Mission accomplished
Lisa Nitsiza is Whati's new SAO
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Friday, October 9, 2015
WHATI/LAC LA MARTRE
Lisa Nitsiza knows what it takes to accomplish a long-term goal.
Lisa Nitsiza has spent the last two years training to take over as Whati's Senior Administrative Officer. She officially began her new role on Oct. 1. - photo courtesy of Larry Baran
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After two years of training, the Whati resident took over as the community's Senior Administrative Officer on Oct. 1.
The encouragement Nitsiza received from her family was key to her success, she said.
"My husband and family were a big support," she said.
Nitsiza, who is originally from Behchoko, moved to Whati in 2010 after securing a job as an economic development officer with the Tlicho Government. Her husband is from Whati.
Nitsiza attended Chief Jimmy Bruneau Regional High School in Behchoko before taking the Bachelor of Education program at Red Deer College in Alberta. She also completed a one-year management studies program at Aurora College in Yellowknife.
Larry Baran, former SAO and now deputy SAO, mentored Nitsiza throughout her training period, which she began in 2013 before being promoted to assistant SAO last year.
Job-shadowing Baran was one of the most important aspects of readying herself for the job, as well as spending time making sure she understood the community's legislation and contracts. She said one of the most difficult tasks was mastering the Tlicho Community Government Act, the guiding document for Tlicho communities.
"It's tons and tons of pages of procedures and bylaws," Nitsiza explained.
The act was just one of the documents Nitsiza had to read and comprehend. She also had to learn about the community's finances and staffing roles.
"It's your day-to-day operations, what it takes to work with a staff and the budget, where do the costs come from," she said.
Nitsiza also had to learn the community's bylaws and council rules.
"I've done a lot of training throughout the two years," she said. "There was also finance, municipal law, contracts and roles and responsibilities of council."
One of her first duties will be to ease the staff's transition from Baran, but she said the transition won't be theirs alone.
"This is full-time," she said. "I've been acting (SAO) on and off, it will be an adjustment."
The SAO trainee program is part of the Advancing Local Government Administration Program, which is offered through the territorial Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA)'s school of community government.
Nitsiza said her advice for others considering participating in the program is to make sure individuals have the support they need from family.
"Get your family involved before you want to apply, there is a lot of travelling," she said. "You'll need a spouse's support."
But, Nitsiza said, the hard work has been worth it. She said she thanked MACA, members of Whati's council and Baran for their support while she trained for her new role.
