EXPERIENCE

Executive Director Confederacy of Mainland Micmacs:
December 6, 1985 to January 8/94. Confederacy of Mainland Micmacs, Millbrook Reserve, Truro NS

Founding Executive director of CMM. I devised and registered the organization's constitution and bylaws and wrote and implemented the policies and directives required for its management and operation. Also drafted personnel and financial policies, job descriptions, and all other necessary tenets and procedures deemed necessary to operate a professional organization efficiently and productively.

Duties included: the management of the organization, i.e. setting up and overseeing accounting procedures, budgeting, planning, negotiating for the assumption of control by CMM of programs from federal government departments and the establishment of methods to insure the timely and professional delivery of these services to Mi'kmaq communities. Supervised 25 professional and nonprofessional staff, including individuals who held degrees, or other professional designations in such variable fields as finance, technical services, planning, band government, economic development, education, and land claims research. The budget of the Organization during my term of office averaged four million dollars per fiscal year.

I liaised and negotiated on behalf of the Confederacy, its Band Councils and individual Band Members, with federal and provincial government ministers and their staffs, and officials of other private and public entities for funding, resolution of aboriginal rights issues, related legal problems, etc.

The organization's annual audits, as per the requirements of the Nova Scotia Societies Act and the terms of contractual arrangements with funding agencies, was carried out by chartered accountants. During my term of office the opinions expressed by the Confederacy's auditors were unqualified and the organization was in the black at the conclusion of each fiscal year. The overall performance of the organization was rated by Indian Affairs and by many peer groups as one of the best in Canada.

Also, during my term, I founded and published the Micmac/Maliseet Nations News. Distribution; 4,000 copies monthly - readership, approximately 25,000. In addition to publishing duties I wrote editorials for the paper and much of its copy.

Founded and was Chief Executive Officer of the Mainland Micmacs Development Corporation. What I consider the proudest accomplishment of this endeavour is that I, in conjunction with the Confederacy's legal council, worked out a Constitution for the Development Corporation that makes all the members of the Bands associated with the Confederacy, during their lifetimes, the shareholders.

Founded and became president of the Micmac Heritage Gallery. The Gallery was located on Barrington Street in Halifax and specialized in retailing the labours of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq artists and crafts persons. It also retailed the artistic efforts of Native American producers from across Canada and the United States, and,

performed other related duties, such as a public relations spokesperson for the organization and band councils, as required by the Board of Directors

Employed with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Developmentin various positions from July 1971 to December 5,1986 as follows:

District Superintendent of Reserves, Trusts, and Statutory Requirements, March 1981 to December 1986:

Was given the mandate to set up a Reserves and Trusts component in the District office in 1981. With this accomplished by midyear I directed and administered the operation by,

Preparing job descriptions, retaining, training and supervising staff.

Identifying financial and human resources required for the ongoing operation and administration of the Program.

Preparing work plans and operational plans for the future delivery of the Program to Bands.

Overseeing the day to day activities of the Program.

Ensuring that the Crown's, trust responsibility to manage Indian Reserve and other land and legal matters with Indian interests, including renewable and non-renewable resources, was addressed in a competent and judicious manner.

Ensuring that responsibilities pertaining to Indian estates, Band membership and statutory requirements were diligently attended to.

Identifying staff training requirements for the Program and acquiring resources to meet the need.

Providing departmental interpretation of the Indian Act and regulations listed thereunder to interested parties and staff.

Attending and participating in meetings with Band Councils, Band staff, First Nation organizations, provincial, municipal and federal government departments and so on for the purpose of resolving problems encountered when enforcing the provisions of the Indian Act (trespass, removal of materials, etc.) and the protection of the First Nation lifestyle and environment.

A/District Superintendent for Band Operation:

Directed, administered, and controlled the local government functions of the district office. Supervised the local government Program staff.

Identified financial and human resources needed for funding and implementing programs at the Band level.

Allotted and delivered funds to the Bands for the ongoing provision of services provided for under contribution arrangements and agreements.

Estimated the human and financial resources required for ongoing transactions of the Band Operations Program by preparing five years administrative and operational work plans.

Performed all the requirements for the present and future operation of the Program.

A/District Manager:

Required to act as District Manger on numerous occasions supervising the activities of 59 professional and nonprofessional employees.

