1974 2003 Canada's First Federally Recognized Tribal Council

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• 1974 - 2003 Canada's First Federally
  Recognized Tribal Council

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Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council

• The DOTC was established in Brandon, Manitoba in
  August, 1974 which essentially involved the South
  West Region of the Manitoba Indian
  Brotherhood.The Tribal Council is the
  predecessor of all existing tribal councils in
  Canada. The minutes and incorporation documents
  identify 10 First Nations at the founding
  meeting.

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Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council

• The current member First Nations of DOTC are
• Birdtail Sioux First Nation
• Canupawakpa Dakota Nation
• Long Plain First Nation
• Dakota Plains First Nation
• Roseau River First Nation
• Sandy Bay First Nation
• Sioux Valley Dakota Nation
• Swan Lake First Nation

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Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council

• The combined total population of these eight
  First Nations is estimated at approximately
  12,000 members.
• The purpose and intent of this development was to
  take over the delivery of programs from the
  Brandon District Office of INAC.
• The initial Administrative Unit of the DOTC
  comprised of one receptionist, one executive
  secretary, two government advisors and one
  technical services personnel.
• The current Administrative staff consists of one
  Chief Executive Officer, one Director of Finance,
  three finance clerks, one executive assistant,
  two executive secretaries.

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Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council

• Major accomplishments of the DOTC over the past
  25 years
• Dakota Ojibway Child Family Services
• Dakota Ojibway Police Service
• Dakota Ojibway Investments Ltd. - Tribal Council
  Investment Group
• Dakota Ojibway Housing Authority Inc.
• Dakota Ojibway Culture Recreation Association -
  Winter Tribal Days
• Yellowquill College
• Anisinabe Mazaska Capital Corporation

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Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council

• Programs and Services
• Administration Offices are located in Brandon,
  Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg.
• Community Futures Development Corporation CFDC
  offers loans for business startups.
• Dakota Ojibway Child and Family Services
• Dakota Ojibway Police Services
• Education
• Dakota Ojibway Health Services Main office
  located in Winnipeg.
• Social Development offices located in Brandon,
  works as advisory advocacy capacity for member
  First Nations.
• Yellowquill College Located in Winnipeg, in
  operation since 1984.
• Youth Initiative Located in Winnipeg, is in its
  fifth year of its five-year plan.

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D.O.T.C. - Social Development Program

• Mission
• This Mandate as granted by the DOTC Council of
  Chiefs to the DOTC Social Development Program as
  follows
• The Social Development Program shall together
  with it's current responsibilities of monitoring
  and advisory capacity, be expanded to include the
  performing of an Advocacy role and function.
• Development and analysis of social policy for and
  on behalf of the member DOTC First Nations.
• Develop strategies and options on Social Reform
  for the DOTC First Nations.
• Develop political strategies and action plans in
  addressing the whole matter of the Social Union.
• Being the catalyst, as capacity building unit for
  the DOTC area.
• Development of a data collection and retrieval
  system for the DOTC area, with regard to Social
  Development.
• Development of options for the establishment of a
  First Nations Social Safety Net.

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D.O.T.C. - Social Development Program

• Goals
• Develop Data Collection Retrieval Systems by
  determining where each DOTC First Nation is with
  their current computer systems by way of a
  computer system evaluation.
• Begin research and identify training needs for
  DOTC First Nations Social Assistance staff.
• Identify trainers and facilitators as required.
• Establish a computer data base with each DOTC
  First Nations Social Assistance staff, i.e.
  social services program profiles, number of
  caseloads, number of males, number of females,
  etc.
• Establish a communication system/network to
  ensure that monthly status reports are done to
  specifications before being submitted. Social
  services reports cover Basic, Special Needs,
  In-Home Care, Work Opportunity Program, and
  Re-investment Funds.

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D.O.T.C. - Social Development Program

• Background
• In 2000 and previous, I.N.A.C. and MB. First
  Nations have jointly pursued a Automation and
  Electronic Delivery Initiative.
• In the Manitoba Region, First Nations are
  required to submit monthly Social Services
  Reports to INAC. (lots of paperwork)
• The First Nations were to purchase computer
  software designed for reporting and is capable of
  electronic delivery of Social Service Reports to
  I.N.A.C.
• In 2000, the Social Development Program,
  undertook the task of acquiring an Automation
  program as set out by the First Nations and INAC.

