CANDO 15th National
Conference Highlights

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6th Annual NIEEF Golf Tournament Fundraiser


CANDO's 6th Annual NIEEF Charity Golf Tournament was held at the Lafleur's Golf Club in Kahnawake, Quebec. This golf course was an excellent place for delegates, stakeholders and guests to help raise funds for CANDO's sister charitable organization the National Indigenous Economic Education Fund (NIEEF). NIEEF provides annual scholarships to Community Economic Development students across Canada. The tournament was a great success with a total of 76 golfers and 38 teams. Upon registering each golfer entered several games and raffles for door prizes, which included poker hand game, jackpot KP, 50/50 and a putting contest.

We would like to thank all of our stakeholders who donated and sponsored this year's golf tournament. A special thank you goes out to this year's hole-in-one sponsors, Cree Trappers; Peace Hills Trust; River Cree Resort and Casino; Monarch Insurance Brokers Ltd; RBC Royal Bank; and Sunchild E-Learning Community for sponsoring the three $20,000 hole-in-ones; Cree Construction & Development Company/Gestiion ADC and the Cree School Board for their $2,000 Corporate Contribution Level I. Thank you to Air Inuit for their donation of two return travel tickets; to HB Travel for donating the travel certificate and to Tribal Marketing for their donation of his and hers Callaway Golf Clubs - prizes worth up to $5000.

During the dinner NIEEF hosted a live auction and prizes were awarded to every delegate in attendance! This year’s golf tournament winners in the following categories were:

1st Place
- Men's Team - Ray Wanuch & Andy Fox
-.Ladies Team - Darlene Johnson & Leanne Bellegarde
- Mixed Team - Randy Bourque & Kitty Gordon

2nd Place
- Men's Team - Ken Kane & Jim Anthony
- Ladies Team - Charlene Joe & Chelsea Vaughan
- Mixed Team - Vaughn Sunday & Collette Manuel


3rd Place Team's
- Men's Team - Victor Houle & JR Arcand
- Ladies Team - Rosi Niedermayer & Donna St. Louis
- Mixed Team - Frank & Colette Royal

1st, 2nd & 3rd Most Honest
- Men's Team - Greg Bikadi & Roy Erasmus Jr.
- Women's Team - Rosi Niedermayer & Donna St. Louis
- Mixed Team - Alfred Loon & Dolly Kershaw


Closest to the Pin -
Men & Woman's Individual Category
- Woman's - Chelsea Vaughan
- Men's - Andy Fox

Longest Drive -
Men & Woman's Individual Category
- Woman's - Leanne Bellegarde
- Men's - Rodney Hester

Longest Putt -
Men & Woman's Individual Category
- Woman's - Charlene Joe
- Men's - Rob Campbell

Thank you to the two host organizations: Cree Regional Authority and Tewatohnhi'saktha (Kahnawake Economic Development Commission) for their dedication and hard work, and to the volunteers and staff for their help in organizing the golf tournament, we could not have done it without you! If you have questions or would like to know more about golf sponsorship opportunities for next year's golf tournament, contact the CANDO office at 1-800-463-9300. We look forward to seeing you all again as we host our 7th Annual NIEEF Charity Golf Tournament in 2009 at the Indian Lakes Golf Course in Enoch, Alberta!


CANDO Community Tour & Annual General Meeting




The CANDO Annual General Meeting was held at the Kanawake Marina in Kahnawá:ke, QC. Over 200 delegates, guests and stakeholders attended the AGM. The meeting followed the community tour and a traditional lunch catered by local Diane's Kitchen.

The AGM was opened with an address from Grand Chief Michael Delisle Jr.; the agenda included the following items:
  • Review and approval of 2007 AGM Minutes
  • Review of CANDO's 2007-2008 Annual Report
  • Review of CANDO and the National Indigenous Economic Education Fund's (NIEEF) audited financial statements
  • Discussion and approval of CANDO's Bylaw amendment
  • Discussion and approval of the 2010 Conference location
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Trade Show


