Recession hurt but Millbrook remains on track toward self-sufficiency

Millbrook First Nation in Truro, Nova Scotia, is well-positioned to develop their community into a self-sufficient First Nation, says Chief Lawrence Paul, “We have a wide range of developments underway, including a land-based aquaculture development growing Arctic Char,” and, the chief notes, the reason for a land-based growing facility, is, “Apparently the saltwater is too contaminated to grow healthy fish for human consumption so they are growing them in a land-based re-circulation system.”

Alex Cope, Millbrook Band Manager, says fish farms are not that friendly to the environment and can not be controlled as in land based facilities. The chief says the Arctic char are currently growing in the tanks in a Millbrook-owned facility, “There are buildings on our Millbrook First Nation property, leased from us, where they are hatching and beginning to grow out the Arctic char, and some salmon and trout.”

This is but one in a list of economic developments that puts the Millbrook First Nation on the pathway to self-sufficiency.  “We developed the Truro Power Centre in 2001, which now includes a call centre, motel, RV park,  restaurant, and Tim Hortons,” and an anchor tenant in Sobey’s, which was the first tenant at the Truro Power Centre.

On a satellite-reserve in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Millbrook First Nation constructed a new building that General Dynamics leased a couple years ago. General Dynamics is designing, maintaining, and servicing software for the new Canadian Forces Sikorsky helicopters, which will begin arriving in Dartmouth in November 2010.

In fact, this Mi'kmaq First Nation in Nova Scotia governs the reserves of Millbrook IR 27, Cole Harbour 30, Beaver Lake I.R. 17, Sheet Harbour IR 36, Truro 27a, Truro 27b,and Truro 27c. Chief Paul works with a 12-member council that has highly qualified personnel in elected positions. They are elected from a membership over 1,400, “Closer to 1,500,” says the chief, “and that will increase to we expect close to 1,800 with a recent B.C. Supreme Court decision,” McIvor v. Canada (Registrar of Indian and Northern Affairs), [2009] B.C.J. No. 669, the B.C. Court of Appeal, “that affects Band membership across Canada.”

Prior to the current endeavors in economic development, says Lawrence, “our focus had been on the Highway 102 Connector to the TransCanada Highway. Now the focus is on a new hotel in immediate vicinity to Truro, Nova Scotia, in a destination-oriented tourism property that will include an indoor climate-controlled waterpark. “It will be busy year-round,” says the chief.

Alex Cope says, “We have three buildings with VLTs (Video Lottery Terminals) in Millbrook, three centres in Cole Harbour, and one in Sheet Harbour with a total of 117 machines VLTs,” and the VLTs are making money. “These VLT’s are good income for Millbrook,” says the chief, “big breadwinners.” The 117 VLT’s supplied much needed income for some of the current development that Millbrook is undergoing, and much-needed cash benefits to the community membership.

“Every man, woman, and child receives $1,000 in the third week of June and $1,500 each November. For those under 19 years of age the money is held in trust until they become of-age.” The Millbrook community is able to thrive and people are working, “We are creating jobs for ourselves and adding community services, like a health centre and a youth centre. Our kids are enrolled in the public school system. We have 19 graduates coming out of high school this year.

“We have accessed programs at university and Nova Scotia Community College trades so our graduates can pursue post-secondary opportunities. Our administrators have university educations. For example, Alex, our Band Manager, got a B.Admin at University of New Brunswick.”

Millbrook’s leadership mentored a handful of their members to become educated and available for administrative duties for a growing group of Millbrook communities. Once the 102 connector highway was established, due to no small amount of lobbying by Millbrook, they obtained access to the mainstream of provincial life and commercial opportunities began to emerge.

“Commercially we are doing well, and the goal is self-sufficiency,” says Lawrence. “We are breaking away from government dependency and economic development is our course.” The excitement around Millbrook these days relates to the new hotel, naturally, “a $27 million facility that will employ skilled workers when it’s built,” and meanwhile, contracts to build will supply jobs for a growing Millbrook First Nation labour pool.

