The Converting Financial Statements workshop was delivered March 25, 2010 at Wanuskewin Heritage Park. The objective to this workshop was to provide individuals of First Nation communities an integrated workshop on how to work with their existing financial reports and convert their financial statements to the new model. This session also demonstrated to the participants what financial statements will look like once the new reporting standards have been implemented. Participants worked through exercises utilizing their Communities Financial Reports completion of this workshop.
The feedback from this workshop was positive and AFOA SK hopes to deliver these types of workshops in the future to the First Nations in Saskatchewan. AFOA SK wishes to thank AFOA Canada for their time and effort in this collaborative project.
10 th Annual Fall Conference and Workshop
Our 10th Annual Fall Conference was held November 5th & 6th 2009 in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. Our conference theme was "Celebrating 10 years of Finance, Management and Governance". The format for Day One of the conference was based on a wide range of topics listed below:
Update on Transfer Paymnets/Funding Agreements Rob Harvey INAC Saskatchewan Region
Open forum on Finance, Management and Governance Moderator Donna Morin Vice President AFOA SK
o Ernie Daniels – AFOA Canada (Panelist)
o Romeo Crow Chief – AFOA Alberta President/Executive Director (Panelist)
o Vera Sayese – Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation – Executive Director ICFS (Panelist)
o Leanne Bellegarde – Edwards School of Business – Director of Aboriginal Initiatives(Panelist)
Burton O’Soup, Donna Pelly, SIIT, "What Happens When the Rubber Hits the Road?" Update on traveling to First Nations with the newly acquired RV’s
Robert Lavery, Stonefield Systems Group "Improve Tracking and Reporting for Assets & Purchases with Accpac"
Rene Julé, Matthew Murray, Horizon Computer Solutions Inc. "Sage ACCPAC – your Financial Reporting tool and Horizon your IT Partner"
Romeo Crowchief, AFOA AB Team Effectiveness
Day two’s focus, Requirements proposed by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) was the topic of discussion. This workshop was facilitated by Keith Fonstad MNP. This one day workshop will assist First Nations in final preparation for the changes to financial reporting standards. With over 140 delegates in attendance 20 sponsors and 17 participating trades booths the event was an overwhelming success. We look forward to hosting more conferences focusing on financial literacy and governance for First Nations in Saskatchewan in 2010/2011.AFOA SK would like to congratulate Lisa Albert who won our Grand prize sponsored by AFOA Canada. Lisa won the "full conference" package that included all sessions, receptions and all meals at AFOA Canada’s 10th Annual Anniversary Conference held in Ottawa Ontario March 2nd – 4th, 2010.
AFOA SK’s Acknowledgement of Sponsors & In-Kind Services for 10th Annual Fall Conference & Workshop
Platinum
Horizon
Meyers Norris Penny LLP (Saskatoon)
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT)
Stonefield Systems Group Inc.
Gold
Certified Management Accountants
Dakota Dunes Casino - Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA)
Silver
AFOA Canada
CMA Saskatchewan
Edwards School of Business
First Commercial Brokers Inc.
First Nations Métis Relations
Sask Tel
Bronze
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Innovation Credit Union
Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan
Royal Bank of Canada
Special thanks
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN)
Kihiw Crafts & Fashions
Radisson Hotel Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Packham Avenue Dental Clinic
Free Workshops on Financial Reporting Regulations
AFOA Canada presented FREE one-day workshops in Saskatoon on August 26th and in Prince Albert on August 28th. The focus of these workshops was on the new Financial Reporting Regulations including the Tangible Capital Assets guidelines.
Upon completion of this workshop, participants were able to:
• Identify the changes that must occur to their Financial Reporting system;
• Implement procedures to track necessary information to meet the requirements;
• Understand the consequences if reporting is not implemented correctly; and
• Recognize the benefits for revised financial statements.
These workshops were facilitated by Meyers, Norris, Penny and were intended for financial staff working within a First Nations Community. AFOA SK thanks all those First Nations who were able to fit this workshop into their busy schedules and hopes to provide an additional workshop at their 10th Annual Fall Conference in Saskatoon on November 5th & 6th 2009.
9 th Annual Fall Conference and Workshop
Our 9th Annual Fall Conference was held November 5th & 6th 2008 in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. Our conference theme was “Understanding First Nations Financial Reporting Standard”. The format for Day One of the conference was based on a wide range of topics listed below:
Activities of AFOA Canada AFOA UpdateErnie Daniels – AFOA Canada President & COO
Community Scorecards Keith Fonstad – Meyers Norris Penny
Capitalization of Tanigible Assets Cathie Atkins - Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies
INAC Strategic Initiatives Secure Certificate of Indian Status Randall Hanes – Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
FMB Standards, Certification and Financial Administrative Law Harold Calla - First Nation Financial Management
New ACCPAC Accounting System Features Beverly Fraser –Stonefield Systems Group Inc.
Day two’s focus, Requirements proposed by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) was the topic of discussion. This workshop was facilitated by Nola Buhr, Chair, Public Sector Accounting Board and Technical Advisor on the Financial Reporting by First Nations Study Group. This one day workshop presented by AFOA Canada assists First Nations to prepare for the changes to financial reporting standards beginning January 1, 2009. This workshop covered the following topics: converting financial statements to the Common Government Reporting Model, providing an overview of accounting for Tangible Assets and note disclosure requirements with focus on Segment Disclosures.
With over 160 delegates in attendance and 20 participating trades booths the event was an overwhelming success and the feedback was positive and uplifting.We look forward to hosting more conferences focusing on financial literacy and governance for First Nations in Saskatchewan in 2009/2010.
AFOA SK’s Acknowledgement of Sponsors & In-Kind Contributions
Platinum
Dakota Dunes Casino - Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA)
Stonefield Systems Group Inc.
Gold
Certified Management Accountants
First Nations Bank
Saskatchewan Credit Unions
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT)
Silver
Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada
