Growth of Band and Community
Liz LaSaga-MacNeil – Chief Executive Officer/Consultant
Experience in the NL Mi’Kmaw Movement
Liz (aka Golden Heart) grew up in the lead Mi’Kmaw community of Flat Bay and was immersed in the culture and politics at an early age. She has been involved in our Mi’Kmaw movement through study, direct employment, self-employment, and various board representation since 1992. She is the former President of the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network, she is a member of the Board of Directors for the Federation of Newfoundland Indians, and member of Qalipu First Nation Band.
From 2007 to 2020, Liz served as Chief of the Flat Bay Band Inc. while also handling all elements of Management/Executive affairs. She retired the Chief role in 2020 and has since been focused on serving as Chief Executive Officer/Consultant for the band. She also has served as Chief Consultant for the Newfound Alliance of Rural Mi’Kmaw Nations, which she united in 2018.
Her role as Chief Executive Officer/Consultant for the band is more considerable than those in most non-profits because, in addition to managing a sizable organization, the Flat Bay Band Inc. is also a self-governing community. In fact, it is the only self-governing community left in Canada that is South of 60, that does not have an Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) agreement or core budget. Liz supports this self-governing structure by being very successful at acquiring various project funding agreements put out by the provincial and federal governments, as well as through various philanthropists.
Revenue Generation
- Network with companies, funders and research for funding opportunities, provincial, federal, and other sources.
- Define community needs and assessments for programs and initiatives.
- Develop concepts to meet community needs and gaps and match them with funding criteria.
- Review project-based financial budgets with budget rationales, demonstrate in kind budgets, and develop 1–5-year cash flows.
- Identify matching of activities to funding mandates.
- Maintain a good idea of services provided in catchment areas to avoid duplication.
- Address contracts and asset policies pertaining to funding mandates.
- Determine target profile to be served.
- Develop milestones to be achieved, goals, objectives, and link these to activities, objectives, and results.
- Develop activities and timelines and link them to budgets.
- Develop rationale of concept activities and methods to be used.
- Provide back-up proof for needs and gaps and concepts to address them.
- Demonstrate band expertise with theme of given proposals and levels of funding to manage.
- Develop logic model evaluations tools and templates to be used. Locate/update and attach all documents of proof and ensure cultural aspects to all initiatives.
- Form partnership and obtain letters of support for proposals. Explain concepts to partners and get their commitment by the given deadline.
- Write in such a way that proposals are competitive in the open market to increase the likelihood of approvals.
- Meet deadlines by day/hour.
- Ensure that all attachments are contained in submission methods.
Overseeing the Management of Agreements
- Once funding agreements are approved, negotiate the funding offer and revised proposal components.
- Approve advertising and hiring or delegation of staff/project teams.
- Orient project team on activities, budget, and milestones to be achieved.
- Develop a customized financial reporting template and cash flows for the project.
- Approve the activities and methods used by Manager and Project Coordinator/Project Team.
- Work with Project Team regarding milestones and results to be met and eligibility of target profile and their responsibilities in that role.
- Help Project Coordinators to solve client, public, and internal issues, when needed.
- Help Project Coordinators to solve logistical issues, when needed.
- Response to all meetings, reviews, inquiries, forms, and backup information requested by funders.
- Approve activity and financial reporting plan, as mandated by funders on a monthly, quarterly, mid-fiscal, fiscal, and final basis.
- Review all details of activity and financial reporting aspects and advise edits before finalized/submitted to funding source.
- Identify and evaluate the risks facing the Flat Band Inc. that could impact the people, property, finances, goodwill, and image, and implement measures to control and reduce risks.
- Approve staff and finance reporting of activities, results and financials, review, edit and approved reports on a Monthly, Quarterly, Funding (Government) Fiscal (April to March), Tax (Government) Fiscal (Jan to Dec), Biannually, Annual – Band Council Fiscal (August to July) and Independent or Selected Audits.
Guiding Communications and Community Planning
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders such as employees, the Board of Directors, community partner organizations, Indigenous community leaders and members, funders, and provincial and federal government departments.
- Regularly communicate with key stakeholders to keep them informed of the work of Flat Band Inc. and use social media to develop a public profile about service and programming offered.
- Regularly communicate and/or communicate when requested with band staff, employees, and band council on projects by video conference or in person.
- Strategic planning with band, community and key stakeholders for community growth and capacity building.
Volunteer Portfolios
NARMN Consulting
Liz voluntarily serves as the Chief Consultant for the Newfoundland Alliance of Rural Mi’Kmaq Nations, whereby she unites and assists all allied bands to grow and build capacity for their communities, members, and future generations.
Community Infrastructure
Liz volunteers her natural gifts and experience in the design of floor plans, décor, and knowledge of trends and she develops concepts for Mi’Kmaw artists.
For More Information
Email Liz at flatbayband@gmail.com or leave a message at 709-647-1370.
Band Operations
Cassandra Beanland, Band Manager
Scope of Services
- Manager of all day-to-day operations
- Employee Affairs
- Communications and Public Concerns
- Executive Administration
For More Information
Email Cass at cassandra.beanland93@gmail.com or leave a message at 709-647-1370.
Finance and Records
Marley Kendall, Manager of Finance
Scope of Services
- Day-to-Day Accounting and Payroll
- CRA (Tax) Remittances
- Negotiate service agreements
- Financial Inquiries and Reporting
For More Information
Email Marley at marley.flatbayband@gmail.com or leave a message at 709-647-1370
Membership
Kim Long – Director of Membership
Scope of Services
- Maintains and updates all member files and genealogical records
- Assist with appeals, applications, and renewals of Qalipu First Nation Band status
- Approves membership eligibility for various programs and services
- Assists with Self-Government portfolios
To Apply/Update Membership/ More Info
Email Kim at klong.fbband@gmail.com or leave a message at 709-647-1370.
Self-Governance
Elder Calvin White
Volunteer Portfolios
- Band Development/Separation
- Land Claims
For More Information
Email Calvin at calshunting45@eastlink.ca or leave a message at 709-647-1370.
