My MNBC Governance Experience
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Who I am!
Lissa Dawn Smith Biograhpy
Elect Lissa Dawn Smith for Metis Nation BC President
Smith just celebrated her 14-year anniversary on the Metis Nation BC Board of Directors and is the longest serving board member in the history of Metis Nation BC.
Smith is a mother of two, grandmother of three and a great grandmother of three.
Smith first became involved in Metis community governance in 2004, she went on to become the Metis Nation of Greater Victoria Vice-President and President. Smith was appointed by the Region 1 Governance Council in 2007 as their interim Region 1 Director.
She regards her most important work with Metis Nation BC as the appointment she received as Minister Responsible for Metis Veterans, and the 12 years she served on the Veterans file. In 2010 Lissa was awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work with Aboriginal veterans. She served as MNBC Region 1 Director for nine years and was elected as the MNBC Vice-President in 2016. Smith is currently MNBC's Acting President.
Her current Ministry portfolios include Minister of Metis Rights, Justice and Minister of Digital Government. She has previously served as the MNBC Minister of Veterans, Children and Families and Health. She is also the MNBC Senate Liaison to the MNBC Board of Directors.
In 2004 Smith graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Social Work degree with an Indigenous specialization. Her past employment includes working for the Provincial Ministry of Human Resources and Child and Family Social Services with several First Nation communities. Smith also worked as a coordinator at the University of Victoria, Native Students Union.
Smith was trained in emergency management at the Justice Institute of BC. Her work in emergency management included an appointment as the Alternate Director of the Emergency Social Services Program for the City of Parksville. Smith was also a personal disaster worker for the Red Cross. In 2011 she trained as a Gladue report writer.
Lissa Dawn Smith is a proud Metis Nation BC Citizen who currently lives in the Greater Victoria area with her partner Roland. She was born in Port Alberni, BC and has lived on Vancouver Island for most of her life.
Elect Lissa Dawn Smith for Metis Nation BC President
Smith just celebrated her 14-year anniversary on the Metis Nation BC Board of Directors and is the longest serving board member in the history of Metis Nation BC.
Smith is a mother of two, grandmother of three and a great grandmother of three.
Smith first became involved in Metis community governance in 2004, she went on to become the Metis Nation of Greater Victoria Vice-President and President. Smith was appointed by the Region 1 Governance Council in 2007 as their interim Region 1 Director.
She regards her most important work with Metis Nation BC as the appointment she received as Minister Responsible for Metis Veterans, and the 12 years she served on the Veterans file. In 2010 Lissa was awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work with Aboriginal veterans. She served as MNBC Region 1 Director for nine years and was elected as the MNBC Vice-President in 2016. Smith is currently MNBC's Acting President.
Her current Ministry portfolios include Minister of Metis Rights, Justice and Minister of Digital Government. She has previously served as the MNBC Minister of Veterans, Children and Families and Health. She is also the MNBC Senate Liaison to the MNBC Board of Directors.
In 2004 Smith graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Social Work degree with an Indigenous specialization. Her past employment includes working for the Provincial Ministry of Human Resources and Child and Family Social Services with several First Nation communities. Smith also worked as a coordinator at the University of Victoria, Native Students Union.
Smith was trained in emergency management at the Justice Institute of BC. Her work in emergency management included an appointment as the Alternate Director of the Emergency Social Services Program for the City of Parksville. Smith was also a personal disaster worker for the Red Cross. In 2011 she trained as a Gladue report writer.
Lissa Dawn Smith is a proud Metis Nation BC Citizen who currently lives in the Greater Victoria area with her partner Roland. She was born in Port Alberni, BC and has lived on Vancouver Island for most of her life.
Current MNBC Initiatives
MNBC recently signed a letter of intent with the Province of BC to begin work on a new Metis Nation Equity and Reconciliation Agreement.
Our Ministry of Employment and Skills Training has supported the largest ever number of Metis students attending post secondary training this year. The continued support of both the Federal and Provincial governments has been tremendous.
MNBC has been purchasing properties around the Province to build new Metis Centers. Our intention is to create at least one Metis Center in each of the 7 regional districts over the coming years. Our aim is to ensure they include space for Metis specific day cares, community offices and below market rental housing for Metis citizens.
MNBC is working to develop a new first time homeowner grants which would be available in 2022.
