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Welcoming National Office Executive Assistant Carrie Lynch

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ICCE is thrilled to welcome Carrie Lynch to the team as the new Executive Assistant to the National Office. A member of the MÃĐtis Nation of Alberta – Region 3, and a dedicated advocate for Indigenous communities, Carrie brings a wealth of experience and passion to ICCE. 

Carrie resides on the traditional and unceded territory of the Anishinaabe people, including the Algonquin Nation in the Prescott Russell area. This territory also encompasses the traditional and treaty lands of the Haudenosaunee people, including the Mohawk Nation. Her deep respect for these lands and their people reflects her commitment to honoring and preserving Indigenous cultures and traditions.

Carrie has a paralegal degree and over 15 years of legal experience in various areas of law. She has experience working with Indigenous organizations in the area of governance, and has obtained certification and membership with the Governance Professionals of Canada. 

Carrie’s role as the first Executive Assistant to the ICCE National Office will include supporting 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 Carrie to our growing organization and we look forward to the positive impact she will have on the future of ICCE.

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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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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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Welcoming ICCE Chief of Staff Michelle Swanson

photo of icce chief of staff michelle swanson

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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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.
  • Support the development of tools, protocols, and frameworks for cumulative effects assessment, monitoring and management.
  • 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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