Indigenous Governance; Strategic Planning; Community Engagement; Organizational Development

ATN Strategies partnered with the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq to develop a comprehensive five-year strategic plan, guiding the organization through a period of rapid change and growth. The project focused on ensuring CMM’s evolution as a transformational force while centering member community needs, cultural values, and organizational resilience.

The process was marked by robust engagement—including Board, Elders, staff, and stakeholders—employing key informant interviews, focus groups, online surveys, and collaborative workshops. Work included assessments of organizational context, stakeholder needs, and alignment with CMM’s mission and Indigenous priorities, with special attention to lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, demographic trends, and the evolving reconciliation landscape. The final plan is designed to be flexible and responsive, with annual monitoring and reporting mechanisms.

ATN brought extensive experience in Indigenous strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and risk management. The work plan featured scenario planning, best-practice case study review, and a strategic foresight element to promote long-term resilience. Deliverables included a streamlined strategic plan, pocket summary, customizable presentation, and a framework for ongoing performance evaluation and risk mitigation.

By combining in-depth community engagement, organizational analysis, and forward-thinking strategy design, this project has provided CMM with an actionable roadmap to enhance community impact, organizational capacity, and long-term sustainability for its eight Mainland Mi’kmaw communities.