Indigenous Reconciliation Fund

Members:

Chief Laurie Carr, Hiawatha First Nation

Gayelyn Heffernan, Métis Nation of Ontario - Peterborough and District Wapiti Métis Council - VICE CHAIR

Georgie Horton Baptiste, President, Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre - CHAIR

Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard, Director, First Peoples House of Learning, Trent University

Darlene Lent, Moon River Métis Council

Lisa McDonald, Councillor, Alderville First Nation

Arnold Taylor, Curve Lake First Nation

Clorise Taylor, Manager, Indigenous Student Services, Fleming College

Advisory Members:

Most Reverend Bishop Miehm

Rev. Fr. Bill Moloney

Sr.  Anne Karges, CSJ

Deb McRae, Director of Finance, Property, and Administration

Deirdre Thomas, Assistant to the Bishop/Communications

These Terms of Reference were adopted by the Committee at its June 22, 2023, meeting.

Indigenous Reconciliation Fund Local Committee

Terms of Reference

VISION

The Diocese of Peterborough wants to engage with First Nations and Métis Councils residing within its territorial boundaries to further the work of reconciliation and healing.

MANDATE OF THE IRF LOCAL COMMITTEE

The primary role of the committee is to review project proposals submitted by local First Nations, Métis, and Inuit groups, organizations, institutions, and communities. 

The Local Committee will establish an Application Form for project funding and can:

• recommend the project go forward to the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund National Committee for final approval or
• ask that it be revised for reconsideration or
• state that it does not fall within one of the four purposes for project funding. 

The four criteria for project funding are as follows:

1. Healing for communities and families,
2. Culture and language revitalization;
3. Knowledge-sharing, heritage & traditions and community building; and
4. Dialogues for promoting Indigenous spirituality and culture.

All projects recommended by the local committee will be forwarded to the IRF National Committee for final approval.

The total amount of funding available for recommended projects will be $400 000.

The IRF Local Committee will ask the grant recipients to acknowledge receipt of the funds when granted, to write a report to the National Indigenous Reconciliation Fund Committee at the conclusion of the project (and copied to the Local IRF Committee), and to account for fund expenditures to achieve the goal(s) of the project.

TERM

The IRF Local Committee has a five-year term (2023-2028).  If there are projects continuing beyond the five-year term, the committee would be asked to sit for another two years.

MEETING TIMES

The Committee will hold quarterly meetings or as needed at the Call of the Chair.  The meetings may be held in person or virtually or a hybrid model of both.

REPORTING

It is the responsibility of grant recipients to acknowledge receipt of the funds when granted. Grant recipients are also to provide a written report to the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, annually or at the conclusion of the project with a copy to the Diocesan IRF Committee, accounting for how the funds were invested and demonstrating the reconciliation impact of the funds received.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

The role of the IRF Local Committee is to:

• Promote the Indigenous Reconciliation fund and invite project proposals from First Nations, Metis, and Inuit groups, organizations, institutions, and communities. 
• Review project proposals generated by First Nations, Metis, and Inuit groups, organizations, institutions, and communities. 
• Verify that the project proposals fall within one or more of these areas:

Healing for communities and families,

Culture and language revitalization;

Knowledge-sharing, heritage & traditions and community building; and

Dialogues for promoting Indigenous spirituality and culture.

• Determine if the project can be recommended for final approval to the National Indigenous Reconciliation Fund Committee or suggest revisions to those who initiated the project proposals or state that it does not fall within one of the four purposes for project funding. 
• Formally note its assessment and determination in a letter to the project proposal applicant stating if the project will be forwarded for final approval to the National IRF Committee or will not be recommended.
• Recommend FNMI projects for funding to the National Indigenous Reconciliation Fund up to the Diocesan cap of $400 000 or pursue partnerships with other Dioceses for funding beyond the local cap.

