First Nations Development Fund Grant Program annual results

2009·5.4 MB·English

by  Alberta. Ministry of Aboriginal Relations

Grant Program
Annual Results 2009/2010
Government of Alberta ■
Building Strong Communities
Aboriginal Relations
For additional copies of the Annual Results,
please contact:
Alberta Aboriginal Relations
19th Floor, Commerce Place
10155- 102 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4G8
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
website: www.aboriginal.alberta.ca
To call toll-free from anywhere in Alberta, dial
310-0000.
This publication is also available as a P DF
document at www.aboriginal.alberta.ca
ABLE OF ONTENTS
Message from the Minister 2
Introduction 3
How it W orks: FNDF Grant Agreement 5
Accountability 7
Supporting a D iversity of Community Projects 8
Grants by First Nation 1 0
Community Outreach 1 1
Success Story: Kainai Peacemaking Centre 1 2
Success Story: Piikani Nation Buffalo Skull Lodge 1 4
Success Story: Paving the Way in Cold Lake First Nations 1 6
Success Story: A P lace to Call Home in Kapawe’no 1 8
First Nation
Success Story: O’Chiese Truck Stop - S upporting Economic
and Employment Growth 20
Success Story: Hope and Opportunity for the Next
Generation in Smith’s Landing First Nation 22
How to Apply for FNDF Grants 24
INISTER
The First Nations Development Fund (FNDF) Grant
Program is an excellent source of support for First
Nations’ economic, social, and community development
projects. First Nation communities across Alberta are
accessing FNDF. Thanks to their vision, commitment and
great ideas, FNDF is making a p ositive difference in the
lives of First Nations people.
An important feature of the program is t hat First Nations
set their own priorities and oversee the planning and implementation of the funded
projects. This ensures that projects reflect the specific needs and interests of individual
communities. Since FNDF first began allocating funds in 2006/2007, the results have
been encouraging. This report highlights six specific success stories but in 2009/2010
there are over 200 other great examples of First Nations using FNDF funds to plan
and implement meaningful projects in their communities. Examples of development
projects funded under FNDF include community buildings, roads, business ventures,
infrastructure, crime reduction initiatives and culturally-based community supports.
The FNDF will continue to have an important role in supporting social, economic and
community development in Alberta First Nations. I l ook forward to more successes
and remain committed to administering FNDF in an open and transparent manner that
recognizes the long-standing collaborative relationship between the Government of
Alberta and First Nations.
Len Webber
Minister of Aboriginal Relations
NTRQDUCTIQN
The First Nations Development Fund (FNDF) Grant The Ministry of Aboriginal Relations has been
Program is an Alberta government lottery grant program administering the FNDF Grant Program since 2008.
available exclusively to First Nations in the province. It i s
This reflects the Alberta government’s commitment
supported by a p ortion of revenues from government- to encouraging healthy and vibrant First Nation
owned slot machines located in First Nations casinos in communities.
Alberta. First Nations in Alberta may apply to the FNDF
Grant Program for social, economic and community First Nations Casinos
development projects.
The five First Nation casinos in operation in Alberta are:
• R iver Cree Resort and Casino at Enoch Cree Nation
The FNDF is p art of g overnment’s First Nations
• G rey Eagle Casino at Tsuu T’ina Nation
Gaming Policy. Both the Policy and FNDF are the
• E agle River Casino at Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation
result of a s trong collaborative process, having been • C asino Dene at Cold Lake First Nations
negotiated and approved jointly by First Nations and the
• S toney Nakoda Resort at Stoney Nakoda Nation
Government of Alberta.
FNDF is supported by a p ortion of revenues
from government-owned
slot machines located in First Nations casinos in Alberta.
Allocation Formula for Grant Funding
First Nation Casino
Slot Machine Revenue
Host First Nations
75% Non-Host First Nations
25%
(Enoch, Alexis, Cold Lake,
(40 First Nations)
Tsuu T’ina, Stoney** FN’s)
12.5% is divided by the total
12.5% is divided by the
of Non-Host FN’s population
number (40) of Non-Host FN
in AB = X I in AB, then x t he individual FN’s
population = X 2
XI + X 2 = F NDF for
First Nation
Alberta Lottery Fund supports a variety of p rograms and services in communities throughout Alberta,
such as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder initiatives, the Alberta Foundatio1 n for the Arts, Alberta Fiistorical
Resources Foundation and the Community Initiatives Program.
The three Stoney tribes - C hiniki, Bearspaw and Wesley - a re considered one Host First Nation.
"low it W orks: FNDF Grant Agrffmfnt
How revenue is s hared - f unding formulas Quarterly payments
In order to receive funding from the FNDF Grant The Alberta government does not have FNDF funds at
Program, First Nations sign an FNDF Grant Agreement. the start of the fiscal year. The funds become available
The Agreement includes formulas for sharing the grant as government receives the funds from the casinos.
funding among all Alberta First Nations and covering Once the slot machine revenues have been verified
administration costs from the FNDF Grant Program, as by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, funds
illustrated on page 4. are allocated to the FNDF Grant Program. Payments
are made soon after the conclusion of each quarter
• The FNDF Grant Program receives 40 per cent of the
(approximately July, October, January, April). Quarterly
net revenue from government-owned slot machines in
First Nation casinos in Alberta. payments, rather than monthly ones, are consistent with
the FNDF Grant Agreement and minimize administrative
• Of this 40 per cent, 75 per cent is available to the five costs.
host First Nations who have casinos, and 25 percent
is shared among the other First Nations in Alberta.
• Of the 25 per cent going to First Nations that do not
have casinos, half is divided equally among 40 First Projects can be approved for funding over
Nations; and the other half is divided according to multiple fiscal years, but the funding only flows
First Nation population figures. as the money becomes available. For example,
a $ 3 million housing project may be approved
for $3 million, but it m ay take some time to fully
pay out (multiple fiscal years), depending on
the First Nation’s allocation.
5