Chief Lawrence Paul is an elder now, and he had a long career in various kinds of endeavors, “I was an auto body man, a furnace repair man, I went to business college, and Nova Scotia Agriculture College. I was in the army in 1951,” where he spent time in Germany during the post-war period of German reconstruction. He says, “In 1984, I decided to run for chief,” and he has served 14 consecutive terms now, 28 years in the office. “I am not ready for retirement. I have another term in me after this one.”

Nine hundred Band members live in Truro area, and 100 non band members and 100 non natives dwell in the Millbrook sub-divisions beside Truro, “We have Band members all over Canada and the U.S.,” and those members can be proud of their ancestral home, “Native people are going to go forward same as the rest of society,” says the chief, “toward self-sufficiency and into the fight for the almighty dollar,” he quips.

“Now that we have leveled the playing field we are promoting education as the way forward for our people.” Self-sufficiency is in the not-too-distant future. “The recession hurt us too, but we recovered and we have opportunities to pursue that will make it happen sooner rather than later,” including management of the building and Band-owned property in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Glenn Squires is CEO of Pacrim Hospitality Services of Halifax that developed and manages the Super 8 Motel located at the power centre, and Glenn says Millbrook's practical business model works well for the firm, one of Canada's largest privately-owned hotel management companies.

"We enjoy working with Millbrook and had a great experience with the partnership model, which works to the advantage of all," says Squires. "The relationship is very collaborative and geared to a win-win over the duration of any given project. We have done several quite successful projects with Millbrook and plan to do more in the future."

Power Centre businesses include a multiplex theatre, sit-down and drive-through restaurants, a 50-room hotel, a recreational vehicle retailer, a service station, a call centre, an aquaculture facility and the Glooscap Heritage Centre. Truro Power Centre is not the only location Millbrook has to offer for partnership opportunities.

The band owns other lands in Nova Scotia, including 19 hectares in Cole Harbour. In the past five years, the area has seen significant activity, and the Band built two apartment buildings in 2003 and 2007 worth more than $11 million. The buildings were designed specifically for empty nesters.

Capacity building is visionary at McLeod Lake Indian Band

McLeod Lake Indian Band, north of Prince George, B.C., is building investment and employment capacity for their Tse'khene members in a variety of industrious directions, "It started way before I came along," says Chief Derek Orr, (elected 2008), and, he says, economic development initiatives of MLIB are especially evident since MLIB joined the Treaty 8 groups of First Nations.
    

History shows MLIB began coming into its own prior to 1987 when leaders advised the Canadian Government of their intention to join Treaty 8. This move was made after a forestry  company, Duz Cho Logging, begun in the early 80's, produced enough profits to hire legal counsel and negotiate McLeod Lake’s adhesion to Treaty 8 with Canada.
    

As economic capacity grew, MLIB created Duz Cho Construction in 2002 to work in the oil and gas and coal industries of north eastern B.C.. A lobby effort with oil companies garnered the construction company its first contracts and Duz Cho Construction was profitable by the middle of the decade. Acting further on the growing oil and gas activity in North-East B.C., MLIB made a major share purchase of  Summit Pipeline Services Ltd.. 
    

Summit constructs pipelines, conducts diagnostic and repair services for pipelines, municipal sewer systems, pulp mills and other industries. MLIB in the most recent context has business development programs to assist MLIB members gain skills and establish business ventures. They are doing so with owner-operated equipment, forestry, construction, steel sales and fabrication, and business in the accommodation of work crews. 
    

Having members working in the surrounding traditional territory is not new because these lands and waters once provided abundant harvests of fur and wild game to Tse'Khene people. The key is to build a capacity to do the changing nature of work, "We targeted seven or eight members who were mentored and encouraged to join the effort at building the capacity for McLeod Lake Indian Band to participate in industrial development."
    

MLIB endured the toughest year in recent history, especially tough for a new chief, youngest in their history at age 35. "It's been one and a half years since I have been able to give members any good news. A lot of community services for youth and elders were put on hold while the world economy battered the financial stability of MLIB."
    

The MLIB operations are back in high gear and the Band is looking closely at the coming opportunities in mining, regarding Terrane Metals Mt. Milligan project in Mackenzie, B.C.. This gold/copper mine could provide good jobs and new business opportunities within their traditional territory. 
    

