Ka Kniⱡwitiyaⱡa Ka Kniⱡwitiyaⱡa (Our (Our Thinking):Thinking):

ʔAq̓� am Community Strategic ʔAq̓� am Community Strategic

PlanPlan

About About ʔaqʾamʔaqʾam

Ɂaq̓amɁaq̓am: the people of the dense : the people of the dense forest, also known as St. Mary’sforest, also known as St. Mary’s– a member Community of the Ktunaxa a member Community of the Ktunaxa

NationNation– located near Cranbrook BClocated near Cranbrook BC

356 Band members356 Band members 59 Homes 59 Homes 7461 hectares7461 hectares

Why did ʔAq/am create a Why did ʔAq/am create a Community Strategic Plan?Community Strategic Plan?

New Leadership in 2009New Leadership in 2009

Strategic direction was requiredStrategic direction was required

Move from staff lead to Community Move from staff lead to Community leadlead

A desire to be proactiveA desire to be proactive

Our Unique ApproachOur Unique Approach

Community lead Community lead (James & Denni)(James & Denni)

Our Unique ApproachOur Unique Approach

Community Community engagementengagement

Family meetings, Family meetings, priority area focus priority area focus sessionssessions

Elders session - Elders session - Elder Leo WilliamsElder Leo Williams

Community Engagement Community Engagement

Be GratefulBe Grateful Value their timeValue their time Value their inputValue their input Awesome PrizesAwesome Prizes Great FoodGreat Food

Community EngagementCommunity Engagement

Community EngagementCommunity Engagement

SuccessesSuccessesWhat worked well and why?What worked well and why?

Strategic Direction, Strategic Direction, A Road map A Road map

Youth Community Youth Community member leadmember lead

Community Community engagementengagement

Annual Community Annual Community CelebrationCelebration

Incorporating Incorporating Ktunaxa LanguageKtunaxa Language

Challenges and Challenges and Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Meeting FatigueMeeting Fatigue Valuing everyone’s Valuing everyone’s

inputinput FundingFunding ““No pole gets left No pole gets left

behind”behind” Determining Determining

priorities priorities

ImplementationImplementation

Champions Champions IdentifiedIdentified

Quarterly Quarterly Champions Champions meetingsmeetings

Annual CelebrationsAnnual Celebrations Annual ReportAnnual Report Organizational Organizational

DevelopmentDevelopment

OUR VISIONOUR VISION

A vibrant, healthyA vibrant, healthy community, speaking our community, speaking our

language, governing language, governing effectively, maximizing our effectively, maximizing our lands and resources for the lands and resources for the

benefit of future generations benefit of future generations and all living things, in a and all living things, in a manner consistent with manner consistent with qanikitȼiqanikitȼi (our values and (our values and

principles)principles)

vthomas@aqam.net

Vickie Thomas, Chief Vickie Thomas, Chief Operating OfficerOperating Officer

Contact us:Contact us:

www.aqam.netwww.aqam.net