Call for Applications
On behalf of the Provincial Coordination Team (PCT) for the Off Reserve Aboriginal Action Plan (ORAAP), and the Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) (see attached backgrounder), the British Columbia Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) is soliciting a call for applications from Aboriginal communities and organizations who have developed socially innovative projects or activities in the following categories: Culture, Social / Economic, or Education & Learning.
The purpose of this competition is to mobilize Aboriginal communities to utilize innovation to generate ideas and concepts that will have a positive social impact in Aboriginal communities. This includes, but is not limited to:
• Adopting entrepreneurial approaches to achieving social changes and creating effective solutions;
• Ideas or concepts that create shifts in cultural attitudes and perceptions;
• Leveraging new technologies and applying innovative ideas to create systemic changes;
• Generating ideas that are impactful, sustainable, durable and scalable
Submissions are to fall under at least one of the three categories listed above and must demonstrate how the project being submitted is innovative in one (or more) or those categories, and how it will benefit Aboriginal communities. The submissions will be reviewed with the PCT adjudicating the applications and selecting the top 3 winners. The top 3 submissions will each be awarded $15,000 which has been provided by the Province of BC through the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, and by Canada through the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Eligibility
• Aboriginal communities;
• Aboriginal organizations;
• Partnerships projects/concepts between non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal entities;
• Applications can be inclusive of projects/concepts that have already been proven to be effective, OR ideas that are still in the concept stage.
Submission Requirements / Information
• Submissions should be limited to 3-5 pages using the attached template; DOWNLOAD HERE
• Submissions must be sent to the BCAAFC (date stamped) no later than 4pm Wednesday March 27th, 2013.
• Competition winners will be notified on or prior to April 31st, 2013
• Submissions are to be in WORD or PDF format only, and submitted via email and/or hard copy to shartman@bcaafc.com via #200-506 Fort Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1E6
Questions or comments:
Please contact Shane Hartman at: Ph. 250-388-5522 or shartman@bcaafc.com
British Columbia Aboriginal Social Innovation Competition Backgrounder
In British Columbia (BC), nearly 75% of all Aboriginal people live off-reserve. The October 3, 2011, Speech from the Throne acknowledged the importance of the off-reserve Aboriginal population and committed the provincial government to work with Aboriginal partners, the federal government and local governments to develop an Off-Reserve Aboriginal Action Plan (ORAAP) with the focus of improving socio-economic outcomes of off-reserve Aboriginal people in BC.
The federal government’s Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) which has been active in BC since 2003 also seeks to alleviate socioeconomic disparities between the urban Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations.
Given the common goals and objectives of ORAAP and the UAS, the federal government and the provincial government have agreed to work together and integrally link both initiatives.
A Provincial Co-ordination Team (PCT) is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of ORAAP and includes representatives from the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centes, Métis Nation BC, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
In November 2011, Premier Clark stated that the province is a supporter of social innovation and entrepreneurship in B.C. Also, important to note is that this competition is part of the Aboriginal Social Innovation Agenda, which comes as part of ‘Recommendation #9 from the BC Social Innovation Council. Recommendation #9 refers to “Developing a targeted strategy to build social entrepreneurship and social innovation capacity in BC First Nation and Aboriginal communities.”
Social Innovation involves:
• Coming up with and supporting new approaches that work;
• Using and re-aligning expertise and resources from various sectors (government, business, non profit, academic and community) in more effective ways;
• Adopting entrepreneurial approaches to achieving changes and effective solutions;
• Making shifts in cultural attitudes and perceptions;
• Connecting innovative ideas to make systemic changes;
• Leveraging new technologies; and,
• Generating ideas that are impactful, sustainable, durable and scalable.
A key pillar of the ORAAP/UAS initiative is social innovation as it is intended to include creating innovative solutions to complex problems that will address the key socio-economic challenges facing BC’s Aboriginal people living off reserve. The BC Aboriginal Social Innovation Competition is one project under ORAAP/UAS.
For details on last year's social innovation conference please see below:
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Hosted by the British Columbia Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres November 9th & 10th, 2012 Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre 515 West Hasting Street Vancouver, BC
Please see the attached registration form and agenda or contact the BCAAFC for more information (250) 388-5522 www.bcaafc.com |
We are pleased to announce the 1st Provincial Aboriginal Social Innovation Conference
This 2 day conference will bring together innovators from Aboriginal communities across BC as well as social and economic innovators from a broad range of sectors to build social entrepreneurship and social innovation capacity with BC First Nations and urban Aboriginal communities. “Our goal is to achieve holistic well-being and balance in all aspects of our life. Our traditional Indigenous ways of thinking and being are central to achieving our goal. Together we can blend the best of both worlds, traditional and modern, to help solve today’s complex challenges” |
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November 9th & 10th Agenda
November 9th, 2012
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8:00 am Registration opens 9:00 am Opening prayer, Welcome to the territory—Elder Bob Baker Talking circles 10:30 am Break 10:45 am Talking circles 12:00 pm Lunch break |
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1:00 pm Keynote address Ta’Kaiya Blaney, Michael Uehara 2:00 pm Networking break 2:15 pm Environmental innovation speakers 3:15 pm Networking break 3:30 pm Environmental change makers panel—Vancity, Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Ministry of Environment 4:30 pm Light refreshments and networking 5:30 pm Adjourn for the day |
November 10th, 2012
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8:00 am Registration 9:00 am Morning teaching –Wedlidi Speck, Hereditary Chief 9:15 am Social innovation announcement—Paul Lacerte, Executive Director - BCAAFC 9:30 am Speakers panel - David LePage, Carey Newman, Andrew Moore 10:30 am Networking break 10:45 am Speakers corners 12:00 pm Lunch break |
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1:00 pm Key Note Dr. Lee Brown, Barb Ward-Burkitt 2:00 pm Networking break 2:15 pm Improving Aboriginal education and learning outcomes 3:15 pm Closing Protocols 4:00pm Closing prayer |
Registration Details:
$125 for one day
$250 for both days
Payable online, by phone, or in person by cash or cheque at the registration table
Register now!
Conference attendee guest rate for accommodations available at:
Delta Suites Vancouver
550 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1L6
Phone: (604) 689-8188
Room block:
“BCAAFC November Meeting”
Conference attendees must book accommodation by Oct 25, 2012 in order to receive the BCAAFC room rate.
Fees:
2-Day Pass - $250.00
1-Day Pass - $125.00
Contact Us:
Shane Hartman
Conference Coordinator
shartman@bcaafc.com