IRF LOCAL COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Most Reverend Bishop Miehm has contacted the following First Nations and Métis Councils and urban Indigenous organizations to invite representatives to serve as members:

• Alderville First Nation, Roseneath, Chief David Mowat
• Curve Lake First Nation, Chief Keith Knott
• Henvey Inlet First Nation, Pickerel, Chief M. Wayne McQuabbie   
• Hiawatha First Nation, Chief Laurie Carr
• Magnetawan First Nation, Britt, Chief Lloyd Myke
• Moose Deer Point First Nation, Mactier, Chief Rhonda Williams-Lovett
• Shawanaga First Nation, Nobel, Chief Adam Pawis
• Wahta Mohawks First Nation, Bala, Chief Philip Franks
• Wasauksing First Nation, Parry Sound, Chief Warren Tabobondung
• Métis Nation of Ontario - Moon River Métis Council, Marc Mantha, President
• Métis Nation of Ontario - Peterborough and District Wapiti Métis Council, Christa Lemelin, President
• Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre, Georgie Horton Baptiste, President
• Parry Sound Friendship Centre, Dora Tabobondung, President
• First Peoples House of Learning at Trent University
• Indigenous Student Services at Fleming College

MEMBERS

Members

Chief Laurie Carr, Hiawatha First Nation

Gayelyn Heffernan, Métis Nation of Ontario - Peterborough and District Wapiti Métis Council

Georgie Horton Baptiste, President, Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre

Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard, Director, First Peoples House of Learning, Trent University

Darlene Lent, Moon River Métis Council

Lisa McDonald, Councillor, Alderville First Nation

Arnold Taylor, Curve Lake First Nation

Clorise Taylor, Manager, Indigenous Student Services, Fleming College

Advisory Members

Most Reverend Bishop Miehm

Rev. Fr. Bill Moloney

Sr.  Anne Karges, CSJ

Deb McRae, Director of Finance, Property, and Administration

Deirdre Thomas, Assistant to the Bishop/Communications

CHAIR / VICE CHAIR

The Chair and Vice Chair will be named by the members of the IRF Local Committee. 

TERM OF MEMBERSHIP

IRF Local Committee representative members will be selected by the First Nations or Métis community or urban Indigenous organization s/he represents.  The Advisory Members on the IRF Local Committee are appointed by the Bishop.  If a member has to step down, it is recommended that appropriate notification (two months) be given to the Chair understanding that notice period may not be feasible in all circumstances. 

DECISION MAKING

Decisions and recommendations are rendered through discussion, discernment, prayer, and consensus of the members. 

FINAL ADOPTED BY CONSENSUS – Thursday, June 22, 2023.

PDF Copy of the IRF Local Committee Terms of Reference, 06 22 2023

APPLICATION FORM

INDIGENOUS RECONCILIATION FUND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Rosella Kinoshameg is an Odawa/Ojibway woman and residential school survivor from the Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation Territory, with over 50 years of nursing experience, mostly working with First Nations communities on community health care.  She has an honourary doctorate in Sacred Letters from Regis College at the University of Toronto.

Giselle Marion is a Tłı̨chǫ Citizen, born and raised in Behchokǫ̀, Northwest Territories. She is the Director of Client Services with the Tłı̨chǫ Government, which represents the Dene people of Northwest Territories. She holds a law degree from the University of British Columbia.

Graydon Nicholas has a lengthy history of working for justice for First Nations and other people. He was the first Indigenous person in Atlantic Canada to earn a law degree, the first Indigenous judge in New Brunswick, and was Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick from 2009 to 2014, also a first for an Indigenous person. Presently, he is the Chancellor of St. Thomas University, where he is the Endowed Chair of Native Studies.

Accompanying these Board Directors, the following members of the corporation have been appointed to approve new directors, revise bylaws and contribute to the transparent, effective governance of the fund:

• Nat Gallo, a former Supreme Director of the Knights of Columbus, who has represented Canada on the foundation’s International Board of Directors.

• Barbara Dowding, Former National President of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada.