Athabasca University INBU 201v2 Assignment 2 – Indigenous Community Economic Development Governance | Blue Sky Indigenous
INBU 201v2 Assignment 2 November 2024
© Athabasca University
Assignment 2: Indigenous Community Economic Development
Governance
Weight: 20 percent of your final grade
Length: maximum 1,000 words
Due: after Lesson 6
You will use the mini–case study Blue Sky Indigenous Nation Community Trust from Lesson 6 to
complete the assignment. The case is available in the Digital Reading Room.
Bearclaw, J. (2015). Case studies in Aboriginal business: Blue Sky Indigenous Nation
Community Trust. Cape Breton University Shannon School of Business.
You will apply the knowledge of Indigenous governance and policy you have learned from
Lesson 6 to assist you in developing your response. Indigenous organizations have holistic
concepts incorporated into their governance structures, including family heads/leads or clans,
making them unique. When you are developing your response, ask yourself this: If I were in the
position of trustee manager, would I recommend an alternative process or an entirely new
process of selecting trustees to the chief and council? Or would I keep the current process and
recommend keeping the status quo? Keep in mind that Indigenous governance and policy will
often have incidents of perceived “conflicts of interest,” but how you manage these perceptions
will enhance or strengthen the governance and policy within an organization. Your analysis will
have the four parts described below.
Introduction (5 points)
Provide a brief introduction and place the case into context: how you plan to address the issue of
conflict of interest and how you will deal with the current process.
Analysis (22.5 points × 3)
Based on the course material and academic/Internet sources, analyze the governance case from
Lesson 6 (Blue Sky Indigenous Nation Community Trust), and answer the following three
questions.
1. What issues or problems do you foresee with the current governance structure, specifically
regarding conflict of interest?
2. Do you think there could be future problems with the current structure? Explain.
3. Do you propose to change anything with the existing process or structure, or do you propose
to leave it as is (status quo)?INBU 201v2 Assignment 2 November 2024
© Athabasca University
Conclusion (22.5 points)
Provide at least one recommendation and a conclusion based on your analysis.
Style, Format, and Referencing (5 points)
Present a clear, logical response in an organized way. You might find it helpful to ask a friend or
family member to read over your finished work to see if you need to improve the flow for the
reader.
Use up to two sources, including anything previously covered in the textbook chapters, minicases, videos, or other sources.
Use APA format to list and cite the sources you consult.
Length: The total assignment should not exceed 1,000 words.
Grading Rubric
INBU 201 Rubric
Each of the four parts of your assignment will be evaluated according the guidelines below, and
you will also get an overall mark for structure, style, and format. The most important part of the
work is your analysis, which involves careful reading of the course materials and case study,
making notes along the way. This will help you to identify issues and concepts, make
connections between the ideas in your reading, and make connections between what you have
read and your own experiences. You might find that discussing what you’ve read with others will
help you to clarify your own ideas and understanding.
Exemplary
21–22.5
Above Average
17–20
Average
10–16
Needs More
Effort
0–9
Feedback
Analysis
/22.5
Insightful,
thorough analysis
Demonstrates
strong
understanding
of the topic(s)
and issue(s)
Makes highly
appropriate
connections
Thorough analysis
Demonstrates
sound
understanding of
the topic(s) and
issue(s)
Makes mostly
appropriate
connections
between the
Adequate analysis
Demonstrates
acceptable
understanding
of the
topic(s)and
issue(s)
Makes some
appropriate but
somewhat
Questionable
analysis
Needs further
work on
understanding
of the
topic(s)and
issue(s)
Displays
minimal orINBU 201v2 Assignment 2 November 2024
© Athabasca University
between issues
identified and
the concepts
covered in the
lessons.
Supports
analysis and
views with a
clear argument
and compelling
evidence
Presents a
balanced view
issues identified
and the concepts
covered.