Wow! It was quite impressive to see how Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) surely got in front of their customers by giving away MP3 players to delegates who visited their trade show exhibit. BDC was just one of forty eye-catching trade booth exhibitors that attracted the attention of conference delegates. The trade show is always a unique and diverse opportunity to interact with conference delegates and once again it was sold out venue. Hosting the trade show was one of the many stimulating events during the CANDO conference; it was set up in a high traffic area with the peak times all the way through the conference. The trade show was very resourceful and interesting; as you walked by you could hear the exchanges of ideas, see the networking occurring, and see the merging of future relations between trade show exhibitors and conference delegates. The trade show exhibitors who enticed the conference crowd consisted of Aboriginal owned businesses, educational institutions, organizations, and government sectors to name a few. It is clear not only did several of trade booth exhibitors get a chance to show off their marketing skills, but they further enhanced the visibility of their business, services and programs. Whereas the conference delegates had a chance to chat and left fully equipped with the hefty supply of information they received offered at this year's trade show. On behalf of the CANDO Board, Staff, Conference Committee, Stakeholders and Conference delegates we would like thank all of the trade show exhibitors who made this year's trade show successful. Thank you!

Each year the booth space is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, remember to register early for next year's 16th CANDO Annual National Conference & AGM to be held at the Marriot River Cree Resort & Casino, Enoch, Alberta. If you are interested having a trade booth at next year's trade show contact the CANDO office at 1-800-463-9300.

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Conference Artisans Showcase Their Talents


Aboriginal artisans are popular for their traditional creativity and have a significant role in economic development. On behalf of the CANDO Board, Staff, Conference Committee, Stakeholders and Conference delegates we would like to thank all of the artisans that came from all across Quebec to share their works of art at this year's 2008 CANDO National Conference & AGM "Economic Development-Power of Technology". Every year CANDO invites local artisans to the conference some of the artisans in attendance were Tammy Beauvais Designs, Cree Native Arts & Crafts, Sequoia, and Turtle Island Arts & Crafts and Vista Seminars. This provided the artisans an opportunity to exhibit their artwork to conference delegates. Some of the artwork on display included a vast array of native inspired jewelry, clothing, and bath and body products.

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Conference Icebreaker


Shoot and score! Jersey night was the theme of this year's Icebreaker at the McCord Museum located in Montreal and it was a major hit. The night included appetizers, exhibits, and performances. The museum was a unique venue that offered delegates a wide range of entertainment. Some of the exhibits that were on display at the museum were Reveal or Conceal?, Inuit - A Selection of Works from the Musée national des beaux-arts du Quebec, and Inspirations - The Notman Photographic Archives Converge with the Next Generation.

The night's entertainment started off on a humorous note with comedian Brian Majore. Majore is a comedian whose style has been described as edgy, intelligent, and thought provoking. He likes to see the jaw dropping reactions to his comedy which he feels lets him know he has done his job. He has opened for performers such as George Leach, Eagle & Hawk, and Don Burnstick.

The last performance of the evening was a soulful and unique performance by Melisa Pash. Melisa is from the Cree community Chisasibi located in Quebec. Melisa has won a 2007 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award, for making an outstanding positive influence on the Canadian Aboriginal music industry. She is an accomplished musician in songwriting, vocals, cello, guitar and piano.








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Workshop Highlights

Write-up coming soon

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A Wonderful Cultural Experience


  
Food, entertainment, and laughter were all present at the CANDO Cultural Event. The night started off with a traditional Mohawk Feast that was absolutely spectacular. The venue of this year's cultural evening was the Knights of Columbus Community Hall located in Kahnawa:ke. It is important that when CANDO puts on a conference that they allow delegates to see the traditions of the host community. It was a wonderful way to see what the traditional foods of the area are and to get to see a performance of local artists. Bear Fox and the Ahkwesahsne Women Singers from Akwesasne, ON performed for the delegates. They highlight the fact that many women from their community were the wives of ironworkers. Bear Fox sings songs that describe what her life has been like since she too married an ironworker. The songs she sings left some in tears and others touched; they also depicted the strength of her family values. It was informative and entertaining.

The second performer of the evening is known on a more national scale. DerRic Starlight is a comedian/puppeteer who mixed contemporary Muppets with traditional drumming and singing. It is really quite something to see Elmo drumming and singing pow-wow music. DerRic also has his own popular puppets, one that is growing famous called Granny. Granny is a traditional Aboriginal Grandma who is not shy to speak her mind.

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President’s Dinner, Reception and Dance

Write-up coming soon.

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