OALA April Update

Please note, the OALA office will be closed April 17, 2025 and April 21, 2025.

OALA UPDATES

OALA Year-End Membership Meeting

Thank you to those who joined us March 26, 2025 for our virtual Year-End Membership Meeting!

Listed below are the topics discussed at this meeting:

OALA's 2024-2025 Year in Review
OALA Board of Directors Bi-Election
What to Expect in 2025-2026
ATR Unit Update
GIS Unit Update with ESRI Canada
Member Appreciation Prize Draws

If you are interested in viewing the Membership Meeting, a recording can be found on the Members Portal.

Bi-Election Results

A Bi-Election for Treasurer on OALA's Board of Directors took place at the Membership Meeting. This term will be effective immediately until September 30, 2025.

Congratulations and welcome back, Anthony!

2024-2025 Virtual Events Attendance Prize Winners

Ken Sandy, Six Nations of the Grand River

OALA Hoodie

Amy Smart, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte

OALA Hoodie

Roy McKinnon, Moose Deer Point First Nation

OALA Hoodie

Congratulations to three-time Attendance Award Winner, Ken Sandy!

2025-2026 Planning Survey Prize Winners

Shannon Snache, Chippewas of Rama First Nation - 2025-2026 OALA Membership

Lori Richer, Atikameksheng Anishnawbek - OALA Prize Pack

Erin Hayward, Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation - OALA Hoodie

Membership Meeting Attendance Prize Winners

Mike Molyneaux, Temagami First Nation

2025-2026 OALA Membership

Roy McKinnon, Moose Deer Point First Nation - Bio Blitz Prize Pack

Jessica Hubbard - Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek - Stained Glass Feather

We look forward to offering more training and networking opportunities, and resources in the coming year and appreciate your continuous support.

Thank you/Miigwech!

UPCOMING EVENTS

To keep up with future virtual and in-person training sessions, visit the Events page on our website. OALA's 2025-2026 Event Calendar will be finalized and posted in the coming weeks.

Click the icon above the online event you’d like to learn more about to link to OALA's website.

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.

Lunch & Learn

April 9

OALA ATR Project Update

Peer Support Session

April 24

Focusing on GIS

Webinar

April 30

First Nation Phragmites Control

ATR UNIT

Additions to Reserve Pilot Project Survey

OALA is collaborating with Urban Systems and Indigenous Services Canada – Ontario Region to develop technical guides, resources, and other materials to assist OALA members in navigating the Additions-to-Reserve (ATR) process. Our aim is to understand the challenges and experiences that OALA members have encountered with the ATR process to ensure that the technical resources we create meet the needs of Land Managers and First Nations. During the Membership Meeting, the survey below was introduced to Members to provide feedback to help us develop relevant training resources that align with your challenges, issues, and needs.

Participants who complete this survey by Wednesday, April 30th will be entered into a draw for prizes.

Prizes include:

Ash Basket by Spencer Lunham
$100 Visa Card
OALA Hoodie

Complete Survey

2025-2026 ATR Direct Support Program Expression of Interest

The Ontario Aboriginal Lands Association (OALA) is now accepting applications for the Additions to Reserve (ATR) Direct Support Program.

Learn More

GIS UNIT

GIS One-on-One Feedback Survey

At the Year-End Membership Meeting, Members were also introduced to the survey provided below, which allows our GIS Unit to gauge the level of support communities are seeking and will assist with the development of tools and resources. This survey is also an opportunity for Members to express their interest in participating in a feedback session with ESRI Canada. The ESRI working group is looking to collect a group of up to 6 OALA Member Communities who would be willing to review the current findings and provide their insights, suggestions and requirements.

Participants who complete this survey by Wednesday, April 30th will be entered into a draw for prizes.

Prizes include:

Corn Husk Doll
ESRI Prize Pack
OALA Hoodie

Complete Survey

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Indigenous Climate and Environmental Funding

The link below offers a comprehensive look at federal funding opportunities across the Government of Canada that are available for Indigenous climate and environmental initiatives, with filters to help identify specific areas of interests.

Learn More

OALA Executive Director

Effective May 31, 2025, Jess Pickett will be moving on from her role as OALA's Executive Director for the past 6 years, to Associate Executive Director with the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association (NALMA).

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

Congratulations Jess and thank you from the staff at OALA!

Learn More

To view NALMA's 2025-26 Specialized Training Schedule, click here or visit nalma.ca/events for more events.

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.