OALA June Update

OALA UPDATES

The OALA office will be closed Thursday, June 19, 2025 for National Indigenous Peoples 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.

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!

OALA Staff Update - Executive Director

Effective May 31, 2025, Jess Pickett has moved on from her role as OALA's Executive Director to Associate Executive Director with the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association (NALMA).

In the interim, questions directed to OALA's Executive Director can be sent to Alison Irons-Cummings, Estates Coordinator/Interim Executive Director at estates@oala-on.ca.

If you or someone you know is interested in the position, please see the job posting below for more information.

Learn More

UPCOMING EVENTS

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.

Lunch & Learn

June 11

NALMA Specialized Training Updates

Webinar

June 25

Estates Management 101 Refresher Session

Peer Support Session

June 26

Focusing on Environmental Management

Webinars and Lunch & Learn sessions are typically recorded and posted on the Members Portal.

If you require access to the Members Portal please contact Ashley at communications@oala-on.ca.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

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.

Learn More

Ontario Aboriginal Lands Association (OALA) Executive Director

Treaty and Aboriginal Land Stewards Association

of Alberta (TALSAA) Executive Director

British Columbia Aboriginal Land Managers

Association (BCALM) Executive Director

To keep up with future training opportunities and updates from NALMA, visit nalma.ca.

NALMA Specialized Training Schedule

UPCOMING EVENTS

National Addition to Reserve Tracking System (NATS) - Virtual

Dates: June 30, 2025

Location: Virtual

Language Delivery: English

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 $3000.00 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.

OALA Sponsorship Expression of Interest

Click here for more information on NALMA's website.

OALA'S QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO

LAND TRANSACTIONS

Click here to check out the Quick Reference Guide to Land Transactions on our website!

MEMBER PORTAL

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.