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Author: Betty Biesenthal
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ICCE 2023 Annual Report: Celebrating Achievements and Looking Forward

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The 2023 Annual Report from the Indigenous Centre for Cumulative Effects (ICCE) highlights a year of accomplishments, milestones and forward-thinking initiatives. This review shares the organization’s ongoing commitment to empowering Indigenous communities based on its strategic pillars. 

The opening section of the report features messages from the ICCE leadership: Executive Director Leea Litzgus, Board Chair Angie Gillis and Technical Advisory Committee Co-Chairs Alexandra Bridges and Pepita Elena McKee, setting the stage for the year’s achievements. These reflections emphasize the collective efforts and collaborative spirit that have driven ICCE’s successes.

The core of the annual report is dedicated to the key achievements across the ICCE strategic pillars:

  1. Capacity Building and Training
  2. Networking, Provision of Expert Advice and Information Sharing
  3. Strengthening ICCE Governance
  4. Corporate Management and Leadership

Each of the above pillars represents a fundamental aspect of the organization’s mission, while the 2023 achievements reflect significant progress in support of that mission.

One of the standout events of the year was the 2023 ICCE National Conference, which brought together Indigenous communities, environmental technicians, wellness workers, land management professionals, Elders and knowledge holders.

The Community Funding Program demonstrated ICCE’s commitment to supporting communities and organizations to implement impactful programs that address cumulative effects.

ICCE’s dedication to knowledge sharing was evident through numerous speaking engagements and collaborative projects. These efforts facilitated the exchange of best practices and fostered a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Looking ahead, the preparation and development of the Strategic Plan 2024-2027 marked a significant milestone. This forward-looking document outlines the organization’s priorities, goals and strategies for the coming years.

The growth of the ICCE team was another notable achievement. The addition of new team members brought fresh perspectives and expertise, further strengthening the organization’s ability to address cumulative effects.

This annual report also offers a glimpse into the exciting initiatives planned for the 2024-25 fiscal year. ICCE aims to build on the momentum of 2023 and launch new projects that align with its strategic objectives well into the future.

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Betty Biesenthal July 25, 2024 0
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News

Call for Speakers – 2025 ICCE National Conference

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Honouring All Our Relations: Embracing Indigenous Perspectives on Cumulative Effects
May 26 to 28, 2025
Westin Bayshore Hotel
Vancouver BC
Call for Speakers is now closed.
Agenda and Early-bird Registration will be available soon.

Do you have a compelling story to share relating to an Indigenous cumulative effects project or initiative? Are you an innovative, dynamic, and interactive speaker that will leave participants with tools to support their development, and insights to inspire continued growth in cumulative thinking?

As a speaker, you will share your knowledge on cumulative effects assessment, management, and monitoring, and how your ground-breaking initiatives are helping Indigenous communities to strengthen their capacity to build stronger communities.

Through interactive presentations, panels, and roundtables, conference participants will learn more about innovative ways to handle the social, cultural, and environmental components of cumulative effects work. These discussions, rooted in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge, will empower communities to seize this opportunity to act and continue their contribution to the ever-growing Indigenous leadership on cumulative effects.

Background

The Indigenous Centre for Cumulative Effects is an independent organization that supports Indigenous communities to undertake cumulative effects work. ICCE is a non-political organization and remains neutral on issues. ICCE is independently operated by Indigenous people. Our mission is to create networks and develop and share knowledge to empower community-based approaches to culturally relevant cumulative effects assessment, monitoring, and management to support Indigenous well-being and decision-making. 

Conference Theme and Sub-Themes

The theme of the conference is: Honouring All Our Relations: Embracing Indigenous Perspectives on Cumulative Effects.

