April 2015 Staff Development Quarterly

The Staff Development QuarterlyApril 2015

The Staff Development Quarterly is produced by the Staff Development branch, Public Service Commission.

For the most up-to-date information about courses and training for Yukon government employees, visit the Learning & Development section of Employee Info.

https://yukonnect.gov.yk.ca/employeeinfo/learning-development/Pages/default.aspx

mailto:[email protected]

http://healthandsafety.gov.yk.ca/training-calendar

https://yukonnect.gov.yk.ca/employeeinfo/learning-development

April 2015

Course title:

The Art 'n Craft of Public Policy

Course description: This workshop will give participants a brief overview of the theories

and models relevant to each component of the policy cycle (problem definition, agenda

setting, policy design, options evaluation, implementation, program evaluation). This

workshop will be of particular interest to program managers as well as those individuals who

are interested in how public policy is created and impacts their work in government.

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Explain the forces that influence public policy

• Describe the main components of policy discourse

• Provide a description of each of the steps in the policy cycle

• Define instruments of public policy

• Make a connection between the instruments of public policy & the nature of policy

issues

• Engage stakeholders in different ways

• Develop mutually exclusive policy options

• Address the challenges associated with policy implementation

• Explain the strategies to assess policy outputs and outcomes.

Discussion of theories will be interspersed with practical exercises to help put the theory in

practice.

Prerequisites: None required, although participants' understanding of the material will be

enriched by having attended the "Machinery of Government" workshop prior to taking the

Art n' Craft of Public Policy.

Instructor: Thea Vakil, University of Victoria Location: Whitehorse

Start date and time: 21/04/2015 9:00 AM End date and time: 22/04/2015 4:30 PM

How to register: Fill out a training request form. Course contact: [email protected]

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April 2015

Course title:

Building Your Team

Course description: The ability to develop a strong sense of teamwork is a critical skill

for any leader that manages a team, and in fact teamwork may be one of the few sustainable

advantages that organizations can have in today's competitive world. This workshop is

designed to provide the skills to leaders that help diagnose how their own team is

performing and to identify the steps that need to be taken to optimize it. Skills are taught

through a hands-on team based simulation that exposes all of the common pitfalls.

The workshop is a skills-based training version of our popular team optimization facilitation

that we typically do with intact teams.

Results Participants Can Expect:

• Clearer roles and responsibilities

• Improved levels of trust and ability to resolve conflict

• Guiding principles that have buy-in and are followed

• Greater levels of accountability and improved team results

• Improved self-awareness about own style when leading teams

Key Focus Areas:

• The 5 dysfunctions of a team

• Building trust and resolving conflict

• Communication and feedback on teams

• Team structure

• Roles, responsibilities and decision making on teams

• Team meetings

• Developing guiding principles

Target Audience: This workshop is relevant to leaders at all levels that manage teams either

directly or indirectly (e.g. project managers).

This workshop is offered as a 1-day workshop.

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April 2015

Instructor: Kwela Leadership Location: Whitehorse



How to register: Fill out a training request form.

Course contact: [email protected]

Course title:

Coaching for Performance

Course description: How does one hold people accountable for results while still

motivating them to give their best? The consistent answer is that by far the largest factor is

the behaviour of the manager and more specifically, coaching behaviours. Engaged

employees frequently report that that they understand what is expected of them, are

empowered to make decisions as their skills improve and receive feedback when they have

done a good job and when they have not. Just as importantly, when they face barriers on the

job, the manager makes an honest attempt to understand and problem-solve in a

constructive way.

This program provides the core management skills that maximise employee performance and

engagement. It makes extensive use of skills practice using actual participant case studies in

order to ensure relevance and prepare participants for critical conversations back on the job.


• Higher levels of performance of staff members

• Improved accountability with respect to people executing on their prior commitments

• Increased opportunities for staff to grow their skills

• Higher levels of engagement and improved retention

Key Focus Areas:

• Employee engagement and coaching

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April 2015

• The 8 essential behaviours for managing people

• Setting clear expectations

• Giving feedback and holding people accountable

• Recognition

• Active listening

• Negotiating expectations

• Delegating situationally

• Coaching with the GROW model

• Holding tough conversations

• Holding one-on-one meetings with employees

Target Audience: This course is applicable to people managers at all levels.

