There is a saying, you move toward and become that which you think about. So the question for today is, what are you thinking about? Are you thinking bad things about yourself or are you thinking good things about yourself? Are you thinking about a worldly life? Are you thinking good things about people or are you gossiping about people? Are you focusing on past things or are you living in the future? We need to bring our thoughts into the NOW, right here.

--Howard Rainer, TAOS PUEBLO-CREEK

Terms of Reference

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Vision

The network’s vision is that Aboriginal children and families, regardless of where they live across the Fraser Region, embrace and practice their culture; that they have access to a full range of culturally appropriate early childhood development services that will in turn foster and enhance their ability to reach their maximum potential.

Mission

The network is an association of Aboriginal early childhood development service providers from across the Fraser Region that works to achieve its vision through shared knowledge, experiences, and open communication amongst participating agencies and partners. The network will promote greater understanding of Aboriginal histories, cultures and teachings as well as advocate for and support programs and policies to reflect Aboriginal perspectives of early childhood development.

1. Introduction

a. The term "Aboriginal" is used in this document and it is intended to be inclusive of First Nations (status and non-status), Métis, Inuit, reserve- and off-reserve peoples and may be used to include their respective agencies and representative organizations.

b. The definition for ECD refers to service delivery to Aboriginal children ages 0 -6.

c. These terms are subject to change as circumstances dictate, but this must be agreed to by those participants in attendance at an advance notice meeting.

d. The Network does not profess to represent non-participating Aboriginal communities, agencies, programs or projects in the Fraser Region; rather it can only attempt to represent the views of its active membership and only then with each one’s informed consent.

e. The Network is made up of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal ECD Service Providers providing Early Childhood Development services and supports in the Fraser Region.

f. The Executive Body will be comprised of three members. Ideally the three people will represent First Nation and/or Aboriginal organizations within the Fraser Region. As an exception, there may be one of the three representatives who is of Aboriginal heritage from a non-Aboriginal organization.

g. The three Executive Body representatives will have specific roles. A Chairperson, will set the agenda, supervise scheduling, duties, set-up Coordinator employee review every six months and implement cancellation policy of meetings. A Treasurer, will provide quarterly financial statements to the Network and Executive Body. And a Cultural Awareness representative, will bring cultural aspect to the Network meetings.

h. The Executive Body roles and responsibility is agreed to a one-year term. At minimum, the Executive will meet two times a year, and also on an as-needed basis.

2. Participation

a. The Network shall be comprised of ONE representative who is an Aboriginal early childhood development (ECD) service provider (i.e. agencies, programs or projects) from across the Fraser Region, as defined by the geographical boundaries, as agreed to by the Fraser Region Aboriginal Planning Committee. Whenever a vote is taken, only one vote per service provider shall be permitted.

b. Consistent with 2a, a service provider can join the Network by submitting a letter of intent to the Executive Body and/or a request from the Network.

c. New members to the Network will be required to attend two consecutive meetings in order to become a voting member by the second meeting.

d. A "3 meeting rule" shall apply: whereby, should a voting member miss 3 consecutive meetings, the Table’s participants will ask the coordinator to contact the service provider by letter to inquire if they are still interested in participating in the Network, and to inform the service provider that they will need to attend 3 consecutive meetings in order to reinstate its voting privileges by the third meeting. A member may send a designate person when not able to attend.

e. While a service provider can choose not to participate in the Network’s meetings and activities, it can request to be put on its information distribution list. In addition, it may request to have its own information and perspectives considered by the Network when it deems necessary.

f. Standing or select invitations to participate in meetings may be extended from the Network to representatives from other agencies as agreed to by the participants.

g. All other representatives from the community and service providers are welcome to participate in quarterly Aboriginal ECD Network meetings.

