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In this newsletter you will find:
- Election Results from OALA's Annual General Meeting
- Registration for OALA's Effective Meeting & Event Planning Workshop
- OALA's October Virtual Training Sessions
- ESRI Canada User Conference Sponsorship Opportunity
- Call for Input from the Sustainable Jobs Secretariat: 2026–2030 Sustainable Jobs Action Plan
- NALMA Updates and more!
| | The OALA office will be closed October 13, 2025 for Thanksgiving. | | |
Current Board of Directors
An election for four seats on the OALA Board of Directors took place at the 2025-2026 Annual General Meeting held virtually on September 24, 2025.
Please welcome our new Board of Directors!
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Laurie Miller
Sr. Manager, Lands and Membership
Six Nations of the Grand River
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Jill Foster
Lands Manager
Hiawatha First Nation
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Beverly Endanawas
Director of Lands, Resources and Environment
Sheshegwaning First Nation
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Caleb Copegog-King
Lands Officer
Beausoleil First Nation
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John Manitowabi
Director of Lands & Natural Resources
Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory
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Associate Membership
We are pleased to introduce The Firelight Group as OALA's first Associate Member.
| | | To keep up with future virtual and in-person training sessions, visit the Events page on our website. | | |
Effective Meeting & Event Planning
Date: November 4 - 5, 2025 (2 full days)
Location: Doubletree by Hilton Toronto Airport
Sponsorship: Travel sponsorship is available in the amount of $2,000.00 per First Nation.
Registration Deadline: October 16, 2025
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Many organizations host or participate in a variety of meetings and events, large and small, throughout the year. When properly executed, these meetings and events can deliver a tremendous return on investment in terms of exposure, education, marketing, sales, or other objectives. Conversely, the impact of a poorly executed meeting or event can be substantial.
Workshop topics will include:
- Setting goals and objectives
- Planning program content
- Financial management
- Facilities, services, and information technology
- Logistics, and
- Post-event evaluation
Facilitated by a Certified Meeting Planner, this workshop will provide participants with a sound foundation for successfully hosting events from planning stages to execution.
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Virtual Sessions
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
October 8
Geospatial Data Sovereignty - Leveraging Geospatial Data to Support First Nation Sovereignty and Self-Determination
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Bonus Virtual Session
October 27
Wellness at Work - Stress Management Skills: Part 2
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NALMA's Executive Director, Leona Irons Awarded Member of the Order of Canada
On September 18, 2025, Leona Irons-Cummings, Executive Director, NALMA, was awarded Member of the Order of Canada at the ceremony held in Ottawa, Ontario.
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Full Citation:
"Leona Irons-Cummings empowers community professionals to manage their lands efficiently and effectively. She is the driving force behind the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association (NALMA) , which provides Indigenous land managers with networking opportunities and professional development on sustainable and culturally relevant best practices. Thanks to her efforts, numerous First Nation communities are gaining greater autonomy over the governance of their ancestral lands."
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OALA will be sponsoring 5 OALA Members (one person per First Nation) to attend the ESRI Canada User Conference being held November 3 - 4, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.
Sponsorship is available in the amount of $850.00 per First Nation which covers the cost of registration. Please note, accommodations are not included in this sponsorship opportunity, and Members must be in good standing to be accepted.
If OALA receives more than 5 applicants, a draw will be held, and selected participants will be contacted directly via email. Participants selected will be required to confirm and register through the ESRI website by Wednesday, October 29, 2025 if they have not already done so.
To apply for OALA sponsorship to attend ESRI Canada's User Conference, please complete the Expression of Interest below by Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
| | Click here for more information on ESRI's website. | | |
Call for Input: 2026–2030 Sustainable Jobs Action Plan
The Sustainable Jobs Secretariat is seeking written submissions to inform the first Sustainable Jobs Action Plan for 2026-2030.
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Check out the Summer 2025 Edition of Advocate, the official magazine of the Chiefs of Ontario! | | | To keep up with future training opportunities and updates from NALMA, visit nalma.ca. | | |
Introduction to Land Management for Chief & Council (Virtual)
Date: October 16, 2025
Location: Virtual
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Additions to Reserve/Reserve Creation
Dates: November 4 - 6, 2025
Location: Ottawa, ON
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Estates Management
Date: November 4 - 6, 2025
Location: Saskatoon, SK
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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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