PSAC's National Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis Network - NAIM

March 31, 2004

Establishing PSAC's National Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis Network Think Tank Takes Important First Steps  

Statement approved by Think Tank participants

A diverse group of PSAC members from Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada came together in Yellowknife from March 19-21 to participate in a Think Tank.   Their task was to discuss and make recommendations on how to set up PSAC's National Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis (NAIM) Network.   This new Network was approved at the PSAC Convention last May.

The sixteen participants at this one-time Think Tank came from all regions across Canada , from Goose Bay , Labrador to Vancouver BC , from Iqaluit , Nunavut to Whitehorse , Yukon , and many communities in between.   National President Nycole Turmel , Regional Executive Vice-President for the North, Jean-François Des Lauriers , and PSAC-Yukon Employees Union President Dave Hobbis were also among the participants.  

Terminology – the words we use to describe the many communities of members that the NAIM Network will include within our Union – was a major topic of discussion at this meeting.   Participants all agreed that much more work needs to be done by the NAIM Network to develop and adopt terminology that is respectful and inclusive of this important community of PSAC members.

PSAC members at the Think Tank discussed and developed recommendations for the PSAC on the mandate and objectives of this new NAIM Network, and talked about what this new Network should look like.  

Participants agreed that the Network would provide a unified voice for the diverse community of PSAC's Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis members, so that together, they can increase their involvement at all levels in our Union, empower each other, and advance their rights within and beyond our Union.    It was also agreed that communication and reaching out to members is an important priority for the Network.

This one-time Think Tank was the first step in establishing the Network.   Once the report of the Think Tank is approved by the participants, it will be widely distributed throughout our Union .   The elected officers who participated and listened to the input of the Think Tank participants -- Nycole Turmel , Jean-François Des Lauriers and Dave Hobbis -- will be responsible to take forward the recommendations to the appropriate structures in the Union .

The creation of NAIM Network is a first for our Union .   It is a major step forward for our Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis members, and for our Union as a whole.   It will help our members, and our Union , to make gains and fight for the rights of all our members included in this Network.