Supports analysis
and views with
reasons and
evidence
Presents a fairly
balanced view
vague
connections
between the
issues and
concepts
covered
Supports
analysis and
opinions with
limited reasons
and evidence;
somewhat onesided argument
misunderstan
ding of the
issues
discussed and
the
connection
with the
concepts
studied
Supports
analysis and
opinions with
little or no
appropriate
evidence
Overall Mark for Structure, Style, and Format
Presentation is also important, but don’t worry about most of it until after you have all your ideas
on paper. This final polishing includes
the tone or “voice” of your argument, which should be balanced and objective;
the way you structure your argument, making your message clear to the reader;
the cosmetic aspects of grammar, spelling, punctuation (use spelling and grammar
check), and
following APA format. Even more important than the format is the respect you show for
the intellectual efforts of others by properly listing and citing any sources that you have
consulted. You will need to keep track of your sources right from the start of the
writing process.
Note that you are only using APA format to list and cite your sources; you are not
required to use full APA essay style.
If you have difficulty with written presentation and/or using APA format for references, help is
available through the AU Write Site and the AU Library. There are tools online, such as the
Calvin College KnightCite, to make using APA format easier.
Exemplary
9–10
Above Average
7–8
Average
5–6.5
Needs More Effort
0–4
Feedback
Structure,
Style, and
Tone is
reasonable and
objective.
Tone is
reasonable and
objective.
Tone is
acceptably
reasonable and
Tone may not be
appropriate forINBU 201v2 Assignment 2 November 2024
© Athabasca University
Format
/10
Flow of written
presentation
makes it easy to
follow the
argument and is
a pleasure to
read.
Uses APA
guidelines
accurately and
consistently to
cite sources
Flow of
written
presentation
makes it easy
to follow the
argument.
Uses APA
guidelines
with minor (1–
3)
inconsistencies
.
objective.
Flow of written
presentation is
acceptable but
could be
improved.
Reflects basic
knowledge of
APA guidelines.
academic writing.
Written
presentation
difficult to follow;
does not offer
clear argument.
Limited
knowledge of
APA guidelines;
needs work.
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INBU 201v2 | Assignment 2
INBU 201v2 - Assignment 2
Indigenous Community Economic Development Governance
Case: Blue Sky Indigenous Nation Community Trust
Student Name: _______________________________________________
Course: INBU 201v2
Assignment Weight: 20%
Body Word Count: 988 words
Introduction
The Blue Sky Indigenous Nation Community Trust was created to protect $4.9 million in capital
and use investment revenue for approved community projects. In 2013, three trustee vacancies
were filled through interviews that did not follow the normal process established by Chief and
Council in 2001. The trust manager helped redesign the questions and interviewed applicants even
after declaring that one candidate was the manager's mother. Although the corporate trustee
verified the scores and the candidate had previously ranked highly, Chief and Council still faced a
reasonable perception of conflict of interest (Bearclaw, 2015). I would not keep the status quo. I
would preserve the community-based trustee model but strengthen the selection procedure so
that family relationships are disclosed, conflicted decision-makers step aside, and an alternate
panel can complete the process without undermining community authority.
Analysis
1. What issues or problems are foreseeable with the current governance structure,
specifically regarding conflict of interest?
The main problem is not proof that favouritism occurred; it is that the structure allowed a
person with an obvious personal relationship to remain directly involved in designing and scoring
the selection process. The 2001 procedure expected current trustees to interview and rank
candidates. In 2013, however, most trustees did not participate, so the trust manager and
corporate trustee conducted the interviews. The manager had already declared a conflict because
one applicant was the manager's mother, yet there was no rule requiring recusal and the trustees
did not respond to the declaration. This created a serious appearance problem even though the
interviews were conducted consistently and the corporate trustee verified the scores (Bearclaw,
2015).
A second weakness is that the Trust Agreement's conflict-of-interest clause is too narrow for
this situation. It addresses trustees who have an interest or close connection in contracts, but it
does not clearly govern the trust manager, trustee recruitment, family relationships, or the
Athabasca University | INBU 201v2 | 1