News

Collective Access: Gateway to the Cultural Heritage of the Dakelh and Sekani Peoples
The CSTC Library and Archives recently completed a large-scale digitization project of several albums of old photographs. These images will soon be available online, along with sound recordings, videos, and the ability to search through records of our entire Library and Archives Collection. The new CSTC Library and Archives website is in the final stages of completion, and will feature a registration process granting access to this wonderful collection of materials. More details coming soon!

“This project is funded [in part] by the Government of Canada.”
« Ce projet est financé [en partie] par le gouvernement du Canada. »

Accès Collectif : Portail vers le Patrimoine Culturel des Peuples Dakelh et Sekani
La Bibliothèque et les Archives du CSTC ont récemment terminé un projet de numérisation à grande échelle de plusieurs albums de vieilles photographies. Ces images seront bientôt disponibles en ligne, ainsi que des enregistrements sonores, des vidéos et la possibilité de rechercher à travers les dossiers de l’ensemble de notre Collection de la Bibliothèque et des Archives. Le nouveau site web de la Bibliothèque et des Archives du CSTC est dans les dernières étapes de finalisation et comportera un processus d’inscription donnant accès à cette merveilleuse collection de matériaux. Plus de détails à venir bientôt!

Job Summary

Reporting to the General Manager, the Capital Project Program Coordinator ensures the overall coordination and administration of all programs and services offered by CSTC, Technical Services Unit (TSU) as per the Memorandum of Understanding between Indigenous Services Canada and CSTC, with the following objectives;

· Provide ongoing technical advice to Member First Nations in support of the capital project management process.

· Provide ongoing Capital Planning Advisory Services.

· Provide assistance to Member First Nations in preparing their First Nations Infrastructure Investment Plans (FNIIP) annual updates.

· Provide assistance to Member First Nations in acquiring effective Municipal Type Services (MTS) from local municipal authorities.

· Assist member First Nations in upgrading fire equipment, specifically, acquisition and assisting in ensuring updated records/reports/equipment are current in their communities.

· Maintain a library of technical information, policies, reports and drawings.

· Provide assistance to Member First Nations in preparing and monitoring Maintenance Management Plans, including planning, performance monitoring, O&M cost tracking and control.

· Follow up with Member First Nations to see who has a Comprehensive Community Plan, who needs one, who needs to update, etc.

· To provide assistance to Member First Nations housing planning/programs.

· To update housing policy template for member FN to utilize and/or FN policies.

· To identify funding sources to pay certified building inspectors.

Qualifications

The position of Capital Project Program Coordinator requires completion of Grade 12, post-secondary education and related experience. The incumbent must possess a range of technical, managerial, and project

experience and experience working with First Nations and/or of First Nations Ancestry is an asset. Strong computer skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, business English skills, and interpersonal skills are also required.

Conditions of Employment

Must be able to travel a minimal amount.

Must have access to a reliable vehicle and hold a valid driver’s license.

Full-time position, subject to annual funding.

Must obtain and maintain a Criminal Records Check.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and/or skills required of the incumbent.

Salary: $35-$40/hr based on education and experience.

If you are interested in this position submit a cover letter and resume by

4:30pm November 19, 2023, to:

Carrier Sekani Tribal Council

Attention: Beverly Best, General Manager

Suite 200 1460 6th Ave, Prince George, BC V2L 3N2 Email: generalmanager@cstc.bc.ca

Preference will be given to those of Aboriginal Ancestry per Section 16 of the Canadian Human Rights Act. People of Carrier Sekani are encouraged to apply.

The impacts of the residential school system are ongoing and felt throughout our member nations. This day is set aside to honour survivors, their families and communities.

CSTC will be closed Sept. 30 to give staff and members much needed time to spend with loved ones and to participate in reflection and healing.

If you are in distress and need support, please contact the Indian Residential School Survivors Society 24-hour Crisis Line at 1-800-925-4419.

Stellat’en First Nation, Nadleh Whut’en and Ts’il Kaz Koh jointly developed the app for Android users with funding from the Pathways Forward Agreement, an agreement made between the provincial government and the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council to increase economic opportunities for Carrier Sekani First Nations while addressing decision-making, management and revenue sharing of lands and resources, and healing communities through socio-cultural work.

“Your language is your sense of belonging and identity,” says Eleanor Nooski, Nadleh Whut’en Language and Culture Coordinator. “Once the children start learning, there’s so much pride when the elders see it, and there’s a ripple effect in the whole community.”

The app is called ‘Dakelh nekhunik yats’ulhduk,’ which translates to English to mean ‘we will speak like our ancestors.’ It interfaces users with recorded pronunciations of the words spoken in a regional dialect of Dakelh. Traditional learning through oral history has been easily incorporated into the app.

A previous version of the app was developed strictly for iPhone, but was cost prohibitive for community members who cannot afford Apple products. The new app includes over 900 newly recorded words in a shared dialect between the three nations and is fully owned and copyrighted by the communities.

“Our language was never recorded and never written,” says Stellat’en First Nation Language Assistant Dennis Patrick. “It’s been a generation that’s lost virtually everything, and it’s important to know that when we learn this language, we’re learning about the land and who we are.”

Development of the app began in 2014, when elders and youth stayed in a hotel together to record Dakelh words for things like body parts, animals and phrases. In 2018, the three First Nations began collaboration on building the app for Android.

Collaboration between the three communities was key because the number of fluent speakers in each community varies, with Nadleh Whut’en having such low numbers, developing the app independently would have been very difficult.

Ts’il Kaz Koh Language Program and Culture Coordinator Sherry Tibbetts believes this app is an important part of healing through language and cultural activities. She is happy to be a part of the collaborative approach to teaching language in new ways.

“We live in a time when we have to be creative and innovative in everything we do,” says Tibbetts, who credits her close colleague for empowering her to take bold action to help her community. “I’ve been inspired by Karen Sharp. She taught me that everything you want to do, think beyond the impossible. When opportunity’s thrown at you, you take it.”

‘Dakelh nekhunik yats’ulhduk’ is available for download on Android.

CONTACT:

Audrey McKinnon
Communications Coordinator
250-617-3862
communicationsofficer@cstc.bc.ca