MLIB is working closely with Mt. Milligan Copper/Gold Mine, "We are working to ensure jobs, business contracts, revenue-sharing, and environmental monitoring. We have a Memorandum of Understanding with Mt. Milligan Mine to provide environmental monitoring at the mine site. It's important because we have a huge demand for services on reserve," says the Chief.
    

"Housing and facilities for youth are in short supply. We have people who wish to live in McLeod Lake but instead live in Prince George, Williams Lake, or Vancouver. We need more facilities in Prince George to provide services to our members who live there." Youth can choose from a variety of directions to plan a career, in jobs that work for the benefit of all Tse'Khene.
    

The MLIB elders need a facility that provides health and accommodation but remains within traveling distance, so the Band is making plans for a multi-plex that accommodates extended living and assisted living in Mackenzie, B.C.. 
    

MLIB has further opportunities for members to enter the mainstream economy in creative ways like green energy projects in wind energy (Dokie Wind/Plutonic). In fact, Mortenson Construction has begun the process of constructing the first elements of a major wind farm facility.
    

The Dokie Wind Project includes 48 Vestas V90 wind turbines, a switch-yard and transmission lines at a total project cost of $228 million. The Dokie project is on-time and on-budget and represents Plutonic Power's first wind project. Upon completion, it will be the largest wind farm in British Columbia. 
    

Mortenson Canada Corporation is a leading North American wind energy contractor, and uses a mix of their own personnel, local hires, and local subcontractors. The Dokie Ridge area - near Chetwynd, BC - is considered to be one of BC's best wind power assets in terms of generation potential. 
    

The existing network of provincial roads, logging roads, and rail corridors is ideal for transporting the turbine components which can weigh as much as 70 metric tones. This project will deliver 333,000 megawatt-hours per year of clean electricity to BC Hydro, commencing on March 1, 2011, under a 25-year EPA, through a partnership between Plutonic Power and GE Energy Financial Services.
    

Chief Orr says MLIB also has plans for additional community infrastructure that includes an indoor ice-skating rink.

Industry based skills development a strong suit at Northlands College

The Northland College Campus in La Ronge, Saskatchewan, is practically speaking a First Nation college, "The majority of our students are First Nation and Metis," explains Carson Poitras, "and the college engages these students in a wide variety of programs and courses," including many through distance education delivered at communities throughout northern Saskatchewan. 

Northland College celebrated the 20th anniversary two years ago, and 22 years of Northlands College has created a large alumni of First Nation graduates. Programs include GED preparation, technical programs, and many other more advanced programs, some delivered in outlying areas, however, "Some courses are lab-oriented programs," such as one recently delivered in La Ronge, "like engineering technology where students came to the college campus in La Ronge," said Poitras.

The college provides accommodations at hotels and motels for students to stay in La Ronge comfortably for the duration of their participation. Others are delivered in a far-reaching manner, for example, "In the first week of the coming month of August 2010, the college will deliver a heavy equipment operators program using simulator technology, which will run from August 2010 to May 2011 with two trainers and one simulator." 

The heavy equipment operator program uses a portable simulator to teach students to drive rock truck, operate loaders, dozers, excavators, and other equipment. "We put the simulator on an 'air-ride' trailer and take around northern Saskatchewan to places like Buffalo Narrows and many other communities to teach eight students per session how to operate mine and forestry equipment."

The college bought their simulator in 2006 to deliver programs that run on a continuous intake basis. It is very uncommon for non-Aboriginal students to be in these courses. The courses are five weeks long and demand for delivery of courses, "is huge," says Poitras. "Uranium mining is booming and calling for skilled labour and First Nations personnel will fill those jobs. "

Skills are in demand in a resurging mining economy in Saskatchewan, "There are several new or reconstituted mines in the north," says Poitras, "thus we use a lot of industry partnerships to deliver training," he says. "We receive $3 million in funding and deliver $20 million in training each year, so you can see that industry helps deliver a lot of the programs."

Chief Ralph Dick leading We Wai Kai into a bright economic future

We Wai Kai First Nation has a growing portfolio of enterprises and economic development initiatives in the lands and waters of their traditional territories, and a good example of their success has occurred on May 18, 2010, when We Wai Kai officials held a Grand Opening of the Quinsam Crossing. Maurice Magowan, Comptroller for We Wai Kai, says, "We held the opening to thank the contributors on the Quinsam Crossing project for slogging through the mud all winter on building on the site."

