The Ahp-cii-uk Approach

Learning Together for Aboriginal Community Development

First Nations communities are entering a new stage of development after the Federal apology for residential schools. A new generation of leadership is emerging, with a focus on doing business in new ways. Ahp-cii-uk is an initiative supported by partnerships between two levels of government, First Nations, businesses, and funding agencies. In keeping with new approaches that are built around a few key principles, Ahp-cii-uk:

• Focuses on community strengths and opportunities the community believes will make a difference.
• Builds capacity of community members to make effective decisions and manage projects.
• Relies on consensus-based decision-making, leading to continuous accommodation of interests.

Ahp-cii-uk is designed to find new ways to address community concerns and aspirations. It is effective because it:

• Builds long term relationships with multiple partners and draws on new financial and other resources from non-traditional sources.
• Works with interested individuals, as well as elected council, to make effective decisions and manage projects.
• Takes a holistic approach (sometimes called a “place-based approach”).

The Ahp-cii-uk Approach was developed because existing government approaches to working with First Nations were having a relatively small impact on First Nations levels of poverty, suicide, health, and other factors. Ahp-cii-uk complements the many existing programs intended to assist First Nations.