The OALA office will be closed Tuesday, July 1, 2025 for Canada Day. | | |
OALA 2025-2026 Membership Packages
OALA 2025-2026 Membership Packages and Invoices were emailed to all Primary contacts via Quickbooks May 1, 2025 and were due May 30, 2025. Please note, OALA's Annual Membership Fee has increased to $350.00.
Thank you to those who have paid and returned the completed Membership Packages.
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If you have not yet done so, payment questions and completed Membership Packages can be sent to Shannon Smith at admin@oala-on.ca. Please ensure to complete the Organization Staff portion (Primary and Secondary contacts) of the Membership Package to keep our mailing lists accurate.
We look forward to another year of learning together and connecting dedicated and like-minded individuals in the Lands department.
Thank you/Miigwetch/Niá:wen!
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ATR Pilot Project Participants
OALA is excited to announce that the following First Nations have been selected to participate in the Additions to Reserve (ATR) Pilot Project.
- Hiawatha First Nation
- Temagami First Nation
- Nipissing First Nation
- Michipicoten First Nation
We extend our sincere thanks to all communities who applied. The level of interest and engagement was truly inspiring, and we’re looking forward to working closely with our selected participants to build capacity, strengthen technical skills, and advance ATR priorities in meaningful and impactful ways.
As always, I have an open-door policy. If you or your community need any support with the ATR process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the ATR Unit.
Miigwech,
Georgette Howard, ATR Support Coordinator
atr@oala-on.ca
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To keep up with future virtual and in-person training sessions, visit the Events page on our website.
Click the icon above the online event you’d like to learn more about to link to OALA's website.
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Lunch & Learn
July 9
OALA Website Walkthrough - Identifying Tools & Resources for Members
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Peer Support Session
July 24
Focusing on Estates Management
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Webinar
July 30
Canada Energy Regulator Part 2
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Estates Management Toolkit Training
This toolkit training is designed to support those tasked with assisting members with estate management on reserve. We will explore the estate management process from the death of a First Nation member to the distribution of their estate assets and the closing of the estate file.
Date: August 26 - 28, 2025 (2.5 days)
Location: Chippewas of Rama First Nation, ON
Registration Deadline: July 26, 2025
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Surveys and Mapping Mentorship Program
Date: September 15 - 19, 2025 (4.5 days)
Location: Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, ON
Registration Deadline: August 21, 2025
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Important! - Estates Management Funding through Indigenous Services Canada
The Estates Management Funding Program provides funding to support capacity-building for estate planning and administration for First Nations.
Applications for funding in the 2025-2026 fiscal year must be submitted by July 4, 2025.
Questions and completed applications can be sent to financementsuccessions-estatesfunding@sac-isc.gc.ca.
| | PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES | | |
First Nation-Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI)
Cando and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) have announced that the Call for Applications for eight new First Nation – Municipal partnerships to participate in the First Nation-Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI) has been extended to Friday, September 26th, 2025, 11:59pmMT.
| | To keep up with future training opportunities and updates from NALMA, visit nalma.ca. | | |
National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association 13th National Gathering
OALA will be sponsoring 10 OALA Members (one person per First Nation) to attend NALMA's 13th National Gathering being held October 21 - 23, 2025 in Halifax, NS.
Sponsorship is available in the amount of $2,500.00 per First Nation. Please note, Members must be in good standing to be accepted.
If OALA receives more than 10 applicants, a draw will be held at July's Lunch & Learn session. Participants selected will be required to confirm and register with NALMA within one week of notification.
| | | To apply for OALA sponsorship to attend NALMA's 13th National Gathering, please complete the Expression of Interest below by Friday, July 4, 2025. | | Click here for more information on NALMA's website. | | |
Call for Nominations
NALMA has announced two opportunities for recognition and participation at the 13th National Gathering in October 2025:
Youth Representative Nomination
One Youth Representative will be selected from each Regional Lands Association (RLA) to attend the Gathering. This initiative recognizes and supports youth who have an interest in or are pursuing a career in land management or related fields such as the environment, planning, and natural resources.
Eligibility Criteria – Youth Nominee must:
- Be between the ages of 18–30 at the time of the event
- Be of Aboriginal descent (First Nation, Inuit, or Métis)
- Have experience, interest, or be pursuing a career in land management or a related field
Entry Requirements – Nominator must submit:
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Completed nomination form (page 2 of the attached Youth nomination form)
- A nomination statement outlining why you are nominating the youth
- A biography of the nominee
Youth Representative Details:
- Selected youth will receive up to $3,000 in travel sponsorship
- Youth will be mentored by their nominator throughout the Gathering
- They will participate in workshops and a youth panel discussion on the final day of the National Gathering
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Land Management Award
NALMA is also inviting nominations for individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the field of First Nation land management. The Award will be presented during the final day of the Gathering.
Award Categories:
- Excellence in land management within their community
- Dedication to preserving Indigenous culture through land management
- Lifetime contribution to land management (10+ years)
- Influence and contributions to land management beyond their own community
Entry Requirements – Nominator must submit:
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Completed nomination form (page 2 of the attached land management award form)
- A nomination statement
- A biography of the nominee
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Optional supporting documents (letters, media, awards, etc.)
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Deadline to submit: August 29th, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. (Noon)
All nominations will be reviewed by the NALMA Board of Directors.
If you have any questions, please contact Charlene McCue, Lands Project Coordinator at 705-930-6252. Both the Youth nomination and the Land Management Award nominations can be submitted via email to: cmccue@nalma.ca.
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OALA'S QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO
LAND TRANSACTIONS
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Click here to check out the Quick Reference Guide to Land Transactions on our website!
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In OALA’s member login portal, you will find:
Documents: (a library, sorted by folder topics for ease of use, which will include templates, webinars, and other resources, that have been created or curated by OALA staff, or shared by other OALA members)
Lunch & Learns and Webinars: (all OALA webinars that have been delivered since 2020 are available here, including Handouts, PowerPoint Presentations, and Video Recordings)
To access these sections, click on “Members Only” at the top right-hand corner and a drop down menu will appear.
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If you do not have access, contact:
Ashley O'Hara, Communications Technician at
communications@oala-on.ca.
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