Presentations relating to the ICCE Conference theme and one or more of the following sub-themes will receive higher priority:

  • Interconnectedness and Interdependence: understanding the intricate web of relationships between the land and all beings.
  • Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science: empower a Two-Eyed Seeing approach by addressing cumulative effects issues within Indigenous knowledge and western science systems.
  • Environmental Stewardship: Exploring Indigenous models of conservation and sustainability for mitigating cumulative impacts.
  • Cultural Resilience: Examining the resilience of Indigenous communities in the face of cumulative effects.
  • Valuable Partnerships: Fostering partnerships between Indigenous communities, governments, and Industry to address cumulative effects in a holistic and inclusive manner.
  • Justice and Equity: Ensuring that responses to cumulative effects respect Indigenous rights, sovereignty and self-determination.
  • Healing and Reconciliation: Recognizing the historical trauma inflicted by cumulative effects and pathways towards healing and reconciliation.
Attendees and Audience
This conference audience consists of First Nation, MÃĐtis and Inuit community members and Indigenous organizations that undertake, or aspire to undertake, cumulative effects assessment, monitoring and management. Attendees have responsibilities or are interested in having responsibilities related to cumulative effects such as land managers, environmental technicians, knowledge holders and land guardians. The ICCE conference audience is mainly comprised of Indigenous individuals and communities representatives
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact our Conference Secretariat by email at conference@icce-caec.ca.
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Betty Biesenthal July 16, 2024 0
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ICCE Launches Strategic Plan 2024 – 2027

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In summer 2024, after months of visioning and collaborative thinking, ICCE launched its most recent Strategic Plan covering the period 2024 through 2027.

The purpose of this strategic plan is to set clear direction for the organization in identifying objectives, priorities and activities for the next three years based on the ICCE vision and mission. This plan will support the development and implementation of annual work plans, and serve as a guide in decision-making across all levels of the organization.

Strategic planning remains an ongoing process, allowing ICCE to define initiatives and allocate resources to achieve the objectives set out in this plan. Periodic review and re-assessment of the strategic plan will allow the ICCE team to make adjustments, as needed, during the 2024-2027 period.

Key Factors and Considerations

For a thorough understanding of the operational context of ICCE, the following five considerations are highly influencing the future direction of the organization.

While the current external landscape has a tremendous impact on ICCE, the following internal factors are informing our strategic priorities, decisions and ongoing projects:

  1. Confirmation of funding until 2028
  2. Strengthened Commitment by newly appointed Board of Directors
  3. Emerging needs for Indigenous communities identified by the National Needs Assessment
  4. Insights from the Community Funding Program data analysis
  5. Substantive demands for ICCE knowledge sharing
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Betty Biesenthal July 15, 2024 0
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Welcoming Michelle Swanson: ICCE Chief of Staff

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ICCE proudly announces Michelle Swanson as our new Chief of Staff, effective June 24, 2024. This strategic addition marks a significant milestone for ICCE, displaying our commitment to fostering exceptional leadership and driving impactful change within our organization. 

Michelle is a proud MÃĐtis Nation of Alberta – Region 3 citizen, and is currently a Board Director for the MÃĐtis Settlement Development Corporation. 

One of Michelle’s standout qualities is her expertise in change management. She pursued her Prosci Certification in Change Management and is a Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP). These credentials, along with her experience, make her an invaluable addition to ICCE as the organization continues to navigate and thrive amidst change.

Michelle’s role as the first Chief of Staff at ICCE will include overseeing key initiatives, facilitating communication between departments, and ensuring the alignment of resources to achieve ICCE’s organizational goals.

The ICCE team is excited to welcome Michelle to our growing organization and we look forward to the positive impact she will have on the future of ICCE.

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Betty Biesenthal June 24, 2024 0
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ICCE Strategic Plan 2024-27

The ICCE vision is for Indigenous peoples to have the capacity and the ability to assess, monitor and manage the cumulative effects occurring in their lands, waters and communities. 

The ICCE mission is to create networks, and develop and share knowledge to empower community-based approaches to culturally relevant cumulative effects assessment, monitoring and management to support Indigenous well-being and decision-making.

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The purpose of the strategic plan is to set clear direction for the organization in identifying objectives, priorities and activities for the next three years. It aims to fulfill the ICCE vision and mission.
Strategic Pillar 1: Capacity Building and Training
  • Support the development of tools, protocols and frameworks for cumulative effects assessment, monitoring and management.
  • Increase awareness of cumulative effects.
  • Follow up on the National Needs Assessment.

