The Chiefs of Ontario is looking for individuals, Youth, and Elders/Knowledge Keepers to sit on the First Nation Regional Social Survey Committee. Applicants for membership should have knowledge and experience in First Nation Social Service, Child and Family social practices, an understanding of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, experience with community based research, surveys, reviewing social projects, and knowledge of First Nation child welfare system.
The Regional Social Survey is the final iteration of the First Nation Information Governance Centre (FNIGC) initiative following the First Nation Labour and Employment Development (FNLED) and First Nations Regional Early Childhood, Education, and Employment Survey (FNREEES). It is hoped that a launch date for the survey will be in late 2024/early 2025. The committee is needed to review themes, questions and issues around Family Wellbeing, Culture, Language, Food and Nutrition, Housing & Basic Needs, Economic Wellbeing and Access.
Individuals will be compensated for travel expenses and meal expenses (if needed) and honoraria when attending and participating in the Regional Social Survey Committee meetings.
SUBMISSIONS PROCESS:
If you are interested in this opportunity, please review the terms of reference (attached) and submit your resume outlining your knowledge, experience, interest and any information that might help with selection, along with two references.
Roseanne Sutherland
Senior Lead Research & Data Management
Chiefs of Ontario 468 Queen Street E Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario M5A 1T7
Email: Roseanne.sutherland@coo.org
Fax: (416) 597-8365
For more information, please contact Roseanne Sutherland.
TERMS OF REFERENCE:
BACKGROUND:
Through the Regional Health Survey, First Nations have developed protocols and the principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP®), these principles are unique to First Nations. The RHS has received national acceptance from First Nations across the country. The First Nations Information Governance Centre, responsible for implementing and coordinating the Regional Health Survey has moved beyond health, and has implemented and collected data on the First Nation Regional Early Childhood, Education and Employment Survey and the First Nation Labour, Employment and Development surveys based upon the RHS model. The next and final iteration is the Regional Social Survey (RSS).
First Nations in Ontario want to ensure that any research initiatives are carefully considering all potential impacts on First Nations communities, both positive and negative—keeping in mind, that research cannot be conducted without the free, prior and informed consent of First Nations Leadership.
The Chiefs of Ontario will be the coordinating body for the Regional Social Survey Advisory Committee (RSSAC) and will provide administrative support to the committee.
The following Terms of Reference, sets out the mandate, purpose, roles and membership of the Regional Social Survey Advisory Committee.
MANDATE:
Resolution 23/25S was passed Nov 21-23, 2023 regarding the Regional Health Survey IV and Regional Social Survey. The mandate of the resolution are to support the implementation of the RSS, to establish the Regional Social Survey Advisory Committee, and to report back to the Chiefs of Assembly upon completion of the survey.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the Regional Social Survey Advisory Committee will be to provide advice and recommendations on the Regional Social Survey based on the principles of OCAP®, and guidance on the implementation and drafting of the Regional Social Survey Peoples’ Report.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
The Regional Social Survey Advisory Committee, established by the Chiefs-inAssembly, will be implemented and overseen by Research and Data Management. It will supported by the Senior Lead, Research and Data Management. The Committee will report to the Chiefs in Assembly in 3 years or after the completion of the Regional Social Survey or whichever comes first.
COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE:
The members will be individuals who have acknowledge and respect for First Nations right to self- determination in research. The membership will consist of interested individuals who have: community based social services knowledge; experience in qualitative and quantitative research; experience in research or surveillance projects; experience or interest in the implementation of surveys; or are community-based social researchers.
Membership will comprise of five (5) members and include members from across the province, an Elder or First Nations Knowledge Keeper, and a Youth representative with an interest in research or social matters. All selections will be made by Research and Data Management sector. There will be one substitute and that member will be identified as such.
Membership on the committee will be for three (3) years or until the project ends, whichever comes first. Committee members will sign a confidentiality agreement when appointed and be provided with training. Membership will cease after the completion of the Peoples’ Report for the Regional Social Survey.
MEETINGS:
The meetings will be chaired by the Senior Lead, Research and Data Management, Chiefs of Ontario;
- Meetings will occur two times a year in person or via zoom;
- Additional meetings may occur in person or by teleconference or videoconference depending on other factors such as reviewing of documents for recommendation or for the Regional Social Survey;
- Dates and locations will be determined as much in advance as possible.
DECISION MAKING-CONSENSUS BUILDING:
- Every reasonable effort should be made by the RSSAC to reach consensus on substantive issues. Depending on the circumstances, such reasonable efforts may include deferral of an issue, commissioning an expert report, and/or traditional mediation with the assistance of the Elders Council. When consensus cannot be achieved in a reasonable time, the RSSAC shall table the topic for further discussion and deliberation. No decision shall be recorded, and the matter shall be deferred for future consideration at the discretion of the Chair or referred to the Chiefs-in-Assembly to build consensus.
- The Chair shall exercise no vote except in the event of a tie, in which case the Chair shall exercise the casting vote.
QUORUM:
Quorum of the RSSAC will be established at 4 out of 5 members for any decisions required. Quorum for decisions may also be built between and over the course of several meetings through written or verbal means by members briefed on the topic being considered and the decision required. Quorum is not required for Body meetings where only discussion and information gathering is needed.
ROLE OF RESEARCH AND DATA MANAGEMENT:
The role of Research and Data Management will be to provide administrative functions such as:
- Set up meetings and notifying the RSSAC Committee members
- Set the agenda
- Draft summary of record for the meetings
- Record decisions
- Arrange and provide travel and accommodations
Code of Conduct:
FIRST NATION REGIONAL SOCIAL SURVEY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
All members of the RSSAC shall adhere to COO Code of Conduct.
The following is the Code of Conduct and principles to guide the Regional Social Survey Advisory Committee members:
- Respect the wisdom of those on the committee.
- Respect demands that you listen intently to the ideas of others on the committee and that you do not insist that your idea(s) prevail.
- Freely support the ideas of others if they are true and good, even if those ideas are quite different from the ones you contributed.
- Respect the decisions made by the committee and be respectful of others.
- Ensure that we do not force our personal beliefs or values on others to influence an outcome.
- Be professional in our decisions and maintain a high standard of behaviour in reviewing research/surveillance and project proposals.
- If a member does not respond to 2 emails and 2 phone calls/messages for meetings whether it is in person or virtual, that member will be deemed to forfeit their membership after 2 missed meetings-unless there is an emergency situation that necessitated their absence.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
- All members must sign an Oath of Confidentiality
- Information about discussions will be made available only to members of the RSSAC
- If confidentiality is broken then the member will be asked to remove themselves from the RSSAC committee.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST:
- Although it is not possible to avoid all sources of conflict, it is in the best interests of the committee to recognize conflicts of interest and to take steps to nullify or mitigate those conflicts.
- Any members shall disclose real, potential or perceived conflicts of interest to the Chair before any meeting.
