The COUNCIL FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NATIVE DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS (CANDO) has invited us all to the

 
JOIN US in Enoch, Alberta for CANDO'S 2009 NATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
 
This year's theme: Controlling our Destiny
The Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) is excited to announce the 16th Annual CANDO National Conference & AGM to be held in Enoch, Alberta from October 5-8, 2009. Spiritlink will be bringing the Aboriginal Youth Media Team to help gather your stories for CANDO, RedWAY BC News and our media partners.
 
CANDO is bringing together leaders and partners in Aboriginal economic development with a focus on sharing, promoting and implementing technology initiatives and solutions. Click here to jump to CANDO website right now to register.
 
This year, you can expect another great event hosted by the incredible Master of Ceremonies, Stan Wesley. He’ll introduce many inspiring keynote speakers like CANDO President, Alfred Loon and Alberta’s Hon. Gene Zwozdesky (Minister of Aboriginal Relations).
 
Hopefully, the Enoch Cree Nation’s new Chief, Harry Sharphead will come to share the vision for their growing community. There’ll be another NIEEF fundraising golf tournament, this time at the Indian Lakes Golf Club on the first day (Monday) of the conference
 
The Making a Difference Panel presenters and the 5th Annual Aboriginal Youth Panel are always a hit. Check out the CANDO website (link below) for the draft agenda; look at the wealth and diversity of short snapper sessions and interactive workshops like:
·         Sheldon Tetreault, National Centre for First Nations Governance, “Governance for Economic Success: 24 True Stories”
·         Catherine Twinn, Twinn Law, Verna McGregor, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation & Vern Neufeld Redekop, Saint Paul University, “EconomicDevelopment Based on Reconciliation”
·         11:45 am - 1:00 pm Transportation to / from Community Tour
·         Tammy Drew, Miawpukek First Nation, “Governance Reporting for Band /Communal Business”
·         Rodney Nelson, Global Governance Group, “Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge into Good Governance Practices”
 
Spiritlink is presenting Thursday afternoon, sharing our “RedWAY’s Sustainability Success Formula: 1 Community Vision + 80 Aboriginal Youth = 8600 Subscribers.”
 Here’s the description of our workshop:
 
“Learn to develop your own communication strategy using new technologies. Since 2003, Spiritlink has published a free on-line magazine called RedWAY BC News; follow our journey from 10 local urban Youth’s stories to an on-line resource with over 3800 diverse stories and 8600+ international subscribers.
 
Social responsibility means providing ways Aboriginal Youth can “earn and learn” to enhance writing, employment and digital literacy skills.  Learn how the AYM Team earned over $30,000 in five months in short-term contracts as event reporters, researchers, and marketers. We’re becoming sustainable by providing cost-effective marketing solutions, improving communications and fostering collaboration among community stakeholders.”
 
As always, there’s an excellent Trade Show and Aboriginal Artisan Show & Sale and strong ties to Local Cultural Entertainment.  Spiritlink will have an exhibitor booth there, and we’ll be celebrating our project partners like the Knowledgeable Aboriginal Youth Association, Metro Vancouver Urban Aboriginal Strategy, ACCESS, Stitsma Employment Centre and BC Hydro.
 
Click here for links to learn more about CANDO and their annual event, including the Conference Speakers and Agenda and Presentation titles/schedule.

Contact CANDO now to register at http://www.edo.ca/conference/2009
By mail:
9635 45^th AVENUE EDMONTON, ALBERTA, T6E 5Z8
By phone: (780) 990- 0303 or Toll Free: 1-800-463-9300
By fax: (780) 429- 7487
 
Visit http://www.edo.ca/conference/2009
 
Watch for updates in RedWAY BC News – and hope to see you there!
E-mail Svitlana at skonoval@edo.ca
 

 
Picture from the CANDO website of the 4th Annual National Youth Panel who were the conference favourites last year in Montreal, Quebec
 
Left to right are: Youth Panel Moderator Nathanial Arcand,  Elissa Kixen, George Awashish , Travis Badger, Donald Bear, Aaron Marchant and Robert Animiiki Horton
 
CANDO is an organization directly engaging Youth in promoting and ensuring economic development successes.

In 2004, the Aboriginally-governed Board of Directors at CANDO founded a Youth panel to fill the community’s needs to recognize, honour and support young Aboriginal leaders from across Canada.
 
Once again these inspiring Youth voices will be heard at this year’s CANDO conference and AGM in Enoch, Alberta. 
 
The Youth panel’s achievements will be shared and their challenges will be revealed, as this year CANDO selected six Aboriginal youth participants based upon their strengths, initiatives, accomplishments, entrepreneurial spirit of launching their careers, and participation within their communities.
 
These Aboriginal youth are pursing and speaking their own way of success in areas of education, working within the field of Aboriginal economic development and/or as individual entrepreneurs.
 
Previous youth panelists have been involved in employment and entrepreneurial ventures such as:

·          a sportswear company	·          fresh water bottling and catering businesses	·          artist and writer who owns a comic book publishing company	·          an eco-tour adventure company
·          a Vice President of an Internet company	·          Outfitting company	·          Outdoor garden center craft store owner	·          Fashion Designer
·          First Nations Snowboarding Team Coordinator	·          Aboriginal Diabetes Outreach Program worker	·          Aboriginal rights activist student	·          Theatre Company owner

 
READ this article CELEBRATING LAST YEAR’S PANELISTS -