In an effort to develop a governance structure, the Urban Aboriginal Voices Society is holding a conference looking for input from a wide cross-section of Red Deer’s aboriginal community.
“It’s a consultation with the aboriginal community,” said Phyllis Redcalf, urban aboriginal voices interim leadership committee co-ordinator.
“We’re trying to establish the domain groups and the speaker from each domain group and our objectives.”
The society aims to meet regularly with different levels of government to create dialogue, action and funding for issues affecting urban aboriginals.
Aboriginal people throughout the community are invited to the event, Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to discuss the development of the society’s governance structure and the goals and objectives of each domain within it.
The governance structure has domains as groups representing housing, education, health, employment, youth and family, justice and community healing centre.
Each domain will decide on a speaker who will meet with each other, as well as the speakers from the Women’s counsel, elders counsel and youth counsel, as well as a male and female representative.
This leadership circle is where the consensus decision-making process takes place.
These speakers will work with each other to discuss decision making.
Redcalf said an important part to this for the society is consensus building on ideas.
“It’s the way we hope it will work,” said Redcalf. “That is how they make decisions within the group.”
Redcalf said the different domains would work to benefit aboriginals in Central Alberta in their various needs such as housing, education, employment opportunities or health.
“To be able to voice our community priorities and the things that are important to aboriginal people in our community,” said Redcalf.
Another part of the conference has Scott Ward coming to lead an entrepreneurship workshop for youth aged 14 to 24. The workshop starts at 1 p.m.
To register for the event, call Phyllis Redcalf at 403-340-0020 or email aboriginalvoices@rdfns.com.
mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com