Sharing our gifts: The Story of Ohpahow Wawesecikiwak Arts Marketing Co-operative Limited

Last Updated on April 16th, 2010

Project Title: Sharing our gifts: The Story of Ohpahow Wawesecikiwak Arts Marketing Co-operative Limited

Project Number: CL1-20-SK

Term of Project: May 2007 to March 2008

Status: In progress

Academic Researcher:

Isobel Findlay, University of Saskatchewan (principal investigator)

Student Researcher:

Arlene Bear, University of Saskatchewan (University of Saskatchewan, ITEP - internship)
Dwayne Pattison, University of Saskatchewan, Centre for the Study of Co-operatives (internship)

Community Researchers:

Marie Prebushewski (Thickwood Hills Business Learning Network)

Community Partner:

Thickwood Hills Business Learning Network

Project Summary:

The Artisan Co-operative of Big River First Nation is responding to the need of communities to establish business enterprises to create income and build capacity within the community of artisans. The study will identify key factors that contribute to the success of organizations that face challenges.

Specific Project-Level Research Objectives:

To study organizational governance, communications, transparency and accountability, member engagement and organizational learning
To study the integration of traditional values and world views
To identify policies and practices that ensure transparency and accountability are integrated into the organization and are accepted by its members
To ensure the executive within the organization is accountable to its members, to its external partners, and to the communities of which Big River First Nation is a part
To engage the membership in a way that encourages their participation in the activities of the organization and see the organization as a place of learning and cultural revitalization
To develop an organization that serves as a legitimate representative of its members in negotiations with outside bodies such as community, marketing agencies, and funding agencies
To identify how organizations move from a largely representative role to playing a greater role in improving the social, cultural, environmental, and economic conditions of Big River First Nation
To ensure that the policies and practices adopted by the organization are meaningful to its members
To assess if the values of the organization reflect the values of the artisan community
To understand how the traditional governance of the artisans can be integrated into the formal governance of the co-operative organization and vice versa

Expected Deliverables:

Research Report

Findings:

The report—Sharing Our Gifts: The Story of Ohpahow Wawesecikiwak Arts Marketing Co-operative Limited (of Big River First Nation)—documents the ways in which the Arts Marketing Co-op is responding to the need of its community to establish business enterprises to create income and build capacity among its artisans. The study will identify key factors that contribute to the success of organizations.

To study organizational governance, communications, transparency and accountability, member engagement and organizational learning

To study the integration of traditional values and world views

To engage the membership in a way that encourages their participation in the activities of the organization and see the organization as a place of learning and cultural revitalization

To develop an organization that serves as a legitimate representative of its members in negotiations with outside bodies such as community, marketing agencies, and funding agencies

To identify how organizations move from a largely representative role to playing a greater role in improving the social, cultural, environmental, and economic conditions of Big River First Nation

Project Poster: Poster (pdf)

Final Report:

Projected Expenditures: $12,000 (internships)

In-Kind Contributions:

Publicity:

Dissemination Activities:

Poster Presentation at the Aboriginal and Indigenous Graduate Studies and Research Event, October, 2007: Exploring the Social Economy in Saskatchewan.
Presentation: Northern Saskatchewan Trappers Association Annual Meeting, January 2008 (Arlene and Maria)
Social Economy Provincial Workshop, May 2008 (Arlene)
CUexpo, May 2008 (Isobel and Maria)
CEDNet, May 2008 (Maria and Arlene)
CDS International Conference, June 22-25 2008 (1. Isobel and Maria; 2. Marie, Arlene, and Maria)
Presentation Rural Secretariat, June 2008 (Isobel and Maria)
Centre for the Study of Co-operatives Seminar Series, April 2009 (Isobel and Maria)
Guest lecture: ACE Saskatchewan, November 2008 (Isobel)
Guest lecture: PUBP, March 2010 (Isobel and Maria)
Poster Presentation: International CDS Conference, June 2008
Poster Presentation: LLL Social Economy Provincial Workshop, Prince Albert, May 2009
Poster Presentation: Aboriginal Research Display, Aboriginal Achievement Week, March 2010
CCEDNet Saskatchewan Newsletter, January 2009, CED Profile: Ohpahow Wawesecikiwak Arts Marketing Co-operative
The Canadian Social Economy Hub Poverty Reduction Thematic Newsletter, December 2009 Linking, Learning, Leveraging: Poverty Reduction Projects

Additional Notes:

Project Information

Events

Media

Website Archives

Sharing our gifts: The Story of Ohpahow Wawesecikiwak Arts Marketing Co-operative Limited