This course is typically offered as a 1-day workshop.






Course title:

Corporate Orientation Session to YG (New employees)

Course description: Welcome to your new position with Government of Yukon.

This Corporate Orientation session is designed to support and complement the orientation

provided by your department, supervisor and co-workers. This orientation will be especially

relevant to those new employees who have never worked with Government of Yukon before.

Location: Whitehorse

Start date and time: 13/05/2015 9:00 AM End date and time: 13/05/2015 12 PM

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April 2015



Course title:

Creating A Respectful Workplace Through Communication

and Collaborative Practices

Course description: This one-day workshop looks at what it takes to create and maintain

a respectful, healthy, well-functioning workplace as required by the Respectful Workplace

Policy. In an engaging and interactive format, participants reflect on what they can contribute

to a respectful workplace and what the barriers are. As unmanaged conflict can get in the

way of a respectful workplace, this workshop presents a variety of practical models to help

participants look at their own conflict styles, analyze what is causing conflict, and consider

some new ways of addressing it. Case scenarios will be used to apply the Policy and models,

and participants will be expected to contribute to the dialogue in this workshop.

Open to all employees

Instructor: Conflict Resolution Practitioners from the Respectful Workplace Office









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April 2015






Course title:

Crucial Conversations® Workshop

Course description: A workshop for all of those who are faced with the challenge of

'crucial conversations' – conversations where the stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions

run strong. They are crucial conversations because when they are ignored or handled poorly,

the results typically include strained relationships, poor performance and dismal productivity.

This highly acclaimed two-day workshop will provide practical skills for navigating crucial

conversations, helping participants to create alignment and agreement by fostering open

dialogue around those high-stakes, emotional, or risky topics. Participants in the workshop

will learn how to speak and be heard (and how to encourage others to do the same) so that

the best ideas emerge, high quality decisions are reached and actions are taken with unity

and commitment.

The workshop will teach participants how to:

• Speak persuasively, not abrasively

• Foster teamwork and better decision-making

• Build acceptance rather than resistance

• Resolve individual and group disagreements

To gain the most from each day, ensure your calendar is free and you come prepared to

participate fully in each day's activities. Please note that there is a cost recovery of $125

per participant for this course. This is half of the true cost ($250), therefore it is not eligible

for further funding through PTTP.

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April 2015

Instructor: Crucial Conversations® Trainers Location: Whitehorse




Course title:

Developing Resilience During Change

Course description: Overview: When an individual is experiencing high levels of change,

their capacity to adapt can rapidly be depleted. Resilience - the ability to remain productive

during turbulence - helps people achieve better outcomes for themselves and their

organizations. This half-day course explains why change can be challenging and introduces a

set of seven "change muscles" that help individuals use their energy more effectively as they

move through the adaptation process. Participants receive individual feedback on their own

resilience, and engage in exercises that provide practice in applying each of the

characteristics. They leave with an action plan for strengthening their resilience.

Learning Objectives: Successful completion of this half-day course will increase your

knowledge and ability to:Understand why change can be challengingRecognize change-

related disruption in work and personal settingsIdentify signs that you and those around you

are experiencing change overloadFormulate effective responses to change-related

challengesEnhance your own resilienceDeliver more effective performance during turbulence

Instructional Strategies: This workshop is highly interactive. The instructor presents key

concepts, then helps the participants build personal connections through discussions,

interactive exercises, and games. Participants receive confidential individual feedback based

on a questionnaire that is completed in advance of the course. They complete an action plan

for developing their personal resilience, and are encouraged to reach out to others in the

class to provide mutual support for development.

Audience: Developing Resilience During Change is designed for:

• Individual contributors

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April 2015

• Supervisors

• Lower to mid-level managers

• Members of intact teams

This topic can also be delivered effectively to upper-level managers and senior leaders with

revisions to the form and design.

Prerequisites: Completion of Personal Resilience Questionnaire (online, available in

multiple languages, takes about 15-20 minutes). The questionnaire will be sent to participants

2 weeks prior to the course.

