy will need to be developed, implemented in a fair manner.

• There will be a great demand for housing due to our aging population, the rising cost of home ownership, and renting, and the rising price in the economy including groceries, fuel, etc. This puts pressure on everyone.

• Those living off the reserve over the age of 50 will be looking to come home to retire within the next 10 years.

• This means to meet this demand, we need to build at least 100 new homes over the next 10 years just to meet current and future demand. This is 10 new home builds/year.

o Current Health program offerings can be further expanded to include an increase in mental health supports.

o Mental Health and Wellness is one of the major root causes of family breakdown, addictions, community violence (physical & lateral), and child apprehension.

o Currently, one counselor attends the community at least every 2 weeks. This needs to be dramitcally increased to provide counseling, but in a more private and practical way. Some members do not want to be seen walking into the health dept to see a counselor, so a more private meeting space will be reviewed.

NNADAP

o one on one counseling,

o Awareness days

o Men’s support group

o Treatment and detox referrals

OUTH HEALTH & WELL BEING / INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

• INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

o We need to have our youth help us in determining the future. The future belongs to them. To ensure they have input, I am proposing a Ocean Man Youth Conference to take place, this includes youth from on and off reserve.

o At this meeting we will gain valuable feedback from our youth…

o This feedback will then be incorporated into the larger COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY PLAN in cyles of 5, 10 and 20 year planning horizons.

o It is the youth who will be leading us into a future they helped design.

We know that drugs are in our community, and this needs to be deal with quickly..

• This is a drug epidemic, and it is killing our people

• In addition to the regular Health and Education programming on Illegal drugs and its effects, we need to do more…

• Some of the ways I want to eliminate the illegal drugs from our Nation is to;

o Adapt a LONGTERM Drug Action Strategy Plan, including expanding and increasing Mental health supports to ALL members regardless of on or off reserve.

o Further examine and review current mental health supports and expand and increase those as well, including online support and virtual counseling directly to the client.

o Work with Fillmore RCMP and their senior officials to provide more of a presence in the community…This may include giving them a small office space to work from if needed…

o If we need more police presence, I will engage with the File Hills Police Service to expand their reach into our Nation. FHPS currently comes as far south as Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation.

o Install Video Cameras to record unknown license plates coming in and out of our community

o WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN…

o At the Band Meting on SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2025 The membership will have input on what further we should do to deal with the drug problem in our community

 Should we BAN members from the reserve?

 Should we board up the houses like many other Nations are doing to take a hard stance against the drug problem?

Economic development focuses on creating a sustainable and self-sufficient economy within the Ocean Man Nakoda Nation. This involves leveraging natural resources, cultural assets, and innovative business practices to foster growth and prosperity.

Key areas of economic development include:

• Resource Management: Utilizing land, water, and other natural resources in a sustainable manner to generate revenue and employment.

• Entrepreneurship: Encouraging and supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs through training, funding, and mentorship programs.

• Infrastructure Development: Investing in essential infrastructure such as transportation, communication, and energy systems to support economic activities.

• Cultural Tourism: Promoting Indigenous culture and heritage through tourism initiatives that create jobs and preserve traditions.

We can work with organizations and governments to leverage funds for projects the Nation could take advantage of.

WE WILL HAVE SERIES OF MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS TO BRING OUR ELDERS TOGETHER AS WELL AS HIGHLY RESPECTED KNOWLEDGE KEEPERS FROM ACROSS THE TERRITORY TO SPEAK ABOUT TREATY AND TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR TERRITORY, INHERENT RIGHTS, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.

We need to ensure that our future generations have the required knowledge of their rights. There are many rights that are people have been given by the Creator, our ancestors, mothers and the Treaties we entered.

All Nation members need to learn and understand our past, present, and future and how we shape these things moving forward for the protection of those rights.

WE NEED TO REFRESH OUR KNOWLEDGE

WE NEED TO PROTECT OURSELVES

ALL OF US NEED TO HAVE A SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF:

• Creator given Rights

• Inherent Rights

• Treaty Rights

• Crown Rights

• Canadian Rights