Constitution of the Canadian Association for the Study of
Indigenous Education (CASIE)
Created: February 8, 2008
Revised: May 2012
Revised: May 2012
1.0 Purpose
- to foster the exchange of ideas concerning ongoing research and development in Aboriginal/Indigenous (hereafter Indigenous) Education in Canada;
- to provide a forum for discussion of Indigenous education studies in a Canadian context;
- to encourage the publication of papers and reports of scholarly work in Indigenous education;
- to bring together members whose disciplines are quite diverse but who maintain a common interest in Indigenous education;
- to foster and encourage commitment to research priorities of Indigenous peoples and their communities and respectful research processes and protocols with/in Canadian life-wide and life-long educational spheres
1.1 General Organization
The Association shall hold annual general meetings as part of the annual conference of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education / Societé canadienne pour l’étude de l’éducation.
The Association shall be carried on without purpose of gain for its members and any profits or other accretions to the Association shall be used in promoting its objectives.
In the event of the dissolution of the Association, all its remaining assets, after payment of liabilities, shall be distributed to one or more Aboriginal controlled charitable organizations in Canada, recognized by the Department of National Revenue.
The Association shall hold annual general meetings as part of the annual conference of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education / Societé canadienne pour l’étude de l’éducation.
The Association shall be carried on without purpose of gain for its members and any profits or other accretions to the Association shall be used in promoting its objectives.
In the event of the dissolution of the Association, all its remaining assets, after payment of liabilities, shall be distributed to one or more Aboriginal controlled charitable organizations in Canada, recognized by the Department of National Revenue.
1.2 General Membership
Members of the Association are full members of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education / Societé canadienne pour l’étude de l’éducation. The amount of the annual dues shall be determined from time to time by the membership at the Annual General Meeting, and in accordance with policies of other CSSE / Scéé cooperating Associations.
All members of the Association in good standing shall have the privilege of
Members of the Association are full members of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education / Societé canadienne pour l’étude de l’éducation. The amount of the annual dues shall be determined from time to time by the membership at the Annual General Meeting, and in accordance with policies of other CSSE / Scéé cooperating Associations.
All members of the Association in good standing shall have the privilege of
- participating in deliberations at the annual general meeting;
- nominating members for office in the Association;
- voting in the election of Executive Officers;
- standing for office in the Association;
- benefitting from the services of the Association.
1.3 Executive Officers of the Association
The Executive Officers of the Association shall be:
The Executive Officers shall propose policies and conduct business related to the Association. The Executive Officers shall be responsible for:
Every consideration should be given to maintaining regional representation among the Executive Officers of the Association.
The first Vice President shall be elected biennially by the membership, and shall automatically become President for a term of two years. The second Vice President and the Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected biennially by the membership. These elections shall be conducted following a secret ballot process.
The first Vice President shall assist the President in the performance of his/her duties and shall assume the duties of the President in the absence, incapacity, or resignation of the President. The second Vice President will act in the same capacities subsequently.
The President shall be responsible for:
The Past President shall be responsible for:
In the event that an officer of the Association gives up his/her position, the President is empowered to appoint a substitute to act until the next annual general meeting. At that meeting, a candidate for the unexpired term of office is to be elected by the membership in accordance with the usual procedures.
The Executive Officers of the Association shall be:
- President;
- First Vice President;
- Second Vice President;
- Secretary-Treasurer;
- Past President.
The Executive Officers shall propose policies and conduct business related to the Association. The Executive Officers shall be responsible for:
- the finances of the Association;
- the acceptance and review of proposals from members to present at the annual conference of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education;
- the creation of standing, nominating and ad hoc committees and the appointment of members of these committees as deemed necessary
- any publication partnerships entered into by the Association;
- the planning of the annual general meeting at the annual conference of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education
Every consideration should be given to maintaining regional representation among the Executive Officers of the Association.
The first Vice President shall be elected biennially by the membership, and shall automatically become President for a term of two years. The second Vice President and the Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected biennially by the membership. These elections shall be conducted following a secret ballot process.
The first Vice President shall assist the President in the performance of his/her duties and shall assume the duties of the President in the absence, incapacity, or resignation of the President. The second Vice President will act in the same capacities subsequently.
The President shall be responsible for:
- administrative duties in association with participation as a member of the CSSE / Scéé Board of Directors;
- planning the preconference event in partnership with First Nations communities;
- general oversee of CASIE affairs and support of the work of Executive Officers of the Association.
- All duties associated with being Program Chair for CASIE sessions as part of the Annual Conference of CSSE / Scéé;
- Working in partnership with academic journals to facilitate publication of scholarly work presented by CASIE members in CASIE-supported sessions at the Annual Conference of CSSE / Scéé.
- Maintenance and regular updating of the CASIE webpage as hosted by CSSE / Scéé;
- Assisting the 1st Vice President in working in partnership with academic journals to facilitate publication of scholarly work presented by CASIE members in CASIE-supported sessions at the Annual Conference of CSSE / Scéé.
- The custody and maintenance of the records of the Association;
- Writing a summary report of the highlights of each annual CSSE / Scéé preconference and conference that can be posted on the CASIE webpage;
- Garnering regional reports from CASIE members on relevant regional activities that can be posted on the CASIE webpage.
