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 Programs
Indian Residential School (IRS) Program
Program Overview
The IRS Program is a comprehensive program which provides training for Aboriginal Residential School Survivors to manage and protect the compensation that is received through settlements. The program contains four essential and complimentary elements:
- A financial management information session, designed for the survivors, and delivered by experienced and qualified facilitators.
The financial management information session will assist the survivors to plan their financial futures when they receive settlement funds. It covers topics that are essential knowledge for survivors to manage their settlements most effectively. Each session is comprised of six modules including banking, personal finances, investing, business entrepreneurship, frauds and scams, and wills and estates.
- A workshop designed for frontline workers to build their expertise and knowledge base in working with survivors on financial management.
To build capacity at the community level, CESO will deliver a workshop series for frontline workers who engage with former residential school students and their families. The workshop includes an overview of the financial management information session, with an emphasis on the importance of wills and estates, and the resources available for survivors and their families.
- Preparation and dissemination of audio and video training materials designed for communities, family members and for the survivors who are unable to attend the training sessions.
Audio and video resources may be created for those survivors unable to attend the information session due to previous commitments, location constraints or illness. The need and demand for these resources will be assessed during the early stage of program delivery. Information shared through video cassette or DVD/CD will be the same as the material delivered in the information session. This will allow survivors and their families who face constraints in attending the information sessions to have access to the same information as session participants and a similar learning opportunity.
- Support to the survivors financial management awareness and decision making through a toll-free information line.
Information session participants will have access to further support through a toll-free line where they can speak to a resource person. They can seek clarification on topics covered in the sessions, and where necessary, the resource person will carry out research on behalf of the caller. The personalized and tailored assistance is especially important for supporting the individual aspects of the settlement agreements and the interest of individual callers in their personal financial options. This aftercare service will be offered free of charge to all workshop participants.
Aboriginal Women for Tomorrow (AWFT)
This workshop series is aimed at strengthening today’s Aboriginal Women to increase participation in non-traditional roles of business, governance and leadership.
The workshops part of the AWFT program are:
- Building personal skills – focuses on the development and improvement of personal skills which enable the participants to improve their confidence level and self-esteem. It develops communication, self-confidence, leadership skills, and finding and retaining a job.
- Communication – a vital component to the effective leadership. The main focus of this workshop is developing skills on how to communicate one on one; how to communicate with a group; public speaking, written communication, telephone skills, etc.
- Starting Your Own business – focuses on exploring business opportunities, writing a business plan, getting the business started, running the business profitably, and it also looks at financial management of the business.
- Governance – Skills Development for Boards - focuses on the functional and legal responsibilities of a board member or council member. At the end of the workshop the participants will have a good understanding of the relationship between boards, councils, committees and staff and how to avoid the conflict of interest as a board member.
- Budgeting/Financial Management – focuses on understanding the personal finances, business financial reports and band finances.
More information about Aboriginal Women for Tomorrow
Aboriginal Financial Management: The Road To Success
This 2 workshop seminar series, developed by CESO Aboriginal Services and funded by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), is offered free of charge to Aboriginal peoples across Canada. The standard application fee of $150 applies.
Workshop 1: Understanding Basic Bookkeeping
Understanding Basic Bookkeeping (UBB) is an introduction to the basics of double entry bookkeeping, making journal entries, and some understanding of income statements and balance sheets. The course is helpful to anyone new to accounting or with a need to understand bookkeeping as part of their job responsibilities.
Workshop 2: Aboriginal Financial Management
Aboriginal Financial Management (AFM) builds on the basics and concentrates to a greater degree on balance sheets, income statements, budgeting, variance reporting and managing the financial aspects of a business. It is intended for those persons who have attended the UBB or have an understanding of accounting, and will be of interest to individuals from the band office, entrepreneurs, and community organizers.
MBA Experience Program
- Through the MBA Experience Program, CESO and the Royal Bank of Canada – our longest-standing corporate partner - provide a unique volunteer solution that goes directly to Aboriginal communities in every province and territory in Canada. By bringing Aboriginal communities together with MBA students, the program provides an opportunity for tomorrow’s business leaders to gain practical experience and cultural knowledge while helping Aboriginal communities and businesses improve.
- Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than 400 students have participated and more than 100 CESO VAs have served as team members.
Aboriginal Business Canada (ABC)
- In 2004, CESO and Aboriginal Business Canada (ABC) launched a two-year pilot project aimed at significantly increasing the number of successful Aboriginal entrepreneurs.
- Through this partnership, ABC and CESO will combine access to capital and mentoring - the two key elements of entrepreneurial achievement.
- ABC will assist 60 Aboriginal high and medium-risk youth entrepreneurs with startup loans, while CESO will provide 2 years of personalized mentoring to each entrepreneur.
- The pilot project will operate in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.
National Métis Development Fund
- The CESO Métis Development Fund, supported by the Royal Bank Foundation and the Government of Alberta, has helped CESO provide services for Métis peoples, who account for 30% of the Aboriginal population.
- Since 1999 the Fund has allowed CESO to complete more than 40 Métis projects in the areas of governance, organizational development, strategic planning, forestry planning, fundraising and business development.
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