For Immediate Release
April 1, 2008
STATEMENT FROM ATTAWAPISKAT BAND COUNCIL
ATTAWAPISKAT SCHOOL TALKS BACK ON WITH GOVERNMENT Ottawa - The Chief and Council of Attawapiskat are announcing that the federal government has agreed to come back to the table for negotiations over a new school for the community. The federal government broke off talks for a proposed grade school in December. However, this morning in Ottawa, senior representatives of Minister Chuck Strahl met with community leaders to discuss steps for getting the school plan on track.
Chief Theresa Hall says that she is cautious but pleased that the government has agreed to work with the community on plans for a new school.
"We made it very clear to Indian Affairs that this school must be built and it will be built. We are pleased that the government has recognized the importance of this project. However, until we see the shovels going in the ground, we will continue to push forward. The government has promised us that there will be 'no more surprises.' After 8 long years, we want the government to take up their fiduciary responsibility to work with us as partners and not adversaries."
The fight for a new school has drawn national attention. Students and schools from across the country have participated in an unprecedented letter-writing campaign to push Minister Chuck Strahl to honour the agreement to build a school.
Chief Theresa Hall says that until the school is built, the public campaign will continue.
"On behalf of our community, I want to thank the students of J.R. Nakogee School Attawapiskat and all the students, teachers and citizens across Canada who have shown such dedication in helping our cause. I want them to know that these efforts must continue until the children of Attawapiskat have the same access to proper schools like every other child in Canada."
Senior staff from Indian Affairs have committed to a working group to examine means of getting the school in Attawapiskat built. The working group will include members of the Band Council, the Attawapiskat Education Authority and Indian Affairs officials.
Steve Hookimaw
Chair of the Attawapiskat First Nation Education Authority
"Attawapiskat First Nation Education Authority needed a new elementary school for more than seven years.
There appeared to be no hope for construction to begin as the government had stalled agreeing to our capital plan.
Leonard Domino & Associates was able to successfully open up negotiations with key decision makers in the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. Len Domino, Rory Demetrioff, and Steven Johansen then arranged meetings with senior government officials in Ottawa and Thunder Bay. We were able to have successful meetings with the Minister's office, members of Treasury Board, and the Deputy Minister.
We are now well under way to finalizing an agreement for our new elementary school."
Attawapiskat Education Authority Board Members, Leonard Domino and Rory Demetrioff
What people are saying about us...
Andy Koopmans, CMA, “AMCTO has been very pleased with the work which your firm, and more particularly your Staff, has done for us. We have made tremendous progress on a couple of very important initiatives and recognize the valuable contribution that Leonard Domino & Associates made towards these initiatives." Larry Sault, "I have no hesitation in suggesting that other First Nations' groups might find it very valuable to talk to Leonard Domino and Associates first. You'll find that they listen - and have a fairly sophisticated understanding of First Nations' issues - they have real expertise at getting the right people together to achieve the results. It doesn't matter whether you need to meet with Liberal, Conservative, or NDP government officials, Domino and Associates can help you meet them all." Denise Stonefish,
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Dr. Robin C Hesler, M.R.T. (R.), RTR, DMgt, PFBA, BA(HS), MT., “Leonard Domino and Associates helped our association identify the key government decision makers in the Ministries of Health, Labour, and Training, Colleges and Universities … then we got to sit with them over lunch where we discussed issues of mutual importance & value" Liam McCreery, "Since working with Leonard Domino & Associates, we have revamped our government negotiation strategies. These new strategies have resulted in good working relationships with government decision makers and a higher level of influence for Ontario Soybean Growers." Chief Yvette Metansinine, "Council has reviewed the progress on the files that your firm has been working on for the last couple of months very carefully. |
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When the Manitoba Child Care Association approached us, the organization was at a loss. The government met politely with them, but that was it-nothing was ever accomplished and there were no real negotiations. The group wanted to know why. |
So we talked to government MLAs. They saw the Manitoba Child Care Association as friendly to the opposition and hostile to the government. It had on a few occasions angered Cabinet Ministers and given important information to the opposition. That was a perilous, and common, mistake-confusing lobbying with partisan politics. |
At first, the group was surprised by this perception. Partisan? They didn't care who won elections as long as child care was adequately funded. With our help, the group repaired its relations with the government and began to accomplish its goals. |
Leo Grellette, "Leonard Domino and Associates offers practical hints on negotiating win-win solutions with governments and developing working relationships with political decision makers … for us this meant that the interests of the OBOA were considered through government consultations leading to the enactment of Bill 124" |
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Len spoke to local public health officials in Windsor at the Hilton hotel. Linda Stewart, Executive Director of the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) "We invited Leonard Domino to talk to our members for the first time. He researched who he would be addressing and was able to present messages in a way that our group connected with. His presentation on Government Relations received kudos all round." The following comments were received about the presentation: "Government Relations session was excellent and The Best!" "Leonard Domino presentation was absolutely by far the most interesting and useful session. The Howie Mandel look and mannerisms could make him a double. Charismatic delivery." Jennifer Cooke, "I found the seminar interesting, thought provoking and beneficial -the advice presented will help us in our relations with government contacts. Kudos to you and all your staff for running a very professional and well organized event!" Jeanette Lewis "As the association continues to strive for a better, stronger relationship with the provincial government, we invited Len Domino to conduct an interactive session with our membership. The insights he provided were relevant, straightforward and helpful and have already assisted us in our meetings with senior government staff and elected officials." Kim Rominger, "An extraordinarily interesting presentation…While specifically geared toward dealing with the Canadian government, much of what was communicated to us could easily be used in the US or other countries." Chief Patrick Madahbee, Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation "I’ve been in this business for a long time and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the wealth of useful strategies, tips, and advice on effective government lobbying that Len had to offer. Their approach is one that is unique, innovative, and results based" |
Thom Leiper, Senior Sales and Marketing Executive
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