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A New Year filled with revenue challenges

Whether it is Stz’uminus building a commercial development along the highway, Tsleil-Waututh’s award-winning, high-end housing or Klahoose forest activities, the goal is to create cash – own source revenue – for nations and job opportunities for members.

But Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council nations are finding that the road to creating businesses and making partnerships is not always smooth. As the New Year approaches, nations are finding themselves either mired in expensive court cases or coming up against local opposition to their plans to generate wealth.

A good case in point is evident near Nanoose Bay where Snaw’Naw’As Forest Services was forced to get a court injunction to keep protesters out of an active logging area. (See story here.)

Another good example of potential conflicts is taking place at Tsawwassen. There has been some public (and a lot more private) discussion by neighbours of the post-treaty nation as they watch huge housing, retail and industrial developments taking place. (See story on here.)

Then there is Halalt. That nation will again be going to the BC Supreme Court early next year to defend last summer’s landmark decision. The court ruled that Halalt had a strong case for aboriginal title regarding its traditional territory on the Chemainus River. The judge also said that BC failed to properly consult and accommodate Halalt when it approved municipal drinking water wells built adjacent to the reserve on the Chemainus River.

And when the District of North Cowichan went to the Court of Appeal in October to get the okay for pumping to resume in the meantime, the answer was ‘No’. The court ruled that Halalt’s rights outweigh any inconvenience caused by Chemainus residents being occasionally advised to boil water from the current surface supply.

Halalt draws its own drinking water from the same aquifer and uses that water for its growing (pardon the pun) greenhouse and vegetable gardens. Other future developments could also hinge on the final court ruling.

Finally, at Sliammon nation economic development, natural resources and revenue will play a key role over the next six months as community members consider how they will case their ballots in the ratification vote next June for the Tla’amin treaty. (See story here.)

While 2011 was not without its challenges for NmTC nations, 2012 could be a groundbreaker in many ways.


 

Are we entrepreneurial? You bet!

Are we entrepreneurial? You bet!

First Nations need to support on reserve entrepreneurs
- by Klahowya guest columnist, Clint Davis

The 2011 Aboriginal Business Survey by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, in partnership with Environics Research Group, reveals that on reserve business owners operate in a very different environment than off reserve businesses.

Too many reserves face serious issues like high unemployment, lack of housing and poor health conditions which can leave a First Nations Band Council overwhelmed. This feeling of hopelessness is reinforced by the media which commonly portrays reserves as chaotic enclaves ravished by poverty and despair. So it would not be a stretch to think this reality would impact a business owner’s view on the probability of future success.

While the Aboriginal Business Survey revealed that the majority of businesses were optimistic about the future, this optimism was not as prevalent in on-reserve businesses. Only 61% of on reserve businesses expected sales to grow in the next two years as compared to 76% among off reserve firms.

Furthermore, companies operating on reserve experienced less sales growth than off reserve companies in the previous year (29% vs. 39%) which can be attributable to a lack of financing. On reserve entrepreneurs can have difficulty obtaining bank financing since the Indian Act prevents real and personal property from being used as security.

Finally, only 39% of those companies surveyed felt their First Nation’s government were supportive of their business activity.

A vibrant private sector is essential in the creation of a sustainable economy. First Nations need to provide mentoring support, start-up and growth funding and exude a positive, can-do attitude to kick-start small business growth.

Some communities are doing this but more First Nations leaders must join the pack. First Nations people are taking a big risk by going into business – the community must come together to help them succeed.

Clint Davis is the president of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. The above column first appeared in the Financial Post and is used here with permission.


‘Developing economies’ main goal of forum

‘Developing economies’ main goal of forum

Tsleil-Waututh Nation and the Tsilhqot’in National Government are hosting a forum for economic development officers from BC’s First Nations from Feb. 28-March 2.

The event starts with a hosted reception at the Coast Coal Harbour, the host hotel for the forum. Throughout the next two days, there will be panel discussions and networking opportunities for participants.

Keynote speakers include Indian and Northern Affairs Minister John Duncan. His department, INAC, is supporting the forum entitled “Connecting to Develop our Nations’ Economies”. Panel discussion topics include economic development in nation building; asset development; access to capital; and economic development support services.

On the second evening of the forum, a dinner will be held at Tsleil-Waututh with Chief Justin George playing the host. Entertainment includes the Children of Takaya.

INAC will cover travel and accommodation costs for one invited economic development practitioner from each participating community.

More info:Megan Gros,
Raven Events

megan@ravenevents.ca

1-604-483-3532

Communities funding deadline near

First Nations have until Feb. 25 to apply for the latest round of funding from the West Coast Community Adjustment Program (WCCAP).

The federal program is aimed at encouraging long-term, sustainable economy development and diversification in once fishing-dependant coastal communities.

Experimental fisheries, aquaculture pilot projects and research are among the ocean-based projects that are eligible for WCCAP funding. Marine infrastructure such as wharves, harbours and development of historical sites for tourism are examples of other types of projects.

www.cfislandcoastal.ca

Creating wealth surrounded by riches

Creating wealth surrounded by riches

If there is one thing that Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council nations all have in common, it is the challenge of creating real, sustainable wealth.

This need of our communities comes just as the natural resources needed to develop our economies are increasingly in short supply. Often, once our nations identify potential sources of wealth, there is a fair bit of noise from politicians, residents and environmental groups.

All our nations have experienced this to some extent such as:

• Tsawwassen – Large-scale industrial, commercial and residential developments – alongside that of DeltaPort – have opponents complaining about loss of farmland, wildlife habitat and other negative effects of growth;

• Stz’uminus – Economic development of shellfish and other resources has created a major battle with DFO access to resources once claimed exclusively by commercial harvesters;

• Snuneymuxw – Pressures on the Nanaimo River estuary is a familiar story and recently Snuneymuxw threatened court action over the building of a cruise ship terminal; and

• Snaw-naw-as – The awarding of a five-year woodlot license from the province was to bring in revenues from logging, but first there was loud complaints from people who said a unique forest was threatened.

 

There is some humour in all these situations where non-native economies and our neighbouring communities are fighting to save what they say are the last bits of land from development… First Nations’ developments.

 

Many of the articles in this issue of Klahowya are about such challenges and some of the ways our nations are learning to go forward while dealing with opposition – from blockades to partnerships.

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