Capacity Development
In 1993, the federal human rights commission concluded that Canada’s Innu policy was discriminatory. Fifty years of that policy had resulted in lack of access to programs and services open to other First Nations; a situation that Canada was to correct. Lack of access to programs and services open to other First Nations, however, also meant that Innu communities had no experience in managing community-based programs and services as other First Nations had done for decades. As a result, building Innu capacity to manage these programs and services has become a priority.
Our biggest capacity development success has been in education services which was achieved by developing Innu staff and purchasing external expertise. As a result, the Innu education system has seen far greater success than provincial education services had previously. Presently, the Innu are developing capacity by working with federal and provincial counterparts to develop skills, abilities, and experience in social services before these on-reserve services will be managed by the Innu. These efforts are being coordinated primarily through devolution committees of the Innu Round Table (IRT).
Innu Nation, our local governments, and other Innu organizations are all building the skills needed to address past problems and move toward successful self-government. The IRT is contributing to these efforts with a range of capacity projects and initiatives, including managing and coordinating most of the Health Capacity program funds provided by Health Canada since 2012. One of the initiatives that is currently underway emerged in response to senior Innu staff requesting training for their ever increasing management and administrative roles. This need is being addressed through a two-year certified training course designed and delivered by the University of PEI, and is being coordinated and complemented by ongoing coaching advice from an experienced First Nation manager.