The We Wai Kai Nation held the Quinsam Crossing Grand Opening to showcase the development strategy for its 60-acre Quinsam Crossing commercial site on Willis Road, Campbell River, B.C..  Magowan said, "Quinsam Crossing is a traditional crossroads for travelers on the North Island for several centuries. It is being developed as a destination retail and recreation gateway to Campbell River for the North Island."

The Quinsam lands are southwest of downtown Campbell River and are, "well situated to receive the heavy flow of tourist traffic along the Inland Island Highway. Once developed to completion this service centre will be the nearest to the Campbell River and District Regional Airport."
 

Magowan notes that the first business founded on these lands is a We Wai Kai-owned auto service centre that includes a convenience store and propane filling centre. Future development plans include a broad mix of retail, commercial and recreational uses.

 

"The We Wai Kai business plans involved initial studies that suggested Quinsam Crossing could generate full and part-time employment for 580 people during construction and 650 to 800 operational jobs once it is up and running."

In addition, up to 1,500 indirect jobs could be created from this development. Magowan adds that, "Chief Ralph Dick's vision for this property has been clear, consistent and tireless. He has worked for many years to articulate and carry out the strategy developed throughout the decades by elders of the We Wai Kai Nation to bring greater equality, prosperity and employment to its people."

Another We Wai Kai economic initiative is found in the We Wai Kai Seafood Corporation. Shawn O'Connor operates the corporation, "We did this pilot project with Island Scallops to replace the disappearing salmon and herring fishery with submerged-line technology to grow scallops," says Shawn, "and we are growing them in the Suttle Channel of Johnstone Strait," beside Quadra Island and We Wai Kai's Indian Reserve No. 9.

O'Connor says We Wai Kai has members with sets of skills that mesh with the scallop growing industry's technology, "Piloting seign boats and running hydraulics technology and other skills taper nicely into the development." The corporation awaits assignment of tenure to their two year development, which is, "operating under a temporary industrial use permit to be converted tenure."

The scallop development in Johnstone Strait is essentially invisible to Quadra Island residents because growing the scallops is done by submerged line and the only signs of development are navigation buoys that mark the site.  O'Connor says, "Right now we have 500,000 scallops growing in the pilot-phase of the project. Two and half to four million scallops would be a commercially viable operation."

We Wai Kai was assiduous in selection of the site, "We wanted an even tide and nutrient rich waters with good anchorage. It turns out we found an excellent site because the scallops are just about ready to harvest in their 2nd year," a growth rate that is exceedingly fast comparatively speaking, as many scallop developments work on four-year cycles.

We Wai Kai has created six jobs currently and  O'Connor says the employees are keenly motivated to work in a sustainable industry that operates on the 'green' side of the fishery. "No feed or supplements are put in the water. It's lines and cages and monitoring, plus the site creates habitat for small finfish feeding off the ecology of scallops." Due to this ecological input, sports fishers are catching cod near the site for the first time in many years, says Shawn.

The initiative was inspired by Chief Ralph Dick about six years ago and commenced two years ago. Island Scallops' Les Rombough says, "They want to do this on their own and they have the skills to do it. We supplied scallop seed, equipment, and expertise to get it started. We could take this to any First Nation that is interested. It has been absolutely phenomenal to see the project develop with the fishing expertise of the people on the site."

He notes there are significant start-up costs to deal with "boats, plus the expense of our equipment, including long-lines, rope, anchors, pearl nets and lantern nets. There is no positive cash flow until two years in, and no profit for at least four years. Wages and tenures and other expenses are all paid up front."

Fifty percent First Nation students at North West Community College

North West Community College has campuses in Hazelton, Houston, Kitimat, Masset, Nass, Prince Rupert, Village of Queen Charlotte, Kaay Llnagaay, Smithers, and Terrace. Ruth Wheadon is the Director of NWCC campuses in Haida Gwaii. "In Haida Gwaii, we run developmental programs that we call Essential Skills for the Workplace (ESWK)," says  Wheadon .
 

