The National Aboriginal Trust Officer Association (NATOA) and Lethbridge College announced today that they have extended their partnership to complete the remaining phases of a trust training program with the prospect of eventually laddering into a professional designation and a post-secondary credit.
The pilot of the stand-alone “trust-training basics” was originally launched at Lethbridge College in 2010 to enhance Aboriginal fund management strategies and processes, providing online training founded on Canadian best-practices. It has been successfully delivered to close to 200 participants across Canada to date in support of increased education and decision-making in the investment of trust funds on behalf of community and economic development.
“It is important to understand the effects of good management and decision making, both for today’s generation and the seven generations yet unborn,.” stated NATOA chairman, Wyatt Arcand. “There are many opportunities to improve the management of trust funds for our communities and this unique training program provides the support needed to align with best practices.”
Dr. Paula Burns, Lethbridge College’s President and CEO, said the college is proud to be a partner with NATOA in this important program. “Lethbridge College and members of local, regional and national First Nation Inuit and Métis communities have prioritized building mutually beneficial partnerships for many years,” Burns said. “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with NATOA for this important initiative and continue providing value beyond the traditional post-secondary model.”
The next stage of the project includes the development of the remaining phases and organizational capacity to expand the reach of the program. The intermediate and advanced trust management training will ensure communities are well-equipped to handle the diversity of trust agreements regardless of complexity and unique circumstance.
“This is an exciting time for us,” Arcand continued, “This trust training project is a world-class program and our goal is to make it accessible to each Aboriginal community across the country.”
There is an estimated $200 billion dollars of trust assets and investments being managed on behalf of Aboriginal communities across Canada. NATOA’s vision is to improve investment return by a conservative two per cent across the country, putting an estimated $4 billion dollars back into these communities.
The initial program was supported financially by TD Bank and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC), formerly Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). NATOA is currently finalizing funding support through corporate sponsorships, philanthropic groups and grant funding and it is anticipated that work on the education program will re-convene at the end of June 2013. Alberta-based Platepus Global Consulting is providing project, promotional and administrative support.