Instructor: TidalShift Location: Whitehorse


Start date and time: 09/07/2015 1:00 PM End date and time: 09/07/2015 4:30 PM


Start date and time: 21/01/2016 1:00 PM End date and time: 21/01/2016 4:30 PM



Course title:

Enhancing Your Supervisory Excellence

Course description: This training and development focuses on the optimum

supervisor/employee relationship, defined by regular interactions and two-way conversations

in which both sides discuss their work transparently. Participants work with various theories in

the areas of appreciative leadership, performance amplification, communication and

organizational learning.

Through personal self-assesment tools and reflection, participants explore their personal style,

learn how to increase awareness of those they supervise and build deep-listening skills to

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April 2015

promote two-way feedback. Communications preferences will also be explored. This program

is for those who would normally be interested in applying for the Supervisory Success

Program, or for those who know that knowledge of oneself and one's communication styles is

critical to effective supervision, and want to hone those skills.

Note : This is a 3-day course.

Prerequisites: Participants must know their MBTI Preference to take this course.

Instructor: Dr. Lyn Hartley Location: Whitehorse







Course title:

Evaluation Essential Skills

Course description: As part of the Essential Skills Series (ESS), Evaluation Essential Skills

is a four-day workshop that equips participants to enter and participate in the evaluation field

and to develop as evaluation professionals. Participants will be able to describe in basic

terms 28 core evaluation concepts - from the uses and benefits of evaluation through

common data collection methods to evaluation ethics and standards - and will gain

elementary experience in six core practices - from creating logic models to writing findings

statements.

The ESS was completely re-designed in 2014 by the Canadian Evaluation Society

incorporating state-of-the-art thinking and modern adult learning principles. Prior knowledge

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April 2015

of evaluation, or of social science research methods, is not required, and this course is geared

towards individuals who are new to evaluation.

Topics discussed in this course include:Foundations of evaluationEvaluation objectives and

rolesProgram profilingEvaluation questionsEvaluation indicatorsCommon research

methodsEvaluation designData collectionData management and analysisSynthesizing

evidenceCommunicating evaluation findings

Instructor: Dr. Wendy Rowe Location: Whitehorse




Course title:

Exploring My Career

Course description: This one day workshop will guide a small group of 6-8 participants

on an inquiry specific to their career. A series of questions will help participants dive deeper

into their career development journey.

What question would you like to explore to find more clarity and flow for your work and life?

Open to all employees.

Instructor: Pawa Haiyupis Location: Whitehorse




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April 2015

Course title:

Facilitation Skills

Course description: Did you know that the way an individual runs meetings is highly

correlated to how he/she is perceived as a leader? People who run great meetings are able to

deliver far better decision-making for the organization, and are generally more productive

with their own time and the time of others. Unfortunately, the reality is that many (if not

most) organizations suffer from poorly planned and led meetings, resulting in widespread

frustration, difficulty in making decisions, and even burnout as employees struggle to gain

control over their time.

Fortunately, meeting management is a skill that can be readily learned and applied. In

addition to providing the tools, this workshop has a strong emphasis on practice. Throughout

the day, participants use the tools provided to tackle specific challenges and examine how to

apply them back on the job.


• Greatly improved group decision-making

• Meetings with direction and movement that make great use of time

• Improved involvement and reduced stress for participants

• Improved ability to work with larger groups

• Meetings that achieve stated objectives

Key Focus Areas:

• Involving the right people

• What to do before the meeting

• Controlling the discussion and staying on track

• Choosing the right decision making approach

• Creativity tools for group decision-making

• Dealing with people who dominate or do not participate enough

• Using visual aids during meetings

• What to do after the meeting

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April 2015

Target Audience: This course is applicable to leaders at all levels who run meetings or

engage in group decision-making on a regular basis.

This course is offered as a 1-day workshop.





Course title:

FMIS-FM30 Inquiry

Course description: (formerly called "MPNet Inquiry")

Learn how to use various inquiry functions in the FMIS-FM30 general ledger, accounts

payable, purchasing, fund accounting and accounts receivable system. This hands-on

workshop takes place in the Staff Development Branch computer lab.

Prerequisites: Participants must have an active Quest/SOFT reporting account to take this

training.