"We also run Continuing Education and Training courses that include work-preparation in first-aid, eco-system management, natural resource management," and others, "but the ESWK contains an art focus in the past couple of years, and ESWK continues to offer development of work skills."
 

The art focus introduces business management skills to artists. "We give them the tools to take their art to the business level, and we introduce them to success strategies in marketing their work." Students range in age from their late teens to their fifties. The main purpose of ESWK is to bridge the gap between the public school system and learning today, including a culturally inclusive environment for study.

"It allows students to experience a different perspective on education," says  Wheadon. NWCC also offers university credit courses, "First year anthropology and 2nd year ethno-geography are running this summer from July 14 to 30, 2010, including a four-day trip to Swan Bay Rediscovery Camp, and other trips to four different field sites in Haida Gwaii." 

The Swan Bay Rediscovery Program operates a cultural camp to teach Haida cultural skills and knowledge, plus new life skills, self-esteem and confidence to help build character. Swan Bay puts traditional Haida values at the center, and students at the camps participate in a variety of activities designed to challenge, teach and nurture.

The NWCC website explains that the college operates in a region that encompasses 104,689 square kilometres with a combined population of approximately 83,000 people. "This region is home to seven First Nations whose students make up over 50% of the College's student population." 
 

First Nation participation in the college serves to enrich the cuture of the NWCC community and strengthen its connection and relevance to the area. The College region's geographic boundaries are defined by Haida Gwaii on the West, Houston on the East, Hazelton to the North, and a less defined Southern boundary approximately 800 km due north of Vancouver.

Marine Harvest Canada (Mowi) plays hard at basketball in Pacific Coast's Klemtu Village

Each year, Marine Harvest Canada (Mowi Canada West) challenges the local Klemtu men’s team to a game of basketball. Ian Roberts, MHC's communications director says, "It is an opportunity to raise funds to help defray the costs of transportation to the annual Prince Rupert All Native Tournament." This year it was the Marine Harvest Pylons vs the Klemtu Mixed Nuts.

    

The salmon farmers have taken a beating at the hands of the Klemtu locals for years, "so this year Marine Harvest invited some 'ringers'," Ian says, slyly. "Marine Harvest is a part sponsor of the University of BC Womens Basketball Program so we contacted the coach, Deb Huband, to ask for some assistance." Two players, Zara Huntley and Devan Lisson made the trip to Klemtu to partake in this extraordinary event. 
    

This year the exhibition game was the opener for the Stewart Wallis Memorial Basketball Tournament held in Klemtu from April 2-4, 2010, and saw over 200 people come out to watch the game, "quite impressive for a village of 450." A Roberto Luongo signed Canucks jersey was raffled off as part of the fun and over $1000 was raised for Prince Rupert travel.
    

"The girls were amazing basketball players and helped the salmon farmers make it a lot closer than in prior years. That's right, 100-55 is a lot closer than past games," he says. The tournament opened with a feast during which the UBC girls, Kitasoo members, and Marine Harvest staff were joined together. 
    

They were embraced by the basketball-happy community of Klemtu. The ball players, Zara and Devon, had time to visit a nearby salmon farm at Jackson Pass. Chief Archie Robinson is now discussing the possibility of a relationship between Klemtu and the UBC Thunderbirds Womens Basketball program with Coach Deb Huband, and having a basketball clinic set up in Klemtu and put on by the Thunderbirds.
    

Marine Harvest Canada and the Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation have been partners in growing and processing BC farm-raised salmon for over 10 years now. Over 10 million pounds of salmon is produced and processed in Klemtu each year. Salmon farming, harvesting and processing now employs 60 people in the village and has reduced their unemployment from 90% to about 40%.

Transportation careers forthcoming for First Nations

Transportation careers are at the centre of the industrial age and these careers involve moving the economy on rails, roads, ships and through the air. TransCDA is, “a conduit between industry and the the government,” says Russ Robertson, CEO of the association that establishes training standards for the transportation sector.
     

“We are promoting transportation careers and putting people into apprenticeship as heavy duty mechanics, aircraft maintenance technicians, machine technicians, deck hands on tugs, and professional truck drivers,” practically any of the 26 trades in the transportation sector.
     

