Atlantic Aboriginal Economic Development Officers receive Professional Certification

25 October 2007
MONCTON, New Brunswick

The Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) recognized 20 members of the Atlantic Aboriginal Economic Developers Network during a ceremony held in Kamloops, British Columbia earlier today.

The Aboriginal Economic Development Officers have successfully completed a three-year professional certification program developed according to criteria from CANDO. The prestigious CANDO designation provides certification as either Professional Aboriginal Economic Developer or Technician Aboriginal Economic Developer and indicates achievement of a performance standard recognized and acknowledged throughout Canada. The certification ceremony, held during CANDO’s 14th Annual National Conference and Annual General Meeting, acknowledged the accomplishments of 61 Aboriginal Economic Development Officers from across Canada.“The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is committed to helping Aboriginal people and communities gain the knowledge and leadership skills needed to ensure they continue to play an active role in the economic growth of our region,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). “This training program is part of a long-term strategy to help strengthen economies of Aboriginal communities in the region. I want to congratulate the program’s participants on their achievements.”

The program was coordinated by the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs (APC) and funding of more than $558,000 for the three-year initiative was provided through ACOA’s Business Development Program. The goal of the program is to have a professionally certified economic development officer working in every First Nations community in Atlantic Canada.

“The skills acquired through this program will help increase community leadership capacity in Atlantic Canada’s Aboriginal communities,” noted Chief Lawrence Paul, Co- Chair, APC. “Candidates will be better equipped to provide First Nations Chiefs with the best advice and most current and accurate information on issues, policies, initiatives and programs affecting Atlantic Aboriginals,” added Chief Noah Augustine, Co-Chair, APC.

The APC is a non-profit organization mandated to research, analyze and develop alternatives to federal policies. Members include 37 Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy and Innu Chiefs from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Maine, USA.

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INFORMATION:

Rose May Gallant
Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-851-3034

John Paul
Executive Director
Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs
902-435-8021

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MEDIA BACKGROUNDER

The Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO)’s Certified Aboriginal Economic Developer Program provides certification as either professional economic development officers or technicians.

The Technician Aboriginal Economic Developer (TAED) designation involves training in 16 competency areas including impact analysis and assessment, marketing, community based research methods, and contemporary Aboriginal development approaches and issues.

The Professional Aboriginal Economic Developer (PAED) certification adds three components to the certification process: completion of a one-week Professional Development module on leadership, ethics, community values, and other selected topics, two years of work experience in Aboriginal economic development, and a final research paper or case study which addresses issues related to Aboriginal economic development.

Members of the Atlantic Aboriginal Economic Developers Network who have successfully completed their certification include:

NEW BRUNSWICK • Joanna Bernard – Madawaska Maliseet First Nation, PAED • Anita Boyle – Metepenagiag First Nation, PAED • James Denny Jr. – Eel Ground First Nation, PAED • Lynn Francis – Elsipogtog First Nation, PAED • Richard (Jackie) Francis – Kingsclear First Nation, PAED • Penny Polchies – St. Mary’s First Nation, PAED

NOVA SCOTIA • Louis Joe Bernard – Waycobah First Nation, PAED • Deborah Dykstra – Pictou Landing First Nation, PAED • Lisa Francis – Acadia First Nation, TAED • Eric Googoo – Waycobah First Nation, TAED • Jim Hepworth – Millbrook First Nation, PAED • Joe Johnson – Eskasoni First Nation, PAED • Kevin Johnson – Chapel Island First Nation, PAED • Stan Johnson – Eskasoni First Nation, TAED • Rose Julian – Paq’tnkek First Nation, TAED • Nancy MacDonald – Wagmatcook First Nation, PAED • Tracy Menge – Eskasoni First Nation, PAED • David Nevin – Shubenacadie First Nation, PAED

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR • Leander Baikie – Nunatsiavut Government, PAED

QUEBEC • Tim Dedam – Listuguj First Nation, PAED

In addition, the following non-member candidates have also successfully completed their certification: • Lindsay Marshall – Chapel Island First Nation, Nova Scotia, PAED • Roxanne Notley – Port Hope Simpson First Nation, Newfoundland and Labrador, PAED