3. Purpose

The purpose of the Network is to:

a. Provide leadership at a local and regional level on early childhood development issues impacting Aboriginal children, families, and communities;

b. Provide additional advisory services, where appropriate, to other government, regional and community agencies and committees;

c. Positively influence or design, where appropriate, those ECD activities presently occurring in, or proposed for, the Fraser Region;

d. Collect and exchange pertinent information amongst participating agencies, and with outside agencies and committees;

e. Where it applies to ECD, promote at all levels to have Aboriginal communities in the region attain:

i) community capacity building;

ii) access to sufficient resources;

iii) elimination of access-to-service barriers;

iv) outcomes appropriate to Aboriginal Culture

f. Network will encourage Aboriginal service providers and/or those providing services to Aboriginal children to attain the QUAD principles and adopt the BC Government principles as defined by their community :

• Quality

• Universally Inclusive

• Accessible

• Developmental

• Choice and Flexibility

• Targeted Investments (to low income families and children with special needs)

• Integrated Services

g. Collaborate on an inter-agency level to pursue professional development opportunities for each agency’s staff;

h. Host regional ECD Network meetings at least 9 times a year in order to facilitate networking, information sharing, and broader roundtable discussions; and

i. Respond to other related tasks.

4. Meetings

a. Meeting schedule:

i) The Network meets nine times a year, on the fourth Monday of each month, from 9:30am – 2:30pm, avoiding July, August and December.

b. ii) Additional meetings may be arranged from time to time but only upon recommendation to the Executive Body.

iii) Meeting locations will be hosted by rotating service providers. Purposely, one meeting location will be at Spuzzum First Nation.

iv) Tele-conference meetings for the Executive Body may be held on an emergency or ad hoc basis if deemed necessary by the Network Chairperson.

c. Decisions shall be reached via consensus, whenever possible; otherwise, respective differences shall be noted in the meeting minutes. However, in some instances, when a matter requires a clear or timely decision, a vote may be required in order to give direction to the Network. In this instance, the majority opinion shall prevail.

d. Meeting minutes shall be taken by the coordinator. They will include:

i) record of decisions and recommendations;

ii) key points made related to the agenda;

iii) action items

e. The meeting’s agenda will be prepared by the Network Coordinator in consultation with the Executive Chairperson and forwarded to all participants via email.

f. The Executive Body will be responsible for the following functions:

i) Support the Network Coordinator to ensure that the new Aboriginal Service Providers are informed of the Network.

ii) To monitor the budget and expenditures and accordingly bringing forward recommendations to the Network.

iii) To provide ongoing support and direction to the Network Coordinator to ensure goals and objectives of the Aboriginal ECD Network are being continually met.

iv) In conjunction with the Network Coordinator, be responsible for planning yearly Strategic planning sessions for future planning, and providing annual Network evaluations for the members to complete.

5. Chair

The organization hosting the Network meeting will resume the responsibility of chairing the meeting, or be responsible for designating to another participant in advance of meeting if they are not able to chair.

6. Quorum

a. To ensure a participant’s time is valued, a meeting is deemed valid when at least four regular participants attend a meeting.

b. When there is a tie, there will be an opportunity for discussion of the issue at hand again and than another voting will be conducted. If further input is required, an email will be sent out to all the Network members.

7. Sub- Committees

Sub-committees or task groups may be struck with the approval of the Network. They will report to the Network and shall be for the time period of their specific task. They will be responsible for coordinating, chairing and keeping records of their own meetings or tasks.

8. Network Guiding Principles:

In the spirit of partnership and cooperation, the Network agrees to conduct them in a respectful manner based on the following guiding principles:

• Treat human beings with caring, sharing, strength and kindness

• Be respectful of all cultural beliefs and customs

• Respect opposing points of view and work co-operatively towards a common goal

• Support one another

9. Conflict Resolution

Conflict of interest must be disclosed to the Network when it first becomes known. A person who has a conflict of interest may be permitted to contribute to the discussion.

In the event of a lack of consensus, where there is a potential or perceived conflict of interests, the Executive Body shall determine through discussion if the conflict of interest is real. If the consensus (less the individual (s) with the potential conflict) is that the conflict is real, the individual (s) shall not have a voice in the decision.

If a Network member (including the individual with the conflict of interest) requests that the individual be excused from the room to allow free-flowing discussion, the Network Chairperson shall so direct the individual to leave the room for duration of the discussion and decision-making.

Edited August 2009