Message from President

Aboriginal Nurse, The, Jul 2006 by Hanson, Gaye

The Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada (A.N.A.C.) is moving through a period of refocusing and renewal. The Board has engaged in a strategic planning process that will soon result in a draft document. We are building on the previous work completed by President Lisa Dutcher and facilitator Bernice Downey. This draft will be distributed for comment and I urge all members to engage and let Us know if the plan will carry us forward. The intention is to renew the plan every year.

The importance of strategic planning for a national organization operating in a complex environment cannot be overstated. We need to stop and look around and connect with our strategic environment - what is going on out there that we need to take into consideration? What trends, issues, opportunities and challenges are coming over the horizon? I was in Ojibwa country in northern Ontario recently and asked an Elder about the significance of the "bear standing up" that is a powerful part of local jewelry and logos. "Why is the bear standing," I asked? As only Elders do, she said, "So he can look around." That is what we must do as well. I got the sense that I should have been able to figure that one out myself. We also ask about what strengths and weaknesses do we have as an organization that will allow us to respond to our environment and make a positive contribution to the lives of nurses and Aboriginal people? What is our unique contribution that no other national organization can make? These are the questions the Board has been pondering with expert guidance from a skilled planning facilitator. Sally MacLean came well qualified and has worked in war-torn international communities, so we could not tackle anything that she was not familiar with in some way. The plan will lead us into an organizational renewal within which we need to address important issues leading toward our application for funding beyond March 2007.

One of the challenges of operating in this complex world is to remain flexible and open to make dynamic adjustments to our plan as needed. We are building that capacity into the plan and into our decision making process at the Board level. We invite you to get involved as our next newsletter will include highlights from the plan and will invite your feedback.

Enjoy your summer!