Local Government Advisor:

Assisted and advised Bands on methods they could use in overcoming procedural red tape when assuming administrative control of departmental programs. Also provided them with advice in how to implement and apply the principals of sound local government practices in their government systems and operations. Assisted and advised Bands and individuals in the art of preparing proposals for the acquisition of funds from other departments and agencies (ie: CEIC, CMHC programs, etc.)

Assisted and advised Bands in preparing,

Annual contribution budgets.
Personnel policies and job descriptions.
Band By-Laws.
Housing proposals, policing proposals, and, other matters pertaining to Band local government.

Acted as electoral officer for band elections and referendums, participated in surrender and de-surrender meetings, advised both Band Councils and members in the application of the provisions of the Indian Act and in regards to their rights and obligations thereunder.

Advised and assisted departmental personnel with preparing yearly estimates of financial resources needed by Band governments to provide their communities with basic services. And, interpreted and explained to Bands and their membership the revolving changes in departmental programs, policies, procedures, and resources.

In this position I acquired extensive experience in counselling and assisting individuals in their efforts to resolve housing, education, social, child care, legal, and at one time or another just about any problem an individual can encounter.

Also, in this position I was required on many occasions to assume the duties of Band Financial Advisor - performing Band audits and providing assistance to Band Councils in finding ways to resolve financial problems.

While occupying this position, I co-administered the affairs of the second largest Band in Nova Scotia for fourteen months. The Band had a deficit of approximately $200,000 when I assumed administration responsibility. When control was returned to the Band Council the deficit was wiped out and the Band was in a surplus position. This turnarounds was accomplished by restructuring purchasing practices, tendering for goods and services, negotiating with large suppliers for the best possible prices on a long term basis, and implementing new bookkeeping practices and administrative controls such as the McBee system, telephone usage controls, etc. CMHC.'s RRAP. was fully utilized and 80 homes were renovated. While the renovations were being carried out eight new homes were completed. The generally excellent cooperation and assistance of the Band Council, Band staff and Band members were very instrumental in achieving success. Tripartite Officer, Union of Nova Scotia Indians:

During a three-month leave of absence from the Department, acted as liaison officer for the Union. Participated in negotiations and other exchanges with federal, provincial and municipal governments, their agencies, and also private organizations and businesses.

Economic Development Officer:

Assisted Band councils and Band members in preparing and assessing the viability of loan applications, and provided advice to aspiring entrepreneurs on how to apply sound business practices and procedures.

Senior Financial Clerk:

Responsibilities included: reconciling monthly computer statements and imprest accounts, preparing vouchers and maintaining batch control, etc. Also was required to perform Band audits, set up bookkeeping systems for Band council operations, and review Band financial and administration activities.

During my first year with the Department I occupied several clerical positions, i.e. acquisitions and construction projects clerk.

1968 - 1971 Employed as Chief Bookkeeper with Non-Public Funds, CFB Stadacona, Halifax, Nova Scotia, supervised nine employees.

1968 - 1968 Construction company paymaster, prepared payroll for approximately 300, supervised three employees.

1967 - 1968 Attended upgrading courses in architectural drafting.

1965 - 1967 Employed as machine foreman for Moir's Limited, supervised 18 employee.

1962 - 1965 Employed as accountant and credit manager in a retail services operation.

1961 - 1962 Assistant Accountant with a meat packing operation. In this position was also required to perform cost accounting duties.

While filling the before mentioned positions, I acquired extensive experience in the accounting field. In two of them responsibilities included the preparation of monthly and annual financial statements. At Non Public Funds the accounting was accomplished with the use of bookkeeping machines. Separate financial statements were produced for each of the 27 different outlets, (restaurants, clubs, exchanges, etc.) that were part of the operation. The overall operation had a yearly cash flow of approximately $3.5 Million.

EDUCATION AND HOBBIES:

1947 - 1951 Indian Day School, Micmac Reserve, Shubenacadie.

1960 - 1961 Success Business College, Truro.

1961 - 1970 Various upgrading courses sponsored by CEIC. and Indian Affairs.

1970 Wrote and passed the Provincial exams for an equivalency high school diploma.

1971 - 1993 Have on an ongoing basis taken courses provided by the Federal Public Service Commission and other agencies to continually upgrade skills. The latest in 1993 in writing and editing procedures.

