The School of Community Government

Political Development, Leadership and Governance

A high impact seminar series for elected councils, aboriginal leaders, negotiators, boards and other officials.

What is the purpose of the Political Development, Leadership and Governance Program?

To provide a forum for Councils/Boards to develop & enhance leadership skills and knowledge.

What will I learn?

Leaders can participate in Workshop seminars that provide leading edge information in a broad range of topics including: self-government, law making, negotiation skills, and Community Constitutions.

What are the objectives of the program?

  • To create a forum where leaders can learn and discuss emerging political development and leadership activities.
  • To develop and enhance leadership capacity.
  • To offer certification.

Workshop Series for Councils and Boards 

Workshop Descriptions

Module 1 - Roles and Responsibilities: What Do I Need to Know?

This module provides newly elected/appointed Councillors and Board Members with an overview of the basic roles and responsibilities encountered in these positions of leadership and authority. The three main roles defined in this module are: The Representative Role , The Policy Making Role , and The Managerial Role .

Module 2 Leadership: Making a Difference

Exercising leadership and authority requires good ability to aim for results based on principles that serve the general good of communities. This also extends to getting results by motivating community members to work towards a shared vision of the future. Topics covered in this workshop are: Effective Community Leaders , Leading Requires a Big Picture Viewpoint, Leading Doesn't Mean Having All the Answers , Councillors/Board Members are Leaders not Managers , and Your Role is to Lead-Not Manage .

Module 3 Planning: Directions for Success

Effective strategic planning supports community development and capacity building. A good plan provides a vision of where you want to go and a map that outlines how you will get there. In this module, Councillors and Board Members are introduced to the basics of defining the strategic planning process and how to monitor and evaluate effectiveness.

Module 4 Programs and Services: Evaluating Results

Programs bring resources and people together for specific purposes. Programs have budgets and timelines. Priorities set by Councils and Boards are mandated by higher levels of authority which require readily available resources and information reporting. Councils and Boards are judged by the quality of programs and services they provide. This workshop focuses mainly on the development of program design and performance evaluation.

Module 5 Community Constitutions: How Government Works

In this module Councillors and Board Members have opportunity to examine the legislative process in the context of community government organizations, (bylaws, policies, band council resolutions) as a key to effective governance. The areas of authority and powers of each level of government is outlined, as will the legislative process at the municipal, territorial and Federal levels.

Module 6 Financial Awareness: Understanding Budgets and Reports

In order to make effective decisions regarding operations and costs of running programs and services, Councils and Boards need to be able to incorporate skills and knowledge to good financial management practices. In this workshop participants are introduced to the importance of having clear, effective, and accurate budget management practices. A number of factors related to an all-year budget process will be introduced and examined.

Module 7 Governance and the Law: Liability Issues

This workshop provides a general description of legal liability issues so that Councillors and Board Members can exercise a "duty of care", manage risks and avoid potential conflict of interest situations in a reasonable way when making their decisions. Participants are also be introduced to a process model on how to deal with a variety of potential liability issues.

Module 8 The Senior Administrator: A Team Resource

Councillors/Board Members hire, direct, evaluate, and retain senior administrators (SA). It is very important that the working relationship between the Council or Board and the SA be clear and strong. They must trust their SA to carry out policy decisions made by Council or Board and to make good operational decisions and to be able report accurate and timely information. This module covers these main topic areas.

Module 9 Effective Meetings: Getting Where You Want to Go

Attending meetings, for the most, is a highly visible part of elected/appointed official's role. In meetings, what the public sees and hears will largely be the basis on which effectiveness is judged. Therefore, meetings must be conducted in an appropriate and effective manner and Councillors and Board Members must effectively participate in these meetings. The main topics discussed in this workshop include the meeting process and structure, making decisions, passing policy, and reporting on items discussed at meetings.

Module 10 Teamwork: Working with People and Issues

Members of governing bodies (Councils and Boards) are required work together as a team. To be effective and productive in their roles, they must have an understanding of the benefits of positive group behaviours as well as the stages of team development. The main issues discussed in this workshop are teambuilding and problem solving strategies in the context of goal achievement through teamwork.

Module 11 Exercising Our Authority: Making Decisions that Require Action

Council and Board Members, whether they are elected or appointed, will at some point be called upon to decide - to exercise authority. HOW authority is exercised has consequences for the organization and the people they serve. This workshop will introduce people to concepts that are central to exercising authority and making sure decisions are made that are "directive" - they require action - and are respectful of people and other organizations.

Module 12 Emerging Governance: How our Future is Changing

Self-government is happening in the Northwest Territories. It will impact on governance structure of Councils and Boards. The inherent right to self-government for Aboriginal people and the negotiation of land claims settlements are creating new models of governance. New roles and responsibilities for councils/boards will result. Agreements are being negotiated that spell out the changes that will directly affect what councils/boards do. This module is dedicated to detailing self-government.

Module 13 The Role of the NWT Trustee in Health and Social Services

This module addresses two key areas of responsibilities: 1) The responsibility of each Board of Trustees in providing the proper management of the Authority's facilities, programs, services and funds. 2) The responsibility of Trustees to focus on the issues that involve quality care and financial management for their region within the operating framework of the entire Health and Social Services system.

Module 14 Evolution of Aboriginal Self-Government

This workshop reviews the history that led to the development of self-government negotiations and the development of the Tåîchô self-government agreement model. Council and Board Members will gain an appreciation for the history of self-government negotiations and a better understanding of what self-government in this region entails.

Module 15 Risk Management - Facing Difficult Decisions

The purpose of this workshop is to offer Councils and Boards, their staff, and communities, the tools to assist them in avoiding and managing potential risks. Communities regularly face difficult decisions, therefore, sound knowledge of risk management is an essential and key component of good leadership.

Module 16 Conflict of Interest - A Guideline

The purpose of this workshop is to guide participants in understanding more about the Conflict of Interest Act and to discuss general and specific potential areas of conflict of interest situations and issues at the community level. By learning new knowledge in this area and through discussion, members will learn more about how to avoid potential conflict of interest situations and clearly know the process involved in dealing with conflict of interest issues once they have taken place.

Module 17 Overview

In this module, Councillors and Board Members gain an understanding of MACA's (Department of Municipal and Community Affairs) work in providing support for community governments and programs and services to NWT communities. In broad terms, it describes the mandate and organizational structure of MACA, the role of the Minister, and the role of Headquarters and the Regional Offices.

Module 18 Health and Social Services Boards - The Role of the Trustee

This module focuses mainly on orientating members to the role of trustees and the structure of Health and Social Boards and the Department of Health and Social Services.

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