Instructor: David Charchuk Location: Whitehorse




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April 2015

Course title:

Group Facilitation/ Focussed Conversation Methods

Course description: Group Facilitation Methods is a good basic facilitation course.

Learn step-by-step approaches to clear thinking, sound decisions, solid consensus and open

dialogue. Learn how to:

• Facilitate groups more effectively.

• Make meetings more productive and efficient.

• Focus a diverse group's energy on common goals.

• Create a sense of teamwork.

• Improve staff morale.

• Tap into group creativity to maximize productivity.

Learn the Focused Conversation Method which provides a structure for clear dialogue and

reflection, probes beneath the surface to the depth of a topic, encourages a diversity of

perspectives and leads to decisions.

Learn the Consensus Workshop Method to engage participation of diverse group members

and create genuine consensus. Build effective team partnerships and lead large groups

effectively.

Check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZBFF1j0U-A for a 3 minute video about this

course.

Instructor: ICA Associates Location: Whitehorse




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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZBFF1j0U-A


April 2015

Course title:

Introduction to Creating A Respectful Workplace

Course description: This half-day workshop begins the dialogue about what it takes to

create and maintain a respectful, healthy, well-functioning workplace. In an engaging and

interactive format, participants will be introduced to their responsibilities under the Respectful

Workplace Policy and reflect on what they can contribute to their own respectful workplaces.

Discussion will include what gets in the way of a workplace being respectful and how

unmanaged conflict can impact a workplace. This workshop will introduce participants to a

variety of practical models for understanding and responding to conflict and disrespectful

behaviours.

Open to all employees. Work units are welcome to register for these classes as a group; class

sizes are limited to 20.

Instructor: Conflict Resolution Practitioners from the Respectful Workplace Office











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April 2015


Course title:

Introduction to Land Claims

Course description: This course will provide you with an overview of the Yukon First

Nation Final and Self-Government Agreements. It is part of our effort to acquaint YG staff

with a basic understanding of the content and implications of the land claims agreements.

https://yukonnect.gov.yk.ca/department/ECO/ar/Pages/Introduction-to-land-claims-course.aspx

Cost: free Time: 2.5 hours Class size: There are 15 spaces in each class.

Location: Aboriginal Relations boardroom, 2nd floor at 204 Main St. (between the shoe store

and the sushi restaurant).

How to register: Contact [email protected] (No training request form is

required.)

We also offer specialized sessions. If you are interested, contact [email protected] .

Course title:

Introduction to YG FMIS

Course description: This half-day workshop provides an overview of Yukon government’s

Financial Management Information System (FMIS) including the general ledger, accounts

payable, purchasing, fund accounting and accounts receivable.





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https://yukonnect.gov.yk.ca/department/ECO/ar/Pages/Introduction-to-land-claims-course.aspx



April 2015


Course title:

Joint YG-YEU Grievance Procedure Training

Course description: If you are a manager, supervisor, shop steward or human resources

professional, who participates in the Grievance Procedure in the YG-PSAC collective

agreement, this course may be for you. Initially delivered in 2005 and 2006, this one-day

course was put together jointly by the YG and the YEU to assist you in understanding the

grievance procedure framework and your roles in the grievance procedure, and will increase

your effectiveness in grievance problem-solving, and your understanding of the grievance

process generally. This training will be delivered jointly by union and employer representatives

to classes made up of both union and employer representatives, and will include role-playing

in a number of grievance scenarios. Please indicate on your Training Request Form whether

you most often represent the union (shop steward) or the employer (supervisor/manager/HR),

so that we can ensure a mix of interests in each class.

Instructor: Union & employer representatives Location: Whitehorse







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April 2015

Course title:

Machinery of Government

Course description: This 1.5-day interactive course focuses on Cabinet governance and

implications for management in the Yukon public service. It will be most beneficial for middle

and senior managers and those involved in the development of material for Cabinet decision

and in briefing deputies and Ministers.

Drawing on the experience of the former Cabinet Secretary, participants will explore why we

do what we do and the parameters within which we work. Specifically, discussion will focus

on:

• the foundations upon which the Yukon government was formed

• the roles of Cabinet, the public service and the interface between the two

• best practices

• how decisions of Cabinet are made and communicated

• what Cabinet needs from senior managers for informed decision-making.

