b'COVER STORYto leave and look for work in Ottawa, orthey dont grow up knowing the culture. Vancouver, or wherever. One more strandThis gradually pulls a community apart.of the home communitys fabric is torn.What advice would you give to aSo how does poor governance First Nation looking to undertakeaffect families? Nation Building?There is a very well-known First NationsThe number one thing that we see leader, Satsan (Herb George), out in B.C.successful Nation Building leaders do is He is a Wetsuweten Hereditary Chief ofdefining their personal job and the job the Frog Clan and has been a long-timeof the leaders around them as one ofTHE HARVARD Speaker for the Wetsuweten Nation. Hetaking control of every possible decision.PROJECT ON helped found the Centre for First NationsHistorically, prior to colonialism, most First Governance. Satsan was quoted in one ofNations were thriving communities. TheyAMERICAN INDIAN our books. He said, What we are tryingdidnt turn to Ottawa, they didnt turnECONOMIC to do is put a new memory in the mindsto the province, for their judicial system, their taxation system, their laws. TheseDEVELOPMENTof our children. If the kids and the grandkids grow up, and they watch Momcommunities knew how to be self-governing.and Dad and the older generation and seeIn the States, we use the phraseAt the heart of the Harvard Project is nothing but political infighting, instabilitysovereignty, and sovereignty is a prettythe systematic, comparative study of and the attendant failures to run a schoolsimple ideaits making your ownsocial and economic development on well or attract a business, then we are notdecisions. It touches on everything, fromAmerican Indian reservations. What putting very good memories in the mindswhats being taught in your schools whereworks, where and why? Among the of the children and the grandchildren. Inyour children go, to what kind of disputekey research findings:todays world, one of the consequencesresolution and court system you are goingSovereignty Matters. When Native of that is that the children and/or theto have, to what kind of council andnations make their own decisions grandchildren pick up and move away.governance system you are going to have.about what development approaches Then the children and the grandchildrenThe successful Nation Building Nationsto take, they consistently outperform external decision makers on matters dont grow up knowing the language andchange the conversation among the leaders,as diverse as governmental form, natural resource management, economic development, health care and social service provision.AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WHAT YOU SEE IS THATInstitutions Matter. For development to take hold, assertions of sovereignty FIRST NATION NATION BUILDING RESULTS INmust be backed by capable institutions of governance. Nations ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT ECONOMICdo this as they adopt stable decision rules, establish fair and independent DEVELOPMENT ENABLES FIRST NATIONS TO START TOmechanisms for dispute resolution, and separate politics from day-to-day TAKE ON THEIR OWN PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS. INbusiness and program management.COMMUNITY AFTER COMMUNITY, YOU SEE THE BANDCulture Matters. Successful economies stand on the shoulders OR THE NATION BEGINNING TO POUR ITS OWN MONEYof legitimate, culturally grounded institutions of self-government. INTO THE HEALTH CLINIC, START TO PUT ITS OWNIndigenous societies are diverse; each nation must equip itself with MONEY INTO ROAD REPAIR, START TO USE ITS OWNa governing structure, economic system, policies and procedures that MONEY TO BUILD ITS OWN POLICE FORCE, AND SOfit its own contemporary culture.Leadership Matters. Nation building FORTH.THAT TAKES BUDGET PRESSURE OFF OF THErequires leaders who introduce new knowledge and experiences, FEDS AND OFF OF THE PROVINCES. THIS MEANS THATchallenge assumptions and propose change. Such leaderswhether FROM A STRICT BUDGET PERSPECTIVE, NON-NATIVEelected, community or spiritualCANADIANS ARE GOING TO BE BETTER OFF IF THEIRconvince people that things can be different and inspire them to FIRST NATION NEIGHBOURS ARE BETTER OFF.take action.From the Harvard Projects website,JOE KALT which can be found at: hpaied.org/72 The Circle Winter Issue 1 2019'