The highlights during the fiscal year 1999/2000 include:

• Signing of the Human Resource Development Agreement;
• Establishment of the Manitoba First Nation Education Resource Centre;
• Establishment a Joint Technical Working Group to address First Nation Health issues;
• Selection of Five First Nation casino sites by an Independent Casino Site Selection Committee

Child and Family Services and Social Development

• As a result of signing the CFS MOU, there may be a decrease in First Nation adoptions and non-First Nation foster placements
• Working Groups on the MOU will be addressing recommendations toward legislative changes for First Nation Child and Family Services
• A multi-year commitment from INAC for Repatriation funding
• AMC will co-ordinate an Income Security Reform Demonstration Project to examine the restructuring of Income Security Programs for Manitoba First Nations

Corporate and Workplace Strategies (CWS)

The Employment Equity Unit has been part of AMC since 1991. The specific objective was to increase Aboriginal representation in the national workforce. The Employment Equity Act was the method by which this strategy was implemented.

During the 1999/2000 fiscal year, the unit has been in the monitoring and maintaining phase. Its role has evolved to that of a service provider for the agreements. Corporations are provided with direct hands-on assistance with recruitment, selection and awareness training.

To become more proactive with the mission of AMC, the unit was restructured to increase the profile and re-establish influence. A new strategic plan has been developed to reflect a re-focusing of the EE initiative to once again ensure AMC mission is achieved.

The unit was renamed Corporate and Workplace Strategies to reflect AMC’s priorities including creating more partnership opportunities to ensure there is an on-going plan and continuing progress when the agreements end in a few years.

Education

The Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre was established to provide second and third level services to the First Nations Schools with the following objectives:

• Effective Management and Administration of the Education Resource Centres in Winnipeg, Thompson and Dauphin
• Strengthening First Nations Management and Governance Capacity
• Facilitating Community Involvement in First Nations Schools and Others that First Nations Students Attend
• Improving First Nations School and Classroom Effectiveness through In-School Programs and Special Education Unit Services
• Researching and Developing Curricula, Language, and Alternative Education Models,
• Promoting and Facilitating Parental Involvement in First Nations Schools
• Produced Regional Post Secondary Review
• Prepared Manitoba Special Needs Data for Treasury Board Submission
• Co-ordinated a Special Chiefs Assembly on Education

Gaming

The objectives of the casino project are to:

• Ensure that the Casino Project provides sustainable economic benefits and opportunities to the First Nations people of Manitoba;
• Act as a catalyst for economic development for the host community and surrounding area and communities;
• Provide revenues to all First Nations in Manitoba;
• Promote tourism and hospitality industries;
• Create jobs; and
• Provide substantiation of mitigating measures to address social impacts that may occur.

The First Nations’ long-term objective is to restore jurisdiction over gaming to First Nations governments.

First Nations Women’s Issues

The presence of the First Nations Women’s Committee and its Secretariat is a step towards meeting the goal of restoring the traditional balance between men and women.

The Chiefs-in-Assembly supported the creation of a Women’s Secretariat. Funding has been provided by the AMC secretariat to carry out its activities.

The First Nations Women’s Committee’s goal is to facilitate the development of Women’s Groups in each First Nation community to provide direction to the Committee and to initiate activities at the community level.

Health

The Working Group placed an emphasis on completing a review and analysis of First Nations & Inuit Health Programs. The purpose of the review was to examine the policies and programs administered by the First Nations & Inuit Health Programs (FNIHP) in order to make recommendations to develop both human and administrative infrastructures necessary to effectively plan and operate health care systems for First Nations in Manitoba.

Housing

In accordance with AMC resolutions and the direction from the Chief’s Committee on Housing, a Working Group of the region’s housing technicians and advisors came together to discuss positions and options and to identify issues and concerns specific to their territories.

The working group began development of a process for laying the foundation for a strategic regional plan. Through the working sessions, the common problem areas became apparent. Not only are they having major negative impacts in the region, they can be classified as catastrophic when viewed on a national scale.

Coming together as a working group and striving to meet the required funding resources has resulted in small increases. In 1999/00, Manitoba received six million dollars to assist with overcrowding. However, First Nations still require an additional 16,000 houses.

Through collective efforts securing the funding required for housing and repairs, several options have become available through financial institutions, banks, as well as private partnerships and innovative planning.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs conducted a basic community assessment survey to identify current housing conditions and populations in the communities. A proposal was subsequently produced for distribution to all levels of government that identified the amount of 3.1 billion dollars to address the backlog, overcrowding, 6515 major and minor renovations, as well as infrastructure requirements.

Framework Agreement Initiative

The objectives of the FAI is to establish a formal, binding process between the Minister and the Assembly in order to:

• Dismantle the existing departmental structures of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "DIAND") as they affect First Nations in Manitoba;
• Develop and recognize First Nations governments in Manitoba legally empowered to exercise the authorities required to meet the needs of the peoples of the First Nations; and
• Restore to First Nations governments the jurisdictions (including those of the other federal departments);consistent with the inherent right of self-government.