TranCDA is based in British Columbia, and, “We engage other sectors and bring them into the training picture,” and the association works to accommodate national mobility of the labour force.
     

“We maintain the alignment of the regulatory environment in job qualifications, and make job recognition a priority in our policy discussions,” says Robertson. “We believe in the mobility of workers and fully support the Red Seal program that governs the national qualifications of trades people,” and Robertson notes the CCDA recently approved the Heavy Equipment Operator program as a Red Seal career.
     

TransCDA is relatively new as an organization, “We're a year old now, but we hit the ground running,” and they worked to develop a first-rate website to distribute up-to-the-minute career information. “The website is in phase one of the TransCDA communication strategy. Phase 2 will be complete later in 2010 and it will provide high performance management tools to put training and career development on a fast track in a company or industry.”
     

Robertson was hired from the ITA to bring a training culture to the organization, and the culture is growing, “We are reaching out to school students to make transportation careers an opportunity. We have developed program standards that secondary schools can deliver to provide 470 hours of training credit in Level 1 apprenticeship.” Rita Gunkel at TranCDA is developing the youth initiatives that deliver advancement toward transportation careers in the school system.
    

 Robertson has other personnel working on recognition of foreign workers who come to Canada with operational qualifications. The goal is for the website to answer questions about transportation careers and qualifications from around the world, and provide assessment tools to evaluate people in their qualifications.”

Strategy is there but WFCA wonders if regulations are disappearing

The Western Silviculture Contractors Association (WSCA) is delivering tree-planting training this year through the federally funded and provincially administered Community Development Trust Fund. John Betts, WSCA Executive Director, says, "First Nations are training in driving on resource roads, operating brush saws, running all-terrain-vehicles, and driving crew buses," on highways and resource roads.
     

"We delivered training last year in the Chilcotin and Blue Collar Silviculture's Mark Courtney instructed a class in the field. It was an opportunity for the First Nation trainees to experience the life of a tree planter in a forestry bush camp," says Betts. He believes training in these close quarters produces an excellent outcome for silviculture contractors. 
     

"The trainees get the inside track on the 'stocking' standards in B.C. forestry," which species of trees are used, and the spacing and placement requirements of the seedlings. Betts notes that the province of B.C. has been depending on nature to take it's course in regeneration of forests. 
     

"We have seen a lower priority given to stocking the forests with seedlings. We went from planting 250 million seedlings a couple years ago to planting 160 million this year," and even fewer next year. He says that 40 percent of the MPB ravaged landscape is not growing any new trees. 
     

"We have 18 million hectares of MPB degraded forests in B.C. alone," including forests eaten by the spruce bud worm. "We have many areas with bug kill, other blights, and forest fire burned areas where restoration is being ignored." Betts notes that arguments made by Keith Atkinson, CEO of the First Nation Forestry Council, correctly identify the problems in a sketchy funding regime.
     

"The FNFC recognizes that we have crushing regeneration issues and huge demands for landscape level replanting operations," including transmission line corridors, highways, and watersheds. Electrical grid failure is just one of the threats in the forest fire (inferno) scenario. Destruction of watersheds also demands more attention."
     

Meanwhile the province is overrun by environment lobbies that want to lock-down forestry operations, "They are not recognizing the problem. Leaving forests alone is perilous when fires are increasing in number and severity." Betts notes that historically First Nations used a lot of fire to manage forests and make them produce specific plants, trees, and ecologies.
     
"The so-called natural fires have been eliminated by suppression and fire is gone as a forestry management tool. In place of managed fires the unnatural fires we see are non-renewing events." The intensity of these unnatural fires wipes out water resources, aquatic plants included, and all the grasses and trees in an ecology disappear. 
     

Worst of all, the soil gets super-heated and destroyed as an eco-system. Unfortunately, says Betts, "We see no real strategy and the demand is growing to get involved with biomass reclamation and refurbishing of these provincial forests.
     

"Nature won't be fooled. Interior forests are being left behind, whereas these landscapes require a change in strategy." First Nations are blazing the trail in the pursuit of a biomass economy from these decadent forests. "They see perpetual employment and management requirements for the eco-systems in their territories."
     