Over the course of 1.5 days, participants will develop briefing materials that will be used at a

mock Cabinet meeting on the morning of the second day. Presenters include staff from the

Executive Council Office.

Instructor: Janet Moodie and Executive Council Office officials





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April 2015

Course title:

Meeting of the Minds

Course description: This one day workshop focuses on understanding people and

advancing collaboration in the workplace. Using experiential and interactive learning,

individuals discover how to leverage their own strengths and develop awareness of what

others bring to the table. Participants will gain understanding of how to communicate and

work more effectively by harnessing diverse perspectives.

Prerequisites: Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire so that a

confidential personal profile can be created in advance of the course.

Instructor: Emergentics International Canada Location: Whitehorse





Course title:

Meetings That Work

Course description: Design and facilitate effective meetings

In today's world of truncated timelines, increased workloads and demands for workplace

democracy, we need group decisions made quickly, positively and with diminished frustration.

We also need to ensure that meetings are effective, efficient and highly productive. This

course is designed for the person who needs tools to enhance participation and productivity

in various types of meetings. The course has extensive reference material on various tools and

facilitation methods.

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April 2015

You can:

• Move a group toward action.

• Diminish frustration in your meetings.

• Get better results from your meetings.

• Get people more involved.

• Enable people to become more productive

• Design and turn meetings into events

Learn how to:

• Increase the productivity of the group.

• Focus the purpose and intent of large and small meetings.

• Aid the group in its decision-making processes.

• Handle difficult situations in groups.

• Match process tools to each group's needs.

• Design effective agendas.

• Create participatory environments.

• Develop a sense of teamwork among team members.

This course includes descriptions, with references, of 72 facilitation tools and methods used

by professional facilitators. You will learn how to design effective agenda items, meetings and

facilitated events. Practice is an important component in this course.

Instructor: ICA Associates Location: Whitehorse




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April 2015

Course title:

Presenting Like a Pro

Course description: Learn how to make your presentations effective and powerful! In this

1.5 day course you will:

• develop self-awareness into the way you present to groups;

• find your own unique way to inject passion into your presentations;

• learn the best practices, and identify which you feel you can adopt;

• practice enough so that you feel a significant change in the way you present – today!

Instructor: Kwela Leadership & Talent Management Location: Whitehorse





Course title:

Project Management Concepts

Course description: Overview: Many managers and team members deal with projects

that are of short duration, sometimes less than six months - too big to manage successfully

with just a task list on a tablet and too small to benefit from the full array of rigorous, formal

project management techniques. Some of these projects include team members who may be

new to the area of project management and require exposure to key concepts and best

practices in order to achieve effective results.

This course is designed to provide project participants with knowledge and practice using a

flexible, efficient ten-step process that provides planning without overkill, control without

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April 2015

being cumbersome. In this workshop, participants learn and apply proven project

management techniques to smaller, short-term projects.

Using a ten-step process that maps to best practice models and an international project

management standard which focus on five key areas (Project initiating, Planning, Execution,

Monitoring & Control, and Closing), participants apply techniques for gathering, analyzing

and communicating essential information specific to each step. Working in small teams,

participants practice project planning and executing techniques throughout the workshop.

Learning Objectives: Participants will learn to:

• Define project management and the five process groups of project management

• Apply a flexible ten-step model that provides a framework with tools and techniques

to effectively manage a project

• Apply the appropriate amount of project management to small projects

• Create and interpret project management deliverables such as the Project Charter,

Work Breakdown Structure, Project Network, Gantt, Risk Management Plan and Status

Report

• Apply project management deliverables to facilitate communication, decision making,

and problem solving in a project

• Control projects by tracking progress and taking corrective action

Instructional Strategies: The workshop introduces main process concepts and proven

practices from the Project Management Institute's (PMI) five process groups, Initiating,

Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Control, and Closing. The instructor presents each topic in

a tell-show-do format using a simple case study. Working in teams of four or five,

participants then practice applying the tools and techniques presented in the workshop.

Audience:

• Individuals with current or future assigned project management responsibilities

• Individuals responsible for managing small projects

• Project leads or team members working on sub-projects of larger projects

• Project clients, sponsors, and other stakeholders who contribute to projects.

