First Nation partners working with provinces to support regional economic growth opportunities
The following two articles demonstrate that provincial governments are finally recognizing the importance and value of working cooperatively with First Nations to ensure economic opportunities can grow in their regions ...
Making aboriginals part of the new Saskatchewan economy
Brad Wall, Premier of Saskatchewan - February 18, 2008
In a recent series entitled "Rethinking the Reserve," National Post writer Kevin Libin examined new strategies for addressing the challenges faced by Canada's First Nations communities. The Post has invited other commentators to offer their thoughts on the subject. In today's installment, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall explains how his government is helping aboriginals take advantage of the region's current economic boom.
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There's a new optimism in the air here in Saskatchewan. This province leads the nation in construction growth. Residential construction is up by an astonishing 74%. BMO Nesbitt Burns calls Saskatchewan the "rising star of the Canadian economic growth scene." Unfortunately, First Nations and Metis people are not fully benefiting from the strength of the new Saskatchewan economy.
Saskatchewan is experiencing a labour shortage. Yet unemployment among First Nations and Metis remains high. Fully 48% of First Nations and Metis people living off reserve are not even in the workforce. A lack of skills and training appears to be a significant impediment: Only one third of First Nations and Metis people under the age of 24 have completed high school, and 44% struggle with problems of literacy.
Saskatchewan has among the highest percentages of aboriginal citizens of any province in Canada -- 14%. Within 10 years, almost 40% of Saskatchewan's children will be First Nations and Metis. We have to start doing a better job of making sure these people will have the support and the training they need to enter the workforce.
How can we get this done? We can learn from some success stories.
I recently visited the Thunderchild First Nation near the City of North Battleford. Through years of strong local leadership and a well-developed entrepreneurial spirit, the chief and council have created a reserve where economic and training opportunities for local young people are plentiful. The band has its own economic development branch. Thunderchild Outfitters attracts hunters from around the world. Thunderchild Agriculture manages farm pastureland. There is oil and gas exploration, as well.
Another success story is the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology, which has been offering training programs to First Nations adults for three decades. At a recent meeting of our urban municipalities association, a local councillor told how his community saved tens of thousands of dollars when the construction of a sewage lagoon was tied to a training program for heavy equipment operators. When the training was done, a local company was able to hire some of the graduates. Others were able to get jobs with the local rural municipality.
Sadly, First Nations and Metis are over-represented in our correctional system. However, there are programs to provide training and skills to those in custody. Recently, 41 offenders got seven months of work as construction labourers at the Belle Plaine Ethanol Plant. Several continued working on the project after release.
There are other steps being taken that I hope will lead to greater participation by aboriginal people in the workforce. In May, our government is holding a roundtable with representatives from industry and First Nations organizations. It will discuss how to involve First Nations and Metis more fully in future resource development.
In addition, our government is establishing Enterprise Saskatchewan, a group of key stakeholders who will make recommendations on removing barriers to growth in our province. First Nations and Metis will have a permanent seat on the board of this new body.
The demographic transition now taking place in Saskatchewan presents this province with some challenges, and some real opportunities. I'm confident that through good will and co-operation, we can make sure that everyone in Saskatchewan has an opportunity to benefit from a stronger provincial economy. - Brad Wall is the Premier of Saskatchewan.
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First Nations an untapped economic resource: stategy group
February 18, 2008
Aboriginal communities are an overlooked resource that could be used to improve New Brunswick's economic success, according to First Nation and business leaders who met over the weekend in St. Mary's.
"We're talking about the need for immigration in New Brunswick. Well, we have sort of an untapped source in our aboriginal community that we're not taking full advantage of and it needs the opportunity for its own advancement," said Bud Bird, co-chair of the First Nations and Business Liaison Group of New Brunswick.
The group formed to identify ventures that First Nations and businesses could develop as partners. The meeting of First Nations and private-sector business leaders in St. Mary's was billed as "historic" as the group discussed the development of a mutual economic strategy.
"We're not going to move forward in any fashion whatsoever if we're doing nothing but fighting with each other," said Noah Augustine, group co-chair and chief of the Metepenagiag First Nation.
Statistics show New Brunswick's First Nations have the fastest-growing population in the province and the youngest median age, said Bird, who is also a Fredericton businessman.
Educating and training First Nations youth in skilled trades would fill a void that's going to become greater when major projects planned for New Brunswick come on line, he said.
"The prosperity of the province is the ultimate goal," Bird said.
The economic development strategy is meant to look beyond federal government supports and band councils, said Augustine.
"The First Nations people are not sitting here saying 'Here's my hand extended, I'm looking for a payout, write us a cheque,'" he said. "That's not the message we're trying to send you today. We're saying, 'We want to participate in the economy. We're here to participate in the economy and we have the skills and the trades to do.'"