The very first cohort of leaders to take one of the programs offered by First Nations Executive Education (FNEE) has successfully completed their training. FNEE is a historic initiative, and this important step marks its concrete realization.
FNEE plans to train more than 1,000 Indigenous leaders over the next 5 years.
A special day including the presentation of the participants’ personal projects as well as a graduation ceremony was held at HEC Montréal on May 6, attended by the FNEE heads and a number of dignitaries.
All in all, 17 Indigenous leaders had enrolled in this 5-month training program, starting last December.
The program, “Becoming an Agile and Innovative Leader”, is intended specifically for chiefs and grand chiefs, as well as for board chairs. The program will be given again in the coming months.
Several similar training programs dealing with other aspects of leadership are also in the works. They will appeal to other professional profiles, e.g. councillors, chiefs, board members, entrepreneurs and managers.
All FNEE programs are designed and given jointly by a training team made up equally of First Nations trainers and HEC Montréal and Université de Montréal faculty. The involvement of First Nations elders in the different training modules is another example of the unique FNEE approach and how it is built around Indigenous values.
Thanks and acknowledgements
FNEE could never have been created and successfully launched without the important contribution of its own directors. In particular, we should note the unflagging involvement and devotion of:
* Manon Jeannotte, FNEE Director and project co-initiator
* Ken Rock, Director of FNEE entrepreneurial initiatives and project co-initiator
* Serge Lafrance, Director of HEC Montréal Executive Education, and
* Federico Pasin, Director of HEC Montréal
The graduation ceremony was attended by a number of honoured guests, including:
* Ghislain Picard, Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador
* Ian Lafrenière, Quebec Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs
* Alia Hassan-Cournol, Associate Advisor to the Mayor and Head of Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples on the Executive Committee of the City of Montreal
* Marie-Ève Bordeleau, Montréal Commissioner of Indigenous Affairs
* Émilie Sénéchal, Head of Indigenous Relations, Hydro-Québec – founding member of FNEE