Instructor: Gregg Brown, TidalShift Inc. Location: Whitehorse

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April 2015







Course title:

Quest/SOFT Reporting

Course description: Learn how to run the various reports that are available in

Quest/SOFT Reporting. These reports provide information on accounts payable, general

ledger, fund accounting commitments and budget vs. expenditures. Features such as creating

AP vendor and GL account code lists will be covered, including how to create saved reports.

Prerequisites: Participants must have an active Quest/SOFT reporting account to take this

training.






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April 2015

Course title:

Step Up How You Speak Up

Course description: What message are you broadcasting? Ever wondered how you are

coming across? In a meeting? When delivering important information? When presenting to

the public? Even just in your workplace when working with a team?

This introductory workshop uses video feedback to assist with understanding the sub-textual

messages we are sending. Participants will be expected to bring something to present;

anything – an idea you want to put forward at a staff meeting; a briefing to your team about

a new deadline; a public service announcement; a proposal to your boss about a different

way of doing things. Each person will be videotaped two times. The facilitator will lead a

respectful and sensitive session where the work is deconstructed and we evaluate what

contributes to successful message communication.

Instructor: Arlin McFarlane Location: Whitehorse


Start date and time: 26/11/2015 9:00 AM End date and time: 26/11/2015 4:30PM



Course title:

Talk Matters On Teams

Course description: Investigate ways to improve intrapersonal communication within

groups and teams. We will explore what makes a healthy group/team, how groups develop

and how to work through workplace dynamics with groups.

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April 2015

Prerequisites: Participants need to have completed 'Talk Matters' (H+SS), 'Enhancing Your

Supervisory Skills' (Staff Development) or 'Quality Conversations' (Environment) and bring

their MBTI preference.

Instructor: Dr. Lyn Hartley Location: Whitehorse





Course title:

Yukon First Nations History, Culture, Agreements & Self-

Government

Course description: Discover how modern-day negotiations have helped build

interpersonal relationships through which communications between the governments can

occur. Follow the oral history that weaves its way through the fabric of Yukon First Nations

culture and helps to explain its spiritual beliefs, potlatches and the clan system of

organization. Review First Nation beliefs, social and justice systems, the Indian Act’s

incompatibility with these systems and how these systems influenced contemporary Yukon

land-claim negotiations. Examine the Umbrella Final Agreement, First Nation Final Agreements

and the implementation of Self-Government Agreements.

All employees will benefit from attending this four-day workshop.

Instructors: Ingrid Johnson & Marilyn Jensen. Both Ingrid Johnson, whose Tlingit name is

K’ayyaddeh and Marilyn Jensen, whose Tagish name is Yadultin, hold degrees in

anthropology. They form LegendSeekers Research Inc., and research and develop curricula for

First Nations and the governments of Canada and the Yukon. Their delivery styles honour

traditional First Nations culture.

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April 2015







Course title:

Yukon First Nations Traditional Knowledge

Course description: Randall Tetlichi shares Old Crow Gwich'in First Nations perspectives

about their traditional knowledge, spirituality and culture.

Traditional knowledge is passed down from generation to generation through stories told

and shared by the elders. Randall will share with you the teachings that the elders of Old

Crow and others throughout North America have passed onto him. These teachings can

stimulate self-awareness, caring and fellowship with others.

This workshop includes two days of in-class lecture and a one-day outdoor sweat ceremony.

Learn about some of the medicines and plants used by First Nations, explore drumming and

songs that are also used to impart traditional knowledge. The sweat, on the third day, will

help bring together the mind, the body, the spirit and the in-class teachings. The sweat is

considered optional and will be discussed in class.

Randall Tetlichi, formerly a Chief for the Old Crow Gwich'in, now travels throughout North

America speaking to audiences about his First Nations culture. He shares his knowledge of

the land and caribou with a variety of northern "land and wildlife" stewardship groups, and

provides counselling work to help heal people in his First Nation. Currently, Randall provides

First Nations support to students and staff at Yukon College.

Instructor: Randall Tetlichi Location: Whitehorse

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April 2015 Staff Development Quarterly

Documents

Transcript of April 2015 Staff Development Quarterly