AGA: CAO Report

By Shawna Janvier
Chief Administrative Officer

Kiʔsuʔk Kyukyit Q̓apiniskiǂ !

I am, once again pleased and honored to address all the Ktunaxa people in my second report out as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Executive Mentor for the Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC) Government.

This administrative leadership has been impacted by significant challenges with a global health pandemic, sweeping organizational changes in the form of internal administrative leadership development and overall shifts in KNC strategic direction.

We have weathered the storm and the Ktunaxa people continue to demonstrate their resilience by keeping each other safe.

Who knew it was going to last this long with mental wellness hanging in the balance?

Anxiety is still high and everyone is still concerned for their lives and livelihoods.

It’s important that we continue to share what we have been doing to help protect us all in these challenging times.

Health and safety first

Last year, as you all know, the Annual General Assembly (AGA) was cancelled by the host community Yaqan Nukiy, understandably due to the circumstances of the pandemic. And out of an abundance of caution, other major events were cancelled that were to be held at St. Eugene Mission Resort. The annual charity golf tournament was cancelled. The Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Closing of the Kootenay Indian Residential School was delayed once more.

However, this year leadership gave the thumbs up for a VIRTUAL AGA to be hosted by the KNC.

This is scheduled for Wednesday, September 29, 2021.

The challenges of a new working environment and interacting with people without visiting is hard, but we are adapting.

The activities of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) team are reported below by lead Alison Lomon.

We are still communicating out every Wednesday on behalf of the KNC Administration to keep that regular connection to the workplace.

All of the sectors and departments have adapted and demonstrate every day their own unique styles of working remotely and doing their best to make it work.

We have experienced and seen the pandemic health “waves” and leadership has really stepped up to encourage their citizens to get vaccinated.

Our communities have readied themselves and our health care teams have been active in compiling necessary supplies and arranging provide immunization services. There have been a few minor outbreaks in community and in staff, including some fatal outcomes and for that I offer my condolences.

As the pandemic rages on we are staying the course, and I am very proud of everyone who continues to prioritize the health and safety of Ktunaxa citizens and communities.

In my time here, I have had the privilege to meet some remarkable people and do some visiting,

One of the inevitable stages of life that saddens me about getting to know remarkable people is that sometimes they leave us too soon. I will always remember my visits with Herman, Mary and Liz. But after the pandemic hit, there have been limited opportunities to see IRL (In Real Life.)

I have been lucky enough to be able to get some traditional “delicacies” (aka wild food), like “wats-kan-nah” (insert proper way in Ktunaxa here) and huckleberry jam!

I am happy to give you an update on some important changes occurring at the KNC to support an organizational culture change, the development of the Ktunaxa citizens and government readiness. I reported out last year on some of these initiatives and the focus on “Q̓api qapsin kin ‘itkin hin ‘isti Ktunaxa” (Everything you do, you do for Ktunaxa).

The leadership has been exploring different ways to realize their dreams and goals.

They have been expanding their thinking about the past, present and future.

We always keep in mind what the “K” in KNC stands for: Ktunaxa. For the people, by the people. It can be no other way. All the relationships between the Ktunaxa people as a whole are important and need to be nurtured and cared for in order for them to grow and thrive.

We are still working on a number of communication initiatives in an effort to become more interesting, creative and breathe some life back into the connection.

It was never truly lost, just goes off the track once in a while.

Besides being the object of the opposite of our desires, COVID-19 continues to open our eyes to the possibilities of a different way of doing things.

I mentioned earlier that a significant part of my role is to mentor a Ktunaxa citizen to the CAO role.

I take this very seriously and with my whole heart. I am pleased to report that we will have a Ktunaxa CAO mentee this fall. It’s about time!

I have confidence that any one of our candidates will out their best foot forward and serve the people well.

It is our hope that they also learn a lot about themselves along the way in the process. This is an exciting time for mentoring and succession for Ktunaxa Citizens to honour and ensure that corporate government capital remains with the Ktunaxa government for generations to come!