MNBC is signing the new Metis Justice Strategy with the Province of BC and will soon begin working on the implementation.
MNBC has amazing early learning programs for the younger generation to learn about Metis culture at an early age.
Last summer MNBC launched an Elders Assistance Pilot Program aimed at helping low-income Elders buy important health related necessities. EAPP provided up to $2,500 for individuals and $4,000 for couples.
MNBC has developed new programs and distributed millions of dollars in COVID supports to our citizens and business over the last 18 months.
MNBC has provided an historic level of new funds to our Chartered Communities over the last year.
Our health team is working very hard providing COVID 19 assistance to our Metis citizens, and is currently hosting Elder’s supportive care consultation sessions across the Province.
We have moved into our new headquarters at the Surrey Gateway SkyTrain station to make it easier for citizens to access our programs and service staff.
MNBC is currently developing the business case for the creation of a new Employment and Skills Training Institute as well as a new Culture, Language and Heritage Institute.
MNBC is working hard on becoming an Employer of Choice
Led by our Ministry of Digital Government MNBC plans to become the first paperless government in Canada within the next 5 years
Our Central Registry has now digitized over 30,000 files in the last year as part of our Wahkohtowin Project. This project aims to reduce the current backlog of new and renewal applications to less than 60 days.
We are beginning work on drafting the Metis Children and Families Act to prepare for the transfer of Metis children in care to MNBC. Currently Metis children in care represent the highest population of in care children and this must be dealt with to protect our children and families.
The MNBC Cabinet has undertaken an openness and transparency initiative which has meant we now regularly post the minutes of our meetings online and we plan to broadcast our Cabinet meetings starting in 2022.
Successfully held our 1st Annual Children and Families Forum which set the path for use to take over jurisdiction for our children from Ministry of Children and Families.
MNBC has implemented a new social media strategy which has significantly increased the amount of followers we now have on social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
MNBC introduced a pilot Kinship Application Program in our Central Registry to significantly speed up processing times if you already have a family member who is a citizen.
MNBC is modernizing our Metis Business Directory with the goal of working with these entrepreneurs to form a strong province-wide network.
MNBC provided $500,000 to help support small businesses impacted by COVID.
MNBC has embarked on our 1st ever budget consultation process this fall. Feedback from these sessions will be incorporated into our 2022/23 budget.
MNBC is supporting our homeless and those at risk of homelessness by implementing a robust rent supplement program and providing emergency shelter support.
MNBC is investing in seven new Regional Community Coordinators who will support the activities of our Chartered Communities across BC.
MNBC continues to forge toward self-sustainability by signing a number of joint venture agreements related to major infrastructure projects in BC.
MNBC is supporting families who want to enroll their kids back into organized sport programs through a one-time $150 grant.
MNBC is organizing the first ever Metis Youth Parliament to be held at the BC Legislature in February 2022. A total of 87 Metis Youth from ON, MB, SK, AB and BC have been invited to attend this historic event.
MNBC successfully launched a Home Garden Pilot Project as a way of improving food security for Metis families.
MNBC launched the Citizen Based Funding Initiative which will provide citizens with priority for programs and services.
MNBC launched MeTV to help showcase our culture and capture the spirit of what it is like to be Metis in BC. The show also airs in Manitoba.
MNBC organized the first Virtual Metis Culture and Language Festival taking place in November 2021.
MNBC is supporting our citizens who are challenged with mental illness by introducing a new Metis Counselling Connections program.
MNBC is undertaking a province-wide public awareness campaign to let our citizens know about the various programs and services we offer within the Nation.
MNBC established the first ever 2SLGBTQQIA+ Advisory Committee to better understand how our government can address the needs and challenges faced by this community.
MNBC successfully undertook a recruitment campaign in the historic Metis community of Kelly Lake and has established them as our 39th Chartered Community.
For the first time ever, MNBC negotiated to have BC Place, the Vancouver Convention Center, Burrard Street Bridge, Science World and Vancouver City Hall lit up in Metis colours for Louis Riel Day on November 16, 2021.
To contact Lissa: lissa5@telus.net 778-535-5740
Our Ministry of Employment and Skills Training has supported the largest ever number of Metis students attending post secondary training this year. The continued support of both the Federal and Provincial governments has been tremendous.
