To our members,
As Chief, I believe it is important to keep our members informed. That is the purpose of the community updates I continue to provide.
Some updates are positive and exciting. Others are more difficult because they involve challenges within our governance, administration, finances and human resources. I recognize that members have also witnessed conflict and disagreement at times.
Regardless of the negative comments that may come my way, I will continue to communicate with our people. As Chief, it is not to only to report the good news, it is also to communicate the difficult issues that require our attention.
I also want to remind everyone that our young people are watching us.
Everyone has the right to an opinion, and disagreement is part of any community. However, there is a difference between disagreeing with one another and allowing negativity to become harmful or divisive.
It is easy to form an opinion from the outside but following our ancestor’s way is that every person in a community must equally create a meaningful contribution toward improving our community not finding ways to tear each other down.
I also want to make something very clear.
When I provide a written update identifying an issue, concern or question that requires attention, the focus should be on the issue itself – not on the person communicating it. There is an important difference between making claims and providing factual written updates that can be supported by documentation, correspondence, and financial information.
I encourage the Councillors to take a professional approach to update members as well in an open public environment with accountability.
I also encourage our departments and managers to provide regular updates explaining what they are doing, what services are available, what improvements are underway, I think it is important that community sees in writing a financial work plan and workplan that demonstrates transparency.
Transparency should not belong to one person. Transparency should become part of the culture of our Nation.
One development I am particularly encouraged about is that we are moving into the final stage of hiring a high-level Human Resources Director.
This is important and I have stated on numerous occasions that governance and administration must have clearly defined and respected roles.
Chief and Council are responsible for governance, direction and accountability. Administration, managers and directors must be able to carry out their responsibilities professionally through established policies, procedures and proper administrative processes.
Governance should not be unnecessarily interfering in day-to-day administration, just as administration must remain accountable to the policies and direction properly established through governance.
A strong Human Resources Director can help us create that separation, strengthen accountability, establish consistent HR practices, address instability and provide professional support across the organization one of which is to ensure there is follow up on payroll accountability and a proper record of who is hired, there job descriptions, conditions and terms.
Our community requires financial accountability, professional administration, strong human-resource systems and good governance. And most importantly, it requires people who are willing to contribute to solutions.
We will not always agree. We do not have to, but disagreement should never prevent us from doing the work necessary to make our community stronger.
I believe our people deserve more, and I will continue working toward the stability, accountability and opportunities our people deserve.
WITHOUT PREJUDICE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Chief Dwayne Blackbird
Ohkitchetah Assiginack
(Riding Mountain Band)