2024-2025 Objectives

  • Facilitate intergenerational knowledge transfer by involving more Elders, Knowledge Holders and Youth 
  • Identify and develop Capacity Building initiatives across the country

2025-2026 Objectives

  • Increase regional training opportunities and support
  • Broaden the scope of services to include environmental capacity and challenges faced by First Nations, MÃĐtis and Inuit

2026-2027 Objectives

  • Develop in-person and on-line training programs
  • Develop partnerships with post-secondary institutions for training and potentially a certification program
Strategic Pillar 2: Networking, Provision of Expert Advice and Information Sharing
  • Increase awareness among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, regulators and industry about ICCE’s role in supporting their work.
  • Assist communities to navigate the Impact Assessment Act.
  • Act as a resource for Indigenous communities to access information, resources, and best practices around cumulative effects assessment, monitoring and management.
  • Fill existing gaps and build bridges between existing initiatives surrounding cumulative effects.

2024-2025 Objectives

  • Develop collaborative relationships with First Nations, MÃĐtis and Inuit communities and organizations

  • Establish a presence, through regional events, to communicate ICCE’s work to communities across the country

2025-2026 Objectives

  • Organize conferences for knowledge sharing and networking

  • Provide technical support to facilitate the sharing of knowledge between Indigenous communities

2026-2027 Objectives

  • Build a database to facilitate understanding and access to cumulative effects data and information for First Nations, MÃĐtis and Inuit
Strategic Pillar 3: Strengthening of ICCE Governance to Ensure Long-Term Sustainability
  • Secure stable financing and increase awareness of ICCE’s activities.
  • Solidify the status of ICCE as a credible source of information and knowledge to government.
  • Enhance and support board decision-making.

2024 – 2025 Objectives

  • Establish an organization structure aligned with strategic direction and goals
  • Create an effective approach to Board communications with Indigenous communities
  • Create a Board communications strategy

2025 – 2026 Objectives

  • Seek alternative funding opportunities including potential funding from industry
  • Engage Elders and Knowledge Holders and Youth to enhance board governance

2026 – 2027 Objectives

  • Assess the organization’s achievements and recognition nationally
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Betty Biesenthal June 3, 2024 0
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Uncategorized

2025 ICCE Conference – Save the Date!

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Honouring All Our Relations: Embracing Indigenous Perspectives on Cumulative Effects
May 26 to 28, 2025
Westin Bayshore Hotel, Vancouver BC

We are excited to announce that the 2025 ICCE National Conference will be held in the beautiful city of Vancouver, British Columbia. Mark your calendars for an event that promises to bring together First Nations, MÃĐtis and Inuit peoples across Canada.

Speakers from coast to coast to coast will share their knowledge on cumulative effects assessment, management and monitoring and on how ground-breaking initiatives are allowing their communities and organizations to build and strengthen capacity in addressing cumulative effects.

Through interactive presentations and panel discussions, conference participants will learn about innovative ways to handle the social, cultural and environmental components of cumulative effects work. These discussions, rooted in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge, will help empower communities to take action while strengthening Indigenous leadership relative to cumulative effects.

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Betty Biesenthal May 27, 2024 0
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ICCE 2023 Conference: Sharing Knowledge to Take Action

May 29 to 31, 2023
Westin Hotel, Ottawa ON

The 2023 ICCE conference theme is Sharing Knowledge to Take Action. Our first in-person conference will be held May 29 to 31, 2023 at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa ON. 

For details please visit the official conference website. 

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Betty Biesenthal February 10, 2023 0
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News

ICCE Releases First Annual Report

Greetings Colleagues and Friends of ICCE,

It is with great pleasure that I announce the release of ICCE’s first Annual Report. It covers this past exceptional year, but also the overall growth since the Indigenous Centre for Cumulative Effects (ICCE) was incorporated in November 2019.

