Newfoundland
ALLIANCE of Rural Mi’kmaw Nations
NARMN
-Chief
Executive Officer, of the Flat Bay Band Inc. (No’kmaw Village)
Liz LaSaga-MacNeil
Oct. 24th, 2021
Definition
of ALLIANCE by Meriam Webster Dictionary
1.
A. The state
of being allied: the action of allying nations in close partnership
bonds
B.
A bond or connection between families, states, governments,
communities, parties, or individuals
C.
An association to further the common interests of
the members specifically: a confederation of nations by treaty the Alliance
of Western nations
D.
A union by relationship in qualities or
characteristics leading to affinity: a feeling
of closeness and understanding that someone has for another person because of
their similar qualities, ideas, or interests
E.
A treaty of Alliance
Why is NARMN not
Incorporated or have By-laws?
NARMN is NOT an organization; nor is it supposed
to be a formal corporation. NARMN is a RELATIONSHIP. It is the
relationship of the identified Mi’kmaw, rural community bands on the island
portion of Newfoundland; each showing their support and friendship for one
another (being allies of each other and for one another). The NARMN mantra
is “Being a Good Relative.”
The Representatives of NARMN are the Chiefs of
those bands. The bands who are allied through NARMN are
supposed to be incorporated themselves and have their own by-laws. These
formalities do not then exist through NARMN.
Having By-Laws & a Constitution for NARMN are
NOT possible. NARMN is not incorporated; it is not an
organization. Thus, NARMN does not need these formal documents. At “most” NARMN
may need an operational Memorandum of Understanding shared amongst its allies. Having
a Terms of Refence document seems to be a little more than is needed, but I did
agree to create that document because Chief Mildred Lavers and former Chief Greg
Janes insisted on it. However, I’ve not completed this document to date. That’s
on me, but I have been impossibly busy. However, since we are allies, it does
not have to fall on solely me to complete this document. At any time, one of
the other allies, especially those who insist upon its creation, could have helped and completed a draft for us all to edit/approve. Now
that these two Chiefs are not a part of NARMN, I will do up a Memorandum of
Understanding which satisfies the current band Chiefs who remain involved as allies
and good relatives.
The concept of NARMN is not to be over-assimilated. We try to
stay true in keeping the Mi’kmaw vision of being a good relative and
to not be constantly pressing the white man’s organizational and operational rules
upon one another, unless they are legally necessary.
WHO IS NARMN?
The allies in NARMN are:
1)
Flat Bay Band Inc. – Chief
Joanne Miles
2)
St. Georges Band Inc. –
Chief Rhonda Sheppard
3)
Benoit First Nation Inc– Chief
Jasen Benwah
4)
Three Rivers Mi’kmaw Band Inc. – Chief
Peggy White
5)
Burgeo Mi’kmaw Band –
Chief Elaine Ingram
Who is the Spokesperson
of NARMN?
Me, Liz LaSaga-MacNeil, Chief Executive Officer of the Flat
Bay Band Inc.
Other Assistants
The Flat Bay Band staff help the other NARMN Chiefs and bands
with things they are not experienced in or sure of. We have been very giving
and helpful. When there have been proposals written to include NARMN bands, the
NARMN bands were asked specifically whether they wished to participate in each beforehand.
This could be NARMN – affiliated opportunities on individual, band, and/or
regional levels.
WHO is SEVEN SHORES?
The rural Chiefs in the region first came together
in 2018 and we were going to call ourselves Seven Shores Nations. At this
time, the 7th party would have been Indian Head
First Nation band. However, I am not sure that everyone realizes Indian
Head never did end up joining our alliance.
Furthermore, as we are an Alliance of “Identified” and “Rural”
Mi’kmaw bands, it was hard for us to define Indian Head as a RURAL community,
outside of Mattis Point, as it encompasses Stephenville & Stephenville
Crossing (and the surrounding areas). It’s a bit of a grey area, for us.
Since we started up with 6 bands instead of 7, the title Seven
Shores did not work. We renamed our relationship as the Newfoundland ALLIANCE
of Rural Mi’kmaw Nations, because that says exactly what we are.
How is the NARMN name
used?
Outside of direct partnership on proposals, the NARMN name can
be used by any Chief/band/ally to strengthen their activities, movements, and proposals.
Having an alliance with NARMN demonstrates that you have good comradery in your
overall community and strengthens EVERYTHING you do. Inclusion in NARMN is not
just for proposals. Its good all the way around, especially if there is a
specific violation of our rights that we must stand together on. But even in
proposal writing, there are a few ways to use the NARMN name.
Example 1 – If the Burgeo Mi’kmaw Band wants
to do a proposal on their own, and don’t need any of the NARMN bands to be
involved, they can still strengthen their proposal for themselves by noting in
the requested Applicant Background & Expertise that they are a part of
NARMN. This shows the funder that they have allies and supporters, and are continually
increasing skills, capacity, partnerships and
experience. It ranks the rural band quite a few notches up under the funder’s
assessment for background and experience.
