The current governance and management structure of the Tåîchô Community Services Agency is intended to be an interim step in the development of self government in the Tåîchô communities. The model is expected to evolve over time as the Tåîchô Government makes decisions about drawing down programs and services from the Government of the NWT.

The governance structures of the Agency are established in the Tåîchô Intergovernmental Services Agreement and in GNWT legislation, the Tåîchô Community Services Agency Act and associated regulations. Consequential amendments to the Education Act, the Hospital Insurance and Health and Social Services Administration Act, the Financial Administration Act and the Public Service Act also serve to shape the Agency.

The Intergovernmental Services Agreement or ISA, is an agreement between the Government of Canada, the Government of the NWT and the Tåîchô Government which calls for the establishment of the Agency on the effective date of the Tåîchô Agreement, August 4th, 2005. The ISA discusses the establishment and financing of the Agency, the roles of the different parties and promotes a specific focus on the importance of the Tåîchô language, culture and way of life in the operation of the Agency. The ISA also sets a mechanism for review, amendment and renewal of the Agreement. A copy of the ISA is available on the web at ISA Agreement . The ISA calls for the GNWT to implement legislation to give form to the new Agency.

The GNWT passed the Tåîchô Community Services Agency Act in 2005. This Act establishes the TCSA to perform functions related to the delivery of education, health and social services in Tåîchô communities and on Tåîchô lands. The Act addresses the establishment and organization of the Agency, its powers, duties and functions as well as issues relating to financial matters, inspection, administration and dissolution. A copy of this legislation is available on the web at http://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/

The Agency is governed by a Board made up of four members and a chairperson. The four Tåîchô Community Governments, Behchokö, Gamètì, Wekweetì and Whatì each appoint one member to represent their community on the Agency Board. The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs appoints the chairperson after consultation with the Agency appointees and the Tåîchô Government. The four TCG appointments also sit as full members on the local District Education Authorities ( DEA’s) formed under the GNWT Education Act.

Figure 2: Governance Structure of the Tåîchô Community Services Agency As part of the future development of the Agency, it is intended that these DEA’s or local education authorities will expand their roles to mirror the program and service mandate of the Agency itself. Through phases, the DEA’s will train to take on responsibilities under section 56 of the GNWT Child and Family Services Act regarding “Community Agreements”. Eventually it is anticipated that DEA’s will also have advisory roles in relation to health and wellness issues in their communities. These local authorities will no longer then be “DEA’s” responsible for education in their communities, but will be “Community Services Authorities or CSA’s” with responsibilities for child & family services, education and health and wellness.

Figure 3: The TCSA and the local community education authorities (DEA’s )

Key: TCG- Tåîchô Community Governments (see the GNWT statute: Tåîchô Community Government Act (2005) DEA- District Education Authorities (see the GNWT statute: Education Act sections 81-96 (1996)

Further development is required to develop the relationships between the local education authorities, the Tåîchô Community Governments, the Tåîchô Government and the Tåîchô Community Services Agency. Current legislation calls for Board members on the Tåîchô Community Services Agency to be appointed as representatives of the Tåîchô Community Governments in each community. These representatives then concurrently sit as members of the District Education Authority in their community. Legislation is silent on the exact nature of their roles and responsibilities between these organizations at the local level. Ideally, as representatives of the local community government and the DEA, it is expected that these Board members will serve to keep both the community government and the DEA informed of the activities of the TCSA, while ensuring that relevant community issues of both organizations are addressed by the Agency. Similarly, outside of the Intergovernmental Services Agreement or ISA, there is no discussion of the relationships between the TCSA and the Tåîchô Government at the regional level. It could also be inferred that both the chairperson and the CEO have roles and responsibilities in regards to the Tåîchô Government. At this time there are no formal mechanisms to describe such a role or relationship.

Management

The Agency employs a Chief Executive Officer who is responsible to direct the work of a management team consisting of a Director of Education, a Director of Health and Social Services and a Director of Corporate Services. The CEO fulfills legislated roles under GNWT legislation including that of “Deputy Head” for the public service, and “Superintendent” under the Education Act. Reporting to the Director of Education are program support staff, the principals of five schools and staff of the early childhood programs in the communities. Reporting to the Director of Health and Social Services are program support staff, nurses in the health centres, social workers, wellness workers, and home and continuing care staff in the Jimmy Erasmus Seniors Home in Rae. Reporting to the Director of Corporate Services are finance, operations and IT staff.

Figure 4: Management Structure of the TCSA

On any given day, over 200 people are working for the Agency in the four Tåîchô communities of Behchokö, Gamètì, Wekweètì and Whatì. The Agency has the responsibility to manage the following facilities:

• the Jean Wetrade K-9 school in Gamètì,
• the Rae Lakes Health Centre in Gamètì,
• the Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary School in Rae,
• the Jimmy Erasmus Seniors Home in Rae,
• the Mary Adele Bishop Health Centre in Rae,
• the Tåîchô Healing Path Wellness Centre in Rae,
• the Chief Jimmy Bruneau Regional High School in Edzo,
• the Mezi Community School in Whatì,
• the Tåîchô Healing Path Wellness Centre in Whatì,
• the Lac La Martre Health Centre in Whatì,
• the Alexis Arrowmaker School in Wekweètì ,
• the Dechi Laoti Health Centre in Wekweètì.