Good governance and oversight are necessary to ensure the organizations and leadership we rely on meet their legal responsibilities to the people they serve. Board members need to have the skills and abilities to serve the mandates of the organization while honouring the traditions and values of their nation. That can be a tricky balancing act! This program will give you the information you need to help navigate governance with confidence to ensure your voice and experiences are represented around the boardroom table. 

This program is developed and taught by Indigenous knowledge keepers and thought leaders. This program is designed to upskill board members and organizational leaders to serve the mandates of their organization while honouring the traditions and values of their nation. Learning good governance and oversight is necessary for organizations and leaders to meet their legal responsibilities to the people they serve. 



In Partnership

This Program is property of First Nations University of Canada and is currently being delivered through a partnership with the Indigenous Continuing Education Centre (ICEC) and Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.

This program will give you the information you need to help navigate governance with confidence to ensure your voice and experiences are represented around the boardroom table. This program involves reimagining colonial systems and structures in ways that benefit First Nations communities and helps achieve their goals around self-determination. Throughout this program, you will spend time thinking about how to bridge Indigenous and western or colonial systems and cover topics including:

  • What is governance and why do we need Boards?
  • Two-Eyed Seeing (Bartlett, C., Marshall, M. & Marshall, A., 2012)
  • Setting direction
  • Monitoring and reporting
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Financial Stewardship, Fiduciary Duty, Duty of Care
  • Risk Management and mitigation
  • Board culture
  • Mitigating decision bias

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program, learners will be better equipped to:

  • Develop Indigenous Board governance, including structures, operations, and evaluation practices, that can authentically bridge traditional Indigenous approaches to governance into corporate or westernized structures.

  • Understand how to sit with, listen to, and apply the teachings of community leaders, Elders/knowledge keepers, and the will of the broader community to the organizational structure, operation, and evaluation metrics of a Board and organization.

  • Articulate Two-Eyed Seeing and the concept of the ethical space of engagement to effectively Indigenize or decolonize existing and new Board governance activities and structures.

  • Implement authentic Indigenous communication skills and analytical tools in Board decision-making practices and other procedures.

  • Develop a Board that is representative of the Indigenous affiliations, linguistic groups, cultural practices and protocols, and historic and ongoing colonial impacts of the community of scope (or the community, region, and person that the Board is in service to).

TRC Call to Action

Justice #42

Provides governance education to organizations and leadership with respect to governance structures and legal responsibilities through the lens of Indigenous traditions and values.

Skills & Competencies

  • Management Skills
  • Accountability
  • Critical Reflection
  • Delegation
  • Adaptability
  • Relationship Building
  • Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
  • Financial Stewardship
  • Critical Thinking

Fall 2023 - Course Content

    1. Introduction

    1. Module 1 - will be made available to registered participants one week before the live online session.

    2. Module 1 - October 3, 2023 (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM & 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM CST) via Zoom

    3. Module 1 - Quiz opens and remains open for one week.

    1. Module 2 - Pre-work made available to registered participants one week before the live online session.

    2. Module 2 - October 17, 2023 (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM & 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM CST) via Zoom

    3. Module 2 - Quiz opens and remains open for one week.

    1. Module 3 - Pre-work made available to registered participants one week before the live online session.

    2. Module 3 - November 7, 2023 (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM & 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM CST) via Zoom

    3. Module 3 - Quiz opens and remains open for one week.

    1. Module 4 - Pre-work made available to registered participants one week before the live online session.

    2. Module 4 - November 21, 2023 (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM & 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM CST) via Zoom

    3. Module 4 - Quiz opens and remains open for one week.

kiskēyihtamowina First Nations University of Canada Board Governance Program

  • 1,995.00 + tax
  • This hybrid course (live via Zoom and online) is comprised of four 5-hour Zoom sessions and four 3-hour online modules.
  • 32 hours

Instructors

Bob Kayseas

PhD, M.B.A., B. Admn, M.S.M., Pro.Dir.

Dr. Kayseas is a Saskatchewan-born Anishnaabe originally from the Fishing Lake First Nation. He has been employed at the First Nations University of Canada for over 20 years as a Professor in the School of Business and Public Administration where he primarily teaches entrepreneurship, economic development, and strategy courses. He was appointed as the Associate Vice-President in May 2014, Vice-President Academic in 2017, and Interim President in mid-2019 to October 2021. Bob returned to his faculty position in January 2023. Bob obtained a degree in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Regina and in 2009 a Ph.D. (Enterprise and Innovation) from the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship, Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Kayseas has established a recognized scholarly program of research centered on Indigenous entrepreneurship and economic development. He is actively engaged in both the research and practice of entrepreneurship and economic development. Dr. Kayseas is the Chair of the Board of Directors of FLFN Ventures Ltd. – a corporate entity owned by the Fishing Lake First Nation. The company manages development projects for the community that include a joint venture at BHP Billiton’s Discovery Lodge camp, near Jansen, Saskatchewan, and other opportunities. In 2018, Bob received a Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada. This recognition referenced his work, “as a scholar, teacher, community leader, and mentor”. Then, in 2022, Bob received a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. The honour is given to those who have a “commitment to service”.

Neal Kewistep

Neal Kewistep has spent most of his career fostering relationships with government, community-based organizations, Indigenous organizations and educators. As the former Interim Director of the Population Public Health (PPH) in the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), his leadership led to increasing the infant and childhood immunization rates to close the gap between the most affluent neighbourhoods and the inner city neighbourhoods, and to addressing safe housing issues in a new way within the scope of the Public Health Act. He was also the strategic lead for cultural competency and Truth and Reconciliation Commission activities for PPH, which was a role he was proud to take on. In addition to his time with the provincial health authority, Neal Kewistep has served as the Director of Operations for the Native Counselling Services of Alberta, as a Community Development Advisor with Yellow Quill First Nation, and has provided consulting services to the Saskatoon Tribal Council and the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. He has also served as a board member on the Good Food Junction and the Speakerbox Aboriginal Advisory Group, and as an advisory committee member for the Saskatoon Community Foundation and the Saskatoon Urban Aboriginal Strategy. In 2017, CBC awarded Neal Kewistep as one of its “Future 40 under 40” for his work in leading change within the healthcare system. Neal Kewistep holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School and a bachelor’s degree in Indigenous Studies from the First Nations University of Canada. In addition to his formal education, he counts his traditional training from elders as being just as relevant in teaching him the role of a servant leader. He is currently an executive-in-residence with Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.

FAQ

  • Does this course have prerequisites?

    No prerequisites are required for this course.

  • Some individuals and organizations may be GST exempt.

    If you or your organization are exempt from GST, please contact [email protected] to ensure that your invoice is prepared accordingly.

  • How is successful completion of the course determined? Are there tests or quizzes involved?

    There will be a final quiz after each module valued at 25% of one's final mark. Participants must earn 70% or high overall in order to earn the First Nations and Indigenous Director designation (FNI.DIR).

  • Who do I contact if I need help?

    Questions regarding registration and payment may be directed to [email protected]. You may contact John Bird, Indigenous Governance Program Coordinator at [email protected].