THUNDER BAY – Tewanee Joseph impressed the world as the Executive Director for the Four Host First Nations Secretariat, when he gained recognition for Canada’s aboriginals on the international stage. Joseph not only brought together the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples, but also other First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across Canada, to ensure a prominent place for aboriginal culture at the Olympics.Joseph will be in Thunder Bay June 11 speaking at a conference of the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations (OACFDC). Recognizing the interest in Joseph, the OACFDC is opening this event to the public. Tickets are available for breakfast, followed by a keynote presentation by Joseph at the Valhalla Inn June 11. Breakfast is at 8:00 a.m., with Joseph’s message from 9:00 to 10:00.
A member of the Squamish Nation, Tewanee Joseph works on an ongoing basis with several First Nations to develop strategies that will improve community-wide decision-making. He served eight years on the Squamish Nation Council and has a talent for facilitation and coordinating diverse groups to identify and achieve their goals.
As the Executive Director for the Four Host First Nations Secretariat, Tewanee worked with VANOC and its partners to develop meaningful Aboriginal participation in the planning, hosting and staging of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. He has collaborated extensively with First Nations in the area of community consensus building and provided advisory services to the private sector and local, provincial and federal governments.
Through his leadership, for the first time in Olympic history, a third brand was allowed on official Olympic communications: the brand of the Four Host Nations Society.
The Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations is meeting in Thunder Bay, thanks to two of their members who are welcoming the delegates: Thunder Bay Ventures and Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund. These Community Futures Development Corporations are two of 61 such organizations across the province. The Community Futures program provides advice and loans for small business and supports community economic development.
To order tickets for this event, go to www.ontcfdc.com/conference and scroll to the bottom. Tickets can be purchased online by credit card.