On an overall scale could best be described as self-educated.

I enjoy reading practically any type of book, and most any other kind of reading material, as a result I read profusely, when time permits.

Bowling, swimming, and walking are my favourite pastimes outside of working and reading.

SAMPLE OF PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:

The author of a best selling and prize winning major history on the confrontation between Mi'kmaq and European civilizations, We Were Not the Savages. The first such history ever written by a First Nation citizen.

While Executive Director of the Confederacy, with the able and professional assistance of the late Kathy Knockwood, established, what has been described by education professionals, "a first class post-secondary education Program." The rules and regulations of the Program that we developed have been adopted by many similar organizations across the country. After we implemented the Program the registration in post secondary education facilities of students from our six bands went from approximately 20 to more than 200 students within three years.

Started a collection of Mi'kmaq artifacts at the Confederacy offices in 1989 that include ancient arrowheads, axes, dolls, snowshoes, and so on.

Founded in 1991 the Micmac/Maliseet Nations News. Distribution when I retired was 4,000 copies monthly - readership, approximately 25,000. In addition to publishing duties I wrote editorials for the paper and much of its copy. The paper is still published.

Founded and was Chief Executive Officer of the Mainland Micmacs Development Corporation. I consider the proudest accomplishment of this endeavour to be that I, in conjunction with the Confederacy's legal council, worked out a Constitution for the Development Corporation that makes all the members of the Bands associated with the Confederacy, during their lifetimes, the shareholders.

Founded and became president of the Micmac Heritage Gallery. The Gallery was located on Barrington Street in Halifax and specialized in retailing the labours of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq artists and crafts persons. It also retailed the artistic efforts of Native American producers from across Canada and the United States.

As district Superintendent of Reserves and Trusts:

I took the lead role in overcoming the bureaucratic nightmare surrounding an addition to Yarmouth Indian Reserve. Also, I headed up the successful efforts to resolve, other reserve land addition matters, disputed right-of-ways of various natures, decades old estates, and so on.

Acquired road right-of-ways into reserves that had not been provided with such.

Resolved favourably on behalf of the Chapel Island and Millbrook Bands illegal encroachments by NS Power upon their respective reserves. Both Bands received considerable monetary compensation.

Instigated and headed up the successful effort to resolve the Afton Band's 170 year old Summerside property claim. The property is now a Reserve.

Worked for 11 years on the project which saw the Pictou Landing Band's claim known as Boat Harbour mostly resolved. This claim centered around the use of the Harbour as a lagoon for the industrial waste spewing forth from the Scott Paper mill at Abercrombie. The Band eventually settled for $35 million plus.

My book, "We Were Not the Savages" published by Fernwood publishing, Halifax, October 1, 2000, relates in more detail the before mentioned.

During my term as Executive Director with the Confederacy I instigated a drive which raised funds for a new community centre for Indian Brook Reserve. During my stint as fund raiser we raised approximately $3 million. Since it opened, the Centre has become a major source of revenue for the band.

During my stint as Executive director of the Confederacy I started a trust fund which was set up for the specific purpose of addressing the future legal requirements of the six Bands associated with the organization. When I retired from CMM in January of 1994, the fund had a balance of $140,000. This was the first undertaking of this nature by a Native band, or organization, in the Atlantic provinces.

Without remuneration, except for some travel expenses, have been featured in videos about the life and times of the Mi'kmaq and about anti racism procedures which were prepared by the Public Broadcasting T.V. station and by Mount Saint Vincent University, CBC. etc. In 2001 was featured in two videos, Growing Up Native by CBC and EASTERN TIDE “Expulsion and the Bounty Hunter” by Bear Paw Productions, in 2003 had a major role in another documentary entitled We Were Not the Savages, by Bear Paw.

Worked, and continue to work, with Native and minority groups to overcome racist practices and other forms of intolerance in Nova Scotia. The accomplishment that I'm most proud of is that I've lobbied successfully to have the names of buildings, roads and so on, named in honour of colonial officials that brutalized the Mi'kmaq, changed.

Established at my own expense an internet Email network that distributes to students, teachers, and the general public, across North America and worldwide, free of charge, historical information about First Nations, cultural events, etc.