What Richard is running on

Seven commitments, in Richard's own words. What each one means, and how members will know it is happening.

The order is not his to set. That is what the Membership Conference is for.

1. A Membership Conference

Members come together, name our priorities, and we build a four year plan from what you say.

A Membership Conference in the first year, at home and in Regina, so members on and off reserve can both take part
Members name the priorities. Council does not arrive with the list already written
A clear four year strategic plan built from what members say, published in plain language
Regular updates on what has been accomplished, what remains to be done and where we are going
What members decide goes on the Council agenda in writing, and gets an answer on the record

How you will know it is working: a conference on the calendar in year one, and a plan with your own words in it.

Band owned business, real partnerships, and members hired first on the work we control.

Economic development treated as a standing priority with someone accountable for it, not a file that moves when there is time
Band owned business grown so the Nation earns its own revenue instead of waiting on transfers
Partnerships entered with our eyes open, our own legal and technical advice, and terms members can see
Members hired first on the work the Nation funds
Training tied to the jobs we are actually creating, not training for its own sake

How you will know it is working: members working on our own projects, and revenue the Nation controls.

Shovels in the ground in year one, and a housing list members can actually look at.

Ground broken in the first year. Not another study, not another consultant, not another year of waiting
The housing list posted every three months, so every family can see where they sit and why
One written policy for how houses are assigned, published in plain language, so the rules are the same for everybody
Repairs logged in writing with a date attached, and the log posted alongside the list
Roads, water and the things that make a house liveable planned with the houses, not years after

How you will know it is working: ground broken in the first year, and a list you can look at four times a year.

Food we grow, hunt and harvest ourselves.

A food security plan for the Nation: gardens, storage, and getting food to the families who need it
Hunting, fishing and harvesting supported as food and as our way of life, not as a hobby
Community freezers and a way to share a harvest that reaches Elders and young families first
Traditional foods in our programs and at our gatherings
Our own land used for our own food production where it makes sense

How you will know it is working: food coming off our own land, and Elders who do not go without.

Both ends of the Nation looked after, and the young ones brought in early.

A Youth Council seated in the first year, with a real budget and a seat at the Council table
Education and training funded and tracked, with members told plainly what is available and when
Home care for our Elders, and rides to appointments, treated as essential services and not extras
Our Elders advising on the big decisions and signing off before they move, not after
Youth and Elder programming that runs year round, not only in summer

How you will know it is working: a Youth Council with money behind it, and our Elders in the room when it counts.

Our language and ceremony funded like they matter, and help members can actually reach.

Cree language and ceremony funded as a line item in the budget, not out of whatever is left over
Traditional activities supported as part of community life, not as an add on
Mental health and addictions support members can reach at home and in the city, not a waitlist in another town
Land based and cultural healing funded beside clinical care, because both work
A named person members can call who answers, and who calls back

How you will know it is working: help you can reach in the week you need it, and our language spoken by people who did not grow up with it.

If Council spends it, members get to see it, and there is something left for our grandchildren.

Financial statements posted for members every quarter, in plain language, not once a year at audit time
A members meeting on a fixed schedule, whether there is news or not
Every contract over a set amount named in public: who got the work, what it cost, and why they were chosen
Council pay and expenses posted with everything else
Long term financial sustainability planned for, so money from today's agreements is still working in twenty years

How you will know it is working: four statements a year you can actually read, and a plan that looks past the next election.

These seven came from Richard. The Membership Conference exists so they do not stay his alone.

If something is missing, say so.