Example 2 – If the Benoit First Nation
wants to do a proposal in partnership with one, all, or any combination of the
other NARMN band allies, the process is to send a proposal concept to the
Chiefs of NARMN and request for a letter of support for the proposal. The
concept will explain what the project is about, what is expected of their
partnership, and if any funds are to be given financially or in-kind to the
partner for project services. It is up to the band(s) invited to partner to
question, accept, or deny participation or affiliation. Should the proposal be
approved, it is commonly changed with funds reduced by funders and if so, those
changes of funds, activities, and/or contributions are communicated to the
partners of NARMN who are involved with the given project.
Example 3 – Anytime a band writes up
anything, they can refer to the NARMN relationship, because it is a TRUE
relationship based on alliance. If the St. George’s band is going to bring an event
of cultural teachings to McKays, and they are not
specifically partnered with McKays on that particular project, they can still make reference to the
support they have with their ally the Three Rivers Mi’kmaw Band. They should
expect that if they bring their event to McKays that
their ally, Chief Peggy White and Council, will welcome them and gather their
people to take part. And they would!
ADMINISTRATIVE CONSULTING FUNDS &
ACCOUNATBILITY
There are no specific NARMN funds. They do not
exist. NARMN is not an organization and has nowhere to float funds.
That is impossible. Funds can only flow through the band who applies to be the
project sponsor.
Flat Bay Proposals that involve NARMN
It is only when the Flat Bay Band Inc. writes proposals that
span outside of Flat Bay community/membership, that we reach out to the bands
of the areas that we wish to serve in the proposed project. We did tend to
partner more with the Bay St. George & South Bands. This is because 1)
Chief Lavers quit twice before this time and this has affected our confidence
in determining a stable partnership with her going forward and we did not want
to disrespect her. 2) When it’s a small fund, it is hard to serve the Northern
Peninsula as that area requires a large fund because of its distance and size.
As is required, when we write proposals under Flat Bay Inc., we
send the concept and request the letter of support from whomever of NARMN we wish
to partner with. If the funding is approved, we do what are supposed to
(Process explained in Example 2) in the partnership to be accountable and see
the project through.
If the Flat Bay Band or any band wants to do a program in any
other band community, we do not need that community band’s approval. Our own members
live all over the island and globe and in each others’ communities. They do not
just live in our own band communities. But it is just plain respect that we
request a relationship with the Band affiliated with that community, so they
are aware of the services we are bringing and so they can inform and refer
their members to take part.
When a project is approved.
The funds of a given project go directly from the funder to
the band that applied for the funds. Not every proposal has administrative
funds. But if they do, the band who applied for the standard 12-15% of the administrative
funds gets those monies. In some cases, they may have proposed the admin as an
in-kind contribution, which means that they will manage the project from their
own funds & resources. That band must be accountable to the funders, bookkeepers,
and auditors for the spending of the funds as per the funding agreement. If
another band happens to be a partner and happens to have some funds allocated
from the funding, then it is up to the sponsoring/funded Band to disperse the approved
funds to the partner band in exchange for the services, events, or activities
they are responsible for in that project.
No consulting fee has yet been paid to any Band Chief or
person affiliated with NARMN. Not that it can’t be or should not be, it just has
not happened thus far. So far, consulting fees have been expended to external
professionals required for given projects. .
FACEBOOK PRESENCE? THERE IS NONE FOR NARMN
NARMN is not an organization. Go to each band to see their
Facebook page. Again, NARMN is a RELATIONSHIP not an organization.
Funding – Who’s Business is it?
While the Flat Bay Band Inc.
serves as the spokesperson for, and a source of help to the NARMN bands, we do
not dictate or become involved in their activities. They have the free will and
right to partner or not, and to earn as much or as little revenue as they work
for. Funding questions about each individual band ought to be relayed to the
band Chiefs/Council and is only the business of their members and any involved
funders.
*Multi-year partnerships – Flat
Bay got agreement from the other NARMN bands to be partners for three
multi-year, large projects upfront. These are programs that none of the other
bands would have been successful getting on their own because of the long-term
background of experience with the same projects and funders that Flat Bay has
in these specific fields.
Furthermore, because Flat Bay is highly successful, these
projects require a considerable amount of staff, resources, cash, and tangible
in-kind contributions which we contribute, sparing the other partners of such
costs. Therefore, we manage the programs and disperse funds (if any) directly
to the partnering bands as their fee-for-service.
For these three multi-year, large projects cases only, Flat
Bay Band takes the 15% administration for these programs. The admin funds cover
the overhead costs and operational strain on the Flat Bay band to oversee these
comprehensive programs. It covers a portion of the costs such as core salaries,
utilities, printing, postage, legal & audit fees, bank fees, liability
insurance, and office supplies. All 3 agreements together cover only about 25%
of total core administration. We must make the other 75% of our core and
administrative costs by other proposals we write for Flat Bay Band Inc. alone.
These are federal programs in 1) Restorative Justice Strategy 2) Skills Link
and 3) Poverty Reduction.
…and this is what you call, “Being
a Good Relative.”