Community Workshops

Essentials of First Nations Financial Management

Workshop goals & topics

Sound financial management is crucial to the success of First Nations economic development and to protect wealth for future generations.

AFOA BC has created a financial management workshop to give First Nations leaders and financial managers a solid knowledge of financial planning and control. The two-day program reviews essential skills of financial management—using exercises, examples and updates on new accounting requirements. Participants will learn about:
 

• Management principles – Review the underlying principles of financial planning and
  control in First Nations operations
• Accounting cycles – Learn about accounting cycles and activities for First Nations
• Finance roles and responsibilities – Understand the roles of First Nations leaders and the
  finance department in financial organization, planning and control
• Fund and business accounting – Learn the differences in fund and business accounting
  and when fund accounting is appropriate
• Financial management reports – Understand internal and external financial reporting
  requirements, and how to read statements to assess financial standing
• Auditors – Examine the auditor’s role, process and fees

First Nations Strategic Planning & Community Development

Workshop goals & topics

Strategic planning underpins successful First Nations community development, self-sufficiency and prosperity.
AFOA BC has developed a strategic planning workshop to foster community development among First Nations. The two-day program defines strategic planning terminology, explains how to engage people in the community, and uses a case study to help First Nations develop and implement a strategic plan focused on health, economic development and/or housing.
Participants will learn about:

• Creating a strategic plan – Find out how to develop your strategic vision, directions, goals and action plan—using a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) to assess your community/organization—and engage community stakeholders in the process
• Evaluating progress – Discover how to identify key performance indicators, track and measure progress, and report back on developments to stakeholders
• Modifying the strategic plan – Learn how to update your strategic plan, based on
  findings from the evaluation process
• Identifying resources – Determine the resources required to make your strategic plan a reality, including funding for capacity building, the planning process and implementation

First Nations Financial Fitness

Workshop goals & topics

First Nations citizens face complex financial issues and need knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed decisions.
AFOA BC has developed a workshop and handbook—Financial Fitness: Your Guide for Getting Healthy, Wealthy and Wise—to empower First Nations to become financially literate. The two day program reviews key areas of financial knowledge and management. Participants will learn about:

• Financial literacy – Learn how being financially fit supports informed financial choices to meet basic needs and plan for the future
• Managing money – Find out about potential income sources, expenses, and how to save money
• Budgets and banking – Discover the difference between needs and wants, how to create a budget, how to organize and track spending, and how to use different bank accounts
• Family matters – Review how to talk to your partner and family about money
• Credit –  Learn what’s good and bad about credit cards, how to get out of credit card debt,
  and how prepaid credit cards work
• Tax returns –  Discover how to file a tax return, tax credits and benefits

First Nations Economic Development Corporations

Workshop goals & topics

This workshop outlines the process of starting a First Nations Economic Development Corporation. It outlines key steps, players, roles and responsibilities, policy, HR, taxation structures. It further highlights best practices in law and governance. Finally, the workshop outlines how to prioritize projects, examines the project management process and monitoring financial assets. Here is what you will learn:
 

• Why an Economic Development Corporation?
• Vision and Mandate
• Legal overview
• Structure
• Functions – HR, operations, finance, marketing and governance
• Board strategy
• Link to lands management

First Nations Human Resource Planning

Workshop goals & topics

HR planning involves the development of a clear and practical strategy to ensure that First Nations communities and organizations have the right people at the right time in the right jobs all working together to achieve the vision, mission and goals. HR done right can achieve this outcome.
Participants will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the following principles:

1. A basic understanding of the 19 Key Responsibility Areas (KRA’s) generally supported by HR
2. A detailed examination of the first three KRAs:
   1. Vision, Mission, Values, Symbolism -– Your Why/Intention = Culture
   2. Culture as it pertains to Organizational and Community
   3. HR Strategy
3. An understanding of HR Strategy and a solid first draft HR Strategic Plan

First Nations Financial Governance and Planning for Chief & Council

Workshop goals & topics

Often, when community leaders are elected, they bring a passion for politics and knowledge of community strengths and challenges. Basic financial literacy skills and a comprehensive understanding of their financial responsibilities (as they relate to
governance, budgeting, reporting, planning, trust funds) are necessary for this important work. This 1-day workshop is designed to help Chief and Council with their nderstanding of complex financial issues and gain knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed decisions. Participants will learn:
 

• What is financial literacy and why is it important for Chief and Council
• Financial literacy from an Aboriginal context
• Planning and where finances fit in
• Planning and reporting responsibilities
• Balance sheets and budgets
• Chief and Council Responsibilities
• Contribution Agreements
• Reporting Requirements
• Corporate Responsibility with a FN Development Corporation
• Understanding not-for profit entities and business entities
• How FN communities can use these as mechanisms to meet their economic development needs