Just like any other grant program, FNDF includes The Ministry of Aboriginal Relations, on behalf of the
accountability measures, which are included in the FNDF Government of Alberta, audits FNDF grants to support
Grant Agreement: the accountability and transparency of the grants. Audits
ensure that the funds are utilized only on approved
• FNDF grants can only be used by First Nations
projects, and are consistent with the FNDF Grant
for economic, social and community development
projects. Agreement.
• FNDF grants cannot be used for operating or
financing costs of a c asino or other gaming facility/ The FNDF auditors are also available to assist and
equipment, or for per capita distributions, or for advise First Nations on how to meet financial compliance
security against loans or debt. requirements.
• Every grant application must include a B and Council
Resolution. FNDF audits have found that:
• The use of FNDF grants must be reported annually by • Several First Nations have initiated their
the First Nations. own internal controls over FNDF funds.
• The Government of Alberta or the Auditor General • Many First Nations have done an excellent
of Alberta has the ability to conduct audits to ensure job in accounting for cash payouts for
compliance with the Agreement and First Nations various events and activities.
Gaming Policy.
• The Government of Alberta has the ability to suspend
the Agreement and discontinue FNDF grants for non-
compliance.
• While the Minister retains authority for final decision-
making, there is a p rocess for dispute resolution.
OUPPORTING A UIVERSITY OF
: Community [ P rojects
Since its inception, FNDF has paid out over $276 million
in g rants to First Nations in Alberta.
In 2009/2010, the FNDF Grant Program paid over $104
million to First Nations to support 233 community-based
and community-designed projects including:
• Land use planning
• Improving on-reserve infrastructure
• Culturally-based community centres
• Schools
• Housing
• Projects engaging youth and supporting elders
• Support for First Nation-owned businesses to
improve employment and economic opportunities.
Low administration costs
Aboriginal Relations incurs costs in the administration of
Since its inception, the FNDF Grant Program
the FNDF Grant Program, in 2009/2010, approximately
has approved over 570 projects. For a
$733,000 in administrative expenses were charged to
complete listing of FNDF grants paid:
the FNDF Grant Program, representing less than one per
• Visit www.albertalotteryfund.ca
cent (0.69 per cent) of the total FNDF Grant Program
funds. This includes salaries, benefits, travel, and any • Click on “Who Benefits - s earchable
special supplies for the FNDF Grant Program staff
members. The Government of Alberta absorbs other
costs in the administration of the FNDF Grant Program, • Udnadtearb a s“eA”g ency” select “First Nations
including daily office supplies, office space, utilities, Development Fund”
computers and information technology services, human
resource and finance/accounting services, salaries of
senior management and ministerial oversight.