MNBC has been purchasing properties around the Province to build new Metis Centers. Our intention is to create at least one Metis Center in each of the 7 regional districts over the coming years. Our aim is to ensure they include space for Metis specific day cares, community offices and below market rental housing for Metis citizens.
MNBC is working to develop a new first time homeowner grants which would be available in 2022.
MNBC is signing the new Metis Justice Strategy with the Province of BC and will soon begin working on the implementation.
MNBC has amazing early learning programs for the younger generation to learn about Metis culture at an early age.
Last summer MNBC launched an Elders Assistance Pilot Program aimed at helping low-income Elders buy important health related necessities. EAPP provided up to $2,500 for individuals and $4,000 for couples.
MNBC has developed new programs and distributed millions of dollars in COVID supports to our citizens and business over the last 18 months.
MNBC has provided an historic level of new funds to our Chartered Communities over the last year.
Our health team is working very hard providing COVID 19 assistance to our Metis citizens, and is currently hosting Elder’s supportive care consultation sessions across the Province.
We have moved into our new headquarters at the Surrey Gateway SkyTrain station to make it easier for citizens to access our programs and service staff.
MNBC is currently developing the business case for the creation of a new Employment and Skills Training Institute as well as a new Culture, Language and Heritage Institute.
MNBC is working hard on becoming an Employer of Choice
Led by our Ministry of Digital Government MNBC plans to become the first paperless government in Canada within the next 5 years
Our Central Registry has now digitized over 30,000 files in the last year as part of our Wahkohtowin Project. This project aims to reduce the current backlog of new and renewal applications to less than 60 days.
We are beginning work on drafting the Metis Children and Families Act to prepare for the transfer of Metis children in care to MNBC. Currently Metis children in care represent the highest population of in care children and this must be dealt with to protect our children and families.
The MNBC Cabinet has undertaken an openness and transparency initiative which has meant we now regularly post the minutes of our meetings online and we plan to broadcast our Cabinet meetings starting in 2022.
Successfully held our 1st Annual Children and Families Forum which set the path for use to take over jurisdiction for our children from Ministry of Children and Families.
MNBC has implemented a new social media strategy which has significantly increased the amount of followers we now have on social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
MNBC introduced a pilot Kinship Application Program in our Central Registry to significantly speed up processing times if you already have a family member who is a citizen.
MNBC is modernizing our Metis Business Directory with the goal of working with these entrepreneurs to form a strong province-wide network.
MNBC provided $500,000 to help support small businesses impacted by COVID.
MNBC has embarked on our 1st ever budget consultation process this fall. Feedback from these sessions will be incorporated into our 2022/23 budget.
MNBC is supporting our homeless and those at risk of homelessness by implementing a robust rent supplement program and providing emergency shelter support.
MNBC is investing in seven new Regional Community Coordinators who will support the activities of our Chartered Communities across BC.
MNBC continues to forge toward self-sustainability by signing a number of joint venture agreements related to major infrastructure projects in BC.
MNBC is supporting families who want to enroll their kids back into organized sport programs through a one-time $150 grant.
MNBC is organizing the first ever Metis Youth Parliament to be held at the BC Legislature in February 2022. A total of 87 Metis Youth from ON, MB, SK, AB and BC have been invited to attend this historic event.
MNBC successfully launched a Home Garden Pilot Project as a way of improving food security for Metis families.
MNBC launched the Citizen Based Funding Initiative which will provide citizens with priority for programs and services.
MNBC launched MeTV to help showcase our culture and capture the spirit of what it is like to be Metis in BC. The show also airs in Manitoba.
MNBC organized the first Virtual Metis Culture and Language Festival taking place in November 2021.
MNBC is supporting our citizens who are challenged with mental illness by introducing a new Metis Counselling Connections program.
MNBC is undertaking a province-wide public awareness campaign to let our citizens know about the various programs and services we offer within the Nation.
MNBC established the first ever 2SLGBTQQIA+ Advisory Committee to better understand how our government can address the needs and challenges faced by this community.
MNBC successfully undertook a recruitment campaign in the historic Metis community of Kelly Lake and has established them as our 39th Chartered Community.
For the first time ever, MNBC negotiated to have BC Place, the Vancouver Convention Center, Burrard Street Bridge, Science World and Vancouver City Hall lit up in Metis colours for Louis Riel Day on November 16, 2021.
To contact Lissa: lissa5@telus.net 778-535-5740