First Nations looking to the future in building new business and development partnerships
A call for a 'new way of doing business' - Look to aboriginals as partners: Fontaine
By: Kevin Rollason
Aboriginal people are open to business -- as long as they're on an equal level at the same table, the country's national chief says.
Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said aboriginal people know the economy is in a recession, but they are looking to the future.
"Once we get beyond this financial crisis there will be significant opportunities for this country," Fontaine said at the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce's membership luncheon on Thursday.
"The next wave of wealth creation will be on Indian land and Indian territories. My message is about partners and creating real opportunities... we need a new way of doing business.
"We have to engage and interact in a different way... we say to you, forget about the old way. This is a better way. Look to us as partners. We have to be at the table with you as equals."
Speaking to an audience filled with local business leaders, Fontaine said the aboriginal population is a significant part of the city.
"We're determined to make a real and positive contribution to the wellbeing of the city," he said.
Dave Angus, the chamber's president and CEO, said Fontaine's speech is already being seen positively by the business community. "We think this will stimulate action between both groups," Angus said.
"We need each other. They need the business community, the employers to provide employment and training, and we need the aboriginal community, especially the youth, for future workers. This was a strong message to the business community, but also the aboriginal community leaders," Angus said.
Earlier, Fontaine detailed the terrible conditions faced by many aboriginal people across the country.
He said there are currently 42 First Nations communities without a school, more than 80 with their schools in disrepair, and more than 100 with boil water advisories. He said the suicide rate in some aboriginal communities is the highest in the world, and there are three times more aboriginal youth in the care of child and family services agencies than were in residential schools.
But Fontaine also pointed to the success stories, including there being almost 30,000 aboriginal students in university, and more than 20,000 businesses owned and managed by aboriginals.
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From the Telegraph-Journal, New Brunswick
Nurturing economic prosperity in the native community - National chief to address First Nations, business leaders
By Dave MacLean - March 20, 2009
The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations will deliver the keynote address as members of the provinces First Nations and many of its most prominent business leaders get together on Saturday to discuss mutually beneficial relationships between both groups.
Phil Fontaine will address members of the First Nations and Business Liaison Group of New Brunswick Inc., a body created two years ago to help open the lines of communication between provincial firms and aboriginal New Brunswickers.
Fontaine is expected to give provincial business leaders and First Nations chiefs an update on a recent economic summit held in Toronto that was attended by international firms looking to invest in Canada.
The national chief will be joined by provincial Aboriginal Affairs Minister Rick Brewer and a representative for national minister Chuck Strahl as guest speakers at the event.
"We're trying to create a new sense of open, transparent communication with a view to facilitating employment and investment opportunities that the First Nations could take advantage of," said Bud Bird, a prominent Fredericton businessman and longtime politician at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. "I think it's the first time it had been done in New Brunswick on any kind of an organized level."
Bird, a co-chairman of the group, is encouraged by the progress he's seen in the two years it's been in existence.
"This is our third such event," Bird said. "Each one has raised the profile of our group and helped us raise awareness. We continue to get a little more support at each one.
"This year, we hope to further raise the bar and intensify the levels of interest and hopefully fuel the imagination of people on both sides of the table."
Bird said they are looking to develop better relationships and help create more employment and business investment opportunities.
"I hope we will generate a new level of energy."
The group has attracted representatives from many prominent New Brunswick firms, a list that includes NB Power, Atcon, Assumption Life, Armour Transport, "and there are still a few others that we're working to get on board and I think we will do so" Bird said. "I was very pleasantly surprised right from the beginning, back in 2007, with the level of interest and concern and vision about the opportunities that the business sector displayed.
"There is a concern to help nurture economic prosperity for the native community."
The group secured funding from the federal and provincial governments and was able to hire executive director Gary Wood last fall.
"I was hired as the executive director last September and since then I've been pounding the pavement and beating the bushes. I've also been visiting the various First Nations in the province and meeting with many business owners, just planting the seeds," he said.
Wood looks forward to Saturday's session, where he will provide an update on the group's efforts, including a success story involving Richibucto-based Imperial Manufacturing Group.
"They're going to be working with the Elsipogtog First Nation," said Wood. "They're looking at expanding their workforce and through the efforts of Norm Caissie, the president and CEO of the company, and our liaison group, we've developed a partnership where we hope to create about 30 to 40 jobs in the future. It's a start. They're going to start in increments of 10 and we hope to get up to about 30 or 40."
Wood said key people will be attending the session and he's looking forward to making even more progress.
"A lot of businesspeople will attend this forum and the chiefs will be there," he said. "It's another opportunity for everyone to throw some ideas around and do some networking - just remind everyone that we're open for business and we should all be working together.
"We're in tough times, but now is the right time to make plans for the future."