Go for the culture, stay for the wine

Chief Louis wants no more status quo

Chief Clarence Louie

Chief Clarence Louie is CEO of a busy corporation owned by Osoyoos Indian Band that has a growing concern of businesses in southern BC. The amazing thing is that these Okanagan folk started from what seemed like next-to-nothing. The chief's incredible vision and energy turned a desert into a destination resort, and it happened in the blink of an eye, or one generation.

Chief Louie accepted an invitation to speak in Edmonton at the CIBA 2006 Economic Development Conference and Tradeshow that was held October 25th. To those who are unfamiliar with Chief Louie, it may have come as a surprise the way he pulled no punches, "Do you call yourself a marcher on the Red Road? The answer is simply that you better be a worker or have a job. It's a working road, not a road where you sit on your butt. Do you call yourself a warrior? Get off welfare and pay your child support. Stand on your own two feet."

The Chief has taken a polemic position regarding First Nation problems, and his points are made to destroy the status quo. "I don't spend my time in meetings where people are talking about their inter personal philosophies, you know, where they talk about how my heart soars like an eagle. I was invited to a 'healing' conference to be a speaker. Can you imagine me speaking to a meeting of the 'misery' industry?"

No, the room of about 300-plus First Nation folk and mixed company at Edmonton's Mayfield Inn could hardly imagine that, a scant 10 minutes into his remarks; but nor were they terribly amused. Nobody was laughing.

The Chief said, "If you are going to talk about 'circles' in today's world you better add another quadrant and put a dollar sign in there."

He said that in running a business he constantly receives requests for so-called 'support', and wonders what drives the quest for support, and prevents people from simply asking for money, "Most Natives don't talk about the reality of money enough since that is what they want and money is not a bad word.

"Few of our people are making money." He said, "Most are spending underfunded government grants. I love the artists, the entertainers, and crafts people of our communities. These people I support, for they work hard." He pointed out that Osoyoos has a world class Native art gallery, "I always dig in my wallet to support them."

The chief has spent years in the business world, and said, "Get advice. All business people have advisors. We have advisors, and we sometimes take their advice and sometimes not. We search for the best decisions because we have social, cultural, and environmental responsibilities. Money is not about being a fat cat with the most toys. Money from business is for cultural, social, and recreational funding for our members."

Chief Louie has high regard for youth. "We fund all our youth at Osoyoos for recreational activities. I love sports as a way to develop character in the youth." These sports and recreational-oriented activities offer wider learning opportunities, and the chance to go on the road. "Sports and recreation allows them to get out and experience other First Nation cultures, and develop competition skills."

The other thing Osoyoos does is provide funding for Elders, "We subsidize Elders programs, and we love our Elders. We know how how hard they have worked. At Osoyoos we showcase our heritage and culture. Our golf course has Okanagan language signs, as do our other properties. Let me just say that when you are on one of our sites you know you're on First Nation property, in First Nation territory."

Returning to speaking philosophically about First Nation affairs outside of Osoyoos, he said, "We should have learned by now not to depend on federal funding. Leadership has to change its mind-set, and things that should have happened long ago will not happen overnight, just because they ought to. The leadership in a First Nation community has to develop a business climate before launching into some economic or business affair. Business runs at a different pace that has nothing to do with Band Office hours. Business is not Monday to Friday."

He said the mind-set has to change from one of spending money to one of making money. "I love bookkeepers and finance people. I love First Nation people who become accountants and bookkeepers. You have to develop financial courage, to learn that the buck has to stop somewhere. Too many Native organizations end up in deficit. Business people constantly have to confront difficult financial issues, and should be avid readers to keep up with current events, especially business news and stories that feature business successes or opportunities."

He said, "We're still learning at Osoyoos. Our education sessions are found in meetings with business people. We operate in a business climate with business principles. Our offices tell the story. Business people and investors can walk into any Band office and tell immediately if the place is ready to do business."

Chief Louie, for all his business wiles, retains a keen awareness of the struggle that First Nations people undergo. He wants awareness of that to spread as well, and to do this, Osoyoos Indian Band invited American Indian Movement leader Russell Means to speak at a recent AGM. But what did Russell Means say? Chief Louie said, “He told that audience, ‘The sad fact is that most Native people are not ready for business.’ ”

Things are different at Osoyoos and a few other First Nations, although precious few. Chief Louie said, "For all First Nations our socio-economic development is inextricably tied to the economy of our traditional territories. We should not be excluded in any way from these economics. At Osoyoos we are involved in agriculture, construction, retailing, wineries, RV parks, golf, and tourism in the greater Osoyoos Indian Band Territory, with Mount Baldy Ski Resort."

The Chief said, "INAC [Indian and Northern Affairs Canada] spends over $8 billion every year to pay for social programs, and 96 percent of the money goes directly into underfunded social service and welfare oriented programs, with only four percent of the total earmarked for economic development. They have focused on making welfare dependency a priority for Native people for the past 100 years. The difference in these percentages should be the exact opposite."

Chief Louie said, "People will not necessarily agree with me on this one, but I withhold my support for the Kelowna Accord because it is more of the 'same old, same old' social spending just like the past one hundred years. That formula has not worked. Economic development is last on the list of priorities. What province or state makes the economy the last priority?

“With Indian Affairs, economic development programs are the last to be considered. It is up to First Nations to make the economic development of their communities the number one issue. Vote in councils that concentrate on economic development." Economics is the engine that will drive community development forward. In the absence of economic power, political power is virtually non-existent.

Originally appeared in the Nov 2006 Print Edition of Native Journal Newspaper 

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