The Past President shall be responsible for:
- providing sage guidance to the Executive Officers and member of CASIE regarding decisions and workings of the Association.;
- presiding over any nomination and voting processes conducted by the Association.
In the event that an officer of the Association gives up his/her position, the President is empowered to appoint a substitute to act until the next annual general meeting. At that meeting, a candidate for the unexpired term of office is to be elected by the membership in accordance with the usual procedures.
1.4 Decision-Making Processes
During Association deliberations, the Executive Officers of CASIE will work in collaboration with CASIE membership to establish agreement through consensus. However, in situations when consensus is not possible or appropriate, decisions will be reached by a majority vote.
Consensus means an opinion, position or decision reached by, and accepted by a group as a whole; general agreement or concord; harmony. Decision-making through consensus consists of:
The President and Past President shall be responsible for assessing overall agreement through:
The following terms describe the level of support for a decision:
Where unanimity is not possible, the participants should strive to make decisions where there is at least consensus with substantial support (i.e., few abstentions) from all members.
To avoid making decisions with respect to standards that might be product of apathy or nonobjection by the participants (i.e., with little support and substantial abstention), participants are encouraged and expected to participate actively and to express affirmatively their agreement or disagreement with a standard or other matter under discussion before a decision can actually be recorded.
Decisions may be made during meetings (face-to-face or distributed) as well as through email, teleconferences, or any other medium as long as the principles expressed in this policy are adhered to.
During Association deliberations, the Executive Officers of CASIE will work in collaboration with CASIE membership to establish agreement through consensus. However, in situations when consensus is not possible or appropriate, decisions will be reached by a majority vote.
Consensus means an opinion, position or decision reached by, and accepted by a group as a whole; general agreement or concord; harmony. Decision-making through consensus consists of:
- Full deliberation among meeting participants;
- Consideration of relevant points of view;
- Identification of areas of agreement and disagreement through discussion;
- Dialog until the sense of the group is clear.
The President and Past President shall be responsible for assessing overall agreement through:
- Summarizing the sense of the discussion;
- Articulating the specific decisions;
- Asking whether there are other concerns, and if necessary, returning to deliberations;
- Articulating the consensus decision.
The following terms describe the level of support for a decision:
- Unanimity: All participants agree;
- Consensus: No participants object (but some may abstain);
- Dissent: At least one participant objects.
Where unanimity is not possible, the participants should strive to make decisions where there is at least consensus with substantial support (i.e., few abstentions) from all members.
To avoid making decisions with respect to standards that might be product of apathy or nonobjection by the participants (i.e., with little support and substantial abstention), participants are encouraged and expected to participate actively and to express affirmatively their agreement or disagreement with a standard or other matter under discussion before a decision can actually be recorded.
Decisions may be made during meetings (face-to-face or distributed) as well as through email, teleconferences, or any other medium as long as the principles expressed in this policy are adhered to.
1.5 Dissent Process for CASIE
If the Association is unable to achieve consensus after careful consideration of all points of view, the President may request a simple majority vote by the members.
Members who strongly disagree with the recommendation are not required to embrace it. Instead they may formulate an appeal which consists of a dissenting opinion agreeable to all those dissenting. Their appeal is presented in written form along with the recommendation reached through the consensus process, which is outlined in a letter of recommendation.
If the Association is unable to achieve consensus after careful consideration of all points of view, the President may request a simple majority vote by the members.
Members who strongly disagree with the recommendation are not required to embrace it. Instead they may formulate an appeal which consists of a dissenting opinion agreeable to all those dissenting. Their appeal is presented in written form along with the recommendation reached through the consensus process, which is outlined in a letter of recommendation.
1.6 Affiliation of Special Interest Groups
From time to time, CASIE may decide to establish affiliated special interest groups, provided that
From time to time, CASIE may decide to establish affiliated special interest groups, provided that
- an affiliation is in the interest of CASIE;
- the group demonstrates significant support;
- CASIE membership approve of an affiliation.
1.7 Languages
The official languages of the Association are English and French.
The official languages of the Association are English and French.
1.8 Regulations
The Association shall be subject to the By-laws and Regulations established by the Canadian Society for the Study of Education / Societé canadienne pour l’étude de l’éducation
The Association shall be subject to the By-laws and Regulations established by the Canadian Society for the Study of Education / Societé canadienne pour l’étude de l’éducation
1.9 Amendments
Amendments to this Constitution shall be made by consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, then a vote will be held. In order for proposed amendments to be accepted, they must be supported by 60 per cent of all members in good standing and in attendance at the Annual General Meeting, or responding to a mailed ballot.
Written notice of motion for an amendment to this constitution shall be distributed to all members of the Association in good standing sixty (60) days before the annual general meeting or, in the case of a mailed vote, sixty (60) days prior to the last date on which ballots will be accepted
Amendments to this Constitution shall be made by consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, then a vote will be held. In order for proposed amendments to be accepted, they must be supported by 60 per cent of all members in good standing and in attendance at the Annual General Meeting, or responding to a mailed ballot.
Written notice of motion for an amendment to this constitution shall be distributed to all members of the Association in good standing sixty (60) days before the annual general meeting or, in the case of a mailed vote, sixty (60) days prior to the last date on which ballots will be accepted