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D.O.T.C. - Social Development Program

• Social Development had a number of workshops for
  computer software vendors to show their software
  to S/A Administrators from the eight member First
  Nations.
• The S.A. Administrators decided on OjiCrees
  Welfare Administrators Helper computer program.
• The acquisition was made and training commenced
  at D.O.T.C.s computer lab at the Winnipeg
  office.
• Social Development and OjiCree IT are in a
  ongoing partnership developing innovative
  software for the Social Program for member First
  Nations.
• Networking the member First Nations would be
  costly, Social Development OjiCree decide to
  try a new and innovative concept.

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D.O.T.C. - Social Development Program

• The program was developed into a website based
  data base, this was cost efficient and easy to
  maintain.
• S/A staff can gain access to the OjiCree website
  by User Ids and Passwords
• Because the program was now a website based data
  base, the Internet would be utilized by the
  Social Assistance staff.
• Internet service and training would be required
  in both computer applications.
• Internet service in rural areas encountered
  problems with the Dial-up modem system, loss of
  data, slow connections, etc.

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D.O.T.C. - Social Development Program

• Manual Reporting - Problems
• When First Nations in the Manitoba Region submit
  Social Services Reports (S.S.Rs) to INAC, the
  social assistance clients applied amount isnt
  the same as what INACs - ISAS system indicates
  social assistance clients are entitled to. The
  amounts differ according to the ISAS systems
  formula, the applied amount is less than the
  entitled amount.
• Yet, INAC does not correct the error First
  Nations have made, nor does INAC inform the First
  Nations.
• Therefore, First Nations are under funded, many
  are unaware of this variance and do not submit to
  access the correct amount entitled to.
• A 3.5 million dollar shortfall in a four year
  period was identified in the D.O.T.C. area using
  the OjiCree IT software.

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D.O.T.C. - Social Development Program

• Secure Remote Access 2002-03
• INAC had developed a Secure Remote Access link
  (S.R.A.) to be used by all First Nations in the
  submission of reports (Text File transfer) to
  INAC in the Manitoba Region.
• First Nations were to sign an agreement with
  INAC, upon which each First Nation would receive
  a new Dell computer.
• This new computer came with software installed
  with the S.R.A. link and is only to be used by
  those identified and authorized in the agreement.
  

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D.O.T.C. - Social Development Program

• Present
• On Feb. 13, 2003 in the morning, OjiCree
  repeatedly attempted the Text file transfer via
  the S.R.A. using the GENet Dial-up modem system
  that INAC recommended, was unsuccessful. OjiCree
  made the attempt once again in the afternoon
  using Sioux Valleys High-speed Internet
  servicethis proved to be very successful.
• Sioux Valley a member First Nation had the
  foresight to acquire High-speed Internet service
  for the Administration office, School and the
  community.
• Within a span of four minutes OjiCree IT received
  a call from INACs IT person and was
  congratulated on the successful data transfer.

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D.O.T.C. - Social Development Program

• OjiCree Software Users
• Birdtail Sioux First Nation 1st Dial-up Text file
  transfer
• Dakota Plains First Nation
• Long Plain First Nation
• Sandy Bay First Nation
• Sioux Valley Dakota Nation 1st High-speed Text
  file transfer
• Currently not using OjiCree software
• Canupawakpa Dakota Nation (Database being
  updated)
• Roseau River First Nation (Database being
  updated)
• Swan Lake First Nation (Database being updated)

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D.O.T.C. - Social Development Program

• Future
• D.O.T.C. is currently in the process of acquiring
  High-speed Internet service for its Social
  Assistance offices on each member First Nations.
• This would increase the efficiency of the OjiCree
  Software as well as provide a stable connection
  for the Secure Remote Access (S.R.A.)
• Plans are in development for a Paperless
  Welfare Office, all documentation would be
  scanned and stored on a D.O.T.C. Server.
• Documents could be accessed as needed or e-mailed
  if required.
• Some Banks are utilizing this system for returned
  cheques, this eliminates paper and is completely
  legal when done properly.

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TheDakota Ojibway Tribal CouncilWebsite Address
is

• http//www.dotc.mb.ca