Through the Centre, we have an extraordinary opportunity to share knowledge and best practices and to develop networks to help create the conditions for the well-being of future generations. 

Our Two-Eyed Seeing approach, which respects and balances both Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge systems, will benefit the people and the life with which we share our lands for years to come.

We are proud of our accomplishments and growth. Over the past 2.5 years we have expanded our Board of Directors and Technical Advisory Committee, recruited a small but talented team, and developed tools to support First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities to undertake cumulative effects work in their territories.

The development of a Knowledge Centre, Guidance Documents, an interactive map of cumulative effects practitioners, virtual conferences, and our community funding program, are just a few of our accomplishments. In addition, this past year we conducted a national needs assessment that identified community capacity needs and gaps that will inform our Strategic Plan and guide our work in the coming years. 

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I am truly proud of the work our small team has accomplished.

Our vision is that all Indigenous people have the capacity the require and the ability to assess, monitor and manage the cumulative effects occurring on their lands, waters and communities. We are excited for the future as we continue to share knowledge to empower community-based approaches to culturally relevant cumulative effects assessment, monitoring and management to support Indigenous well-being and decision-making.

I would like to say Chi Miigwetch to our Board of Directors, Technical Advisory Committee and partners for their ongoing support, knowledge and guidance.

In good spirit,

Leea Litzgus
ICCE Executive Director

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Betty Biesenthal January 25, 2023 0
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Our Team is Growing!

ICCE is very pleased to announce two additions to our team in the positions of Associate Executive Director, and Executive Officer and Entrepreneur-in-Residence.

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Treena Wynes
Associate Executive Director

Treena Wynes is a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band in Northern Saskatchewan. She comes to ICCE with six years of experience leading Indigenous agencies in Director positions. She most recently held a Director position at the Saskatoon Tribal Council where she built their new child and family services agency from the ground up. 

Treena was also an Executive Director for the Heiltsuk Nation’s child and family services agency in Bella Bella where she lived for two years. She found the experience of living in the Heiltsuk community rewarding as she was able to learn about the rich and vibrant culture of the Nation she served. 

Treena attained her social work degree from the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (now First Nations University) in 1999. She is a registered social worker and published author. 

Fun fact about Treena is she was in a Dierks Bentley/Deric Ruttan music video which made the CMT’s Top 20 for six weeks.

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Sean Power
Executive Officer, Entrepreneur-In-Residence

Sean Power joins ICCE as Executive Officer and Entrepreneur-in Residence (EIR). Sean brings 20 years of private-sector entrepreneurship experience. 

His work has directly contributed to the eventual acquisition of some of the companies he has been involved in, most notably by Dinnerlab (Dishcrawl), BMC (Coradiant), Salesforce (CoTweet) and Google (PostRank). He has fundraising expertise in both the public and private sector and has advised many company and non-profit founders to help them scale. 

Sean has written books on the topic of business metrics (one of which was translated into nine languages and sold around the world) and has spoken about this topic at countless private and public events, including giving lectures at universities such as McGill University and Utrecht University.

Please join us in welcoming Treena and Sean to the ICCE team!

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Betty Biesenthal November 25, 2022 0
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ICCE Launches Cumulative Effects Knowledge Centre

ICCE is excited to announce the launch of its Knowledge Centre, which contains information, resources, and best practices related to cumulative effects. ICCE developed this Knowledge Centre, with two main objectives: to bring together documentation available on the subject of cumulative effects and to make it easily available for Indigenous communities to access.

ICCE’s mission is to create networks, develop and share knowledge that empowers community-based approaches to culturally relevant cumulative effects assessment, monitoring, and management, that supports Indigenous well-being and decision-making.

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Our Knowledge Centre is an important new tool to help build and enhance the technical and scientific capacity of Indigenous communities. It will help us address cumulative effects, based on the values of First Nations, MÃĐtis, and Inuit communities across Canada.

The Knowledge Centre is available on our website at www.icce-caec.ca

If you have any comments or issues with the Knowledge Centre please contact us.

Browse Knowledge Centre

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Betty Biesenthal August 30, 2022 0