Betts believes the existing proposals for use of biomass are too large, and should be made smaller than those seen in the BC HYDRO call for power scenarios, like the 40 MWh cogeneration plant in Gitxsan and the 60 MWh plant in T'silcotin. "Go smaller, scale back the size of the projects to 1 to 5 MWh and make more of them," because smaller plants make more efficient use of biomass to create electricity."
     

While restoration strategies are in place the regulations behind it are being deleted left and right, and, Betts adds, "The premier may say, 'Well I'm not getting any calls on this,' but it appears that overall he's not paying attention to a degrading public resource."

Increasing the management capacity of First Nations forestry stewards

Secwepemc communities in B.C. have state-of-the-art land-use management systems designed by First Nations for their own use. Chief Judy Wilson, Neskonlith Indian Band, learned about information management at the En’owkin Centre in the 1980s. En’owkin is a First Nations advanced learning arts and publishing institute in the Okanagan Nation.
     

"I have a librarian background," said Wilson, "I first learned about archives and how to store and retrieve research material." Later Wilson worked with Chief Atahm School to create a digital Secwepemc language and culture centre on Little Shuswap Lake operated by Adams Lake Indian Band.  Chief Atham School is western Canada’s only First Nation language immersion school.
     

These avenues of experience exposed Wilson to different systems and processes and ensuing projects with archivist Leona Lampreau led to an advanced career in archives management specifically designed around policy development. By that pathway Wilson came to apply information management to First Nation land use management.
     

"I come from a land claims background within my family," she said,  and learned important lessons from people like Jeanne Joseph, a Haida/Nisga'a woman who teaches information access and retrieval systems to bands for territorial claims. "Jeanne Joseph works with a lot of different data collections."
     

Neskonlith Indian Band, Adams Lake Indian Band, and Little Shuswap Indian Band own a collective history and share knowledge streams about land use within their traditional territory. To manage this knowledge is the purpose of entering high end media, growing the capacity to answer data demands. "Replies to Crown referrals can be delivered immediately."
     

She notes,  "Court decisions in northwest B.C. place the burden to directly on First Nations respond to Crown oriented land use referrals, "that are slapped together with mis-coordinated maps and no standards of reference to the maze of contents." It takes a Rosetta Stone to interpret or understand the Crown's referral demands.
     

Worse, the priority of reports includes no reference to First Nations; neither their importance nor depth of concern about their land issues is referenced. The level of Aboriginal interest must come from First Nations.  Yet financing is non-existent for First Nations to respond to Crown referrals for land use and very few industry or government agencies are willing to provide referral payments to First Nations.
     

Wilson partnered with D.R. Systems Inc to design, "an automated Referral Tracking System (RTS) which has been distributed via workshops at regional communities," she said, "The intent is to provide an forestry/land use management process, then we are adding capacity for multiple levels of response to Crown referrals."
     

Neskonlith Indian Band and Adams Lake Indian Band and D.R. Systems Inc have put the RTS on the market to enable First Nation communities responding to land use referrals, and dozens of Bands are using it around the province. Wilson said, "We outsource RTS software under license to First Nations depending on their own level of land-use management concerns, from Band office, to tribal council, to nation."
     

Wilson notes Secwepemc communities are, "innovators and leaders in many areas and a key concern for many Bands is land use management within their traditional territories." She said, "It really works because our land use planning focuses on community growth," and continuous reflection upon stewardship, "as the ancestors expect. We have the ability to monitor project encroachment in the nation down to the effects on a particular stand of trees."
     

"It is software that will also provide a wide array of other  service to community especially basic services like health, water management, emergency call centres etc," she said. A Comprehensive Community Planning Process is part what the communities are undertaking. The software is timely for this process and it will assist in making strategies to reconstitute stewardship of traditional territories.
     

"We know where we feel at home, in connection with the land and water that has been our identity. We keep turning to the Elders for teaching. We don't have the land base we used to, and it cut us off from spiritual from knowing our territory." The software fits the Tools for Success program offered by INAC and StatsCan.
     

"In future territorial demands upon data will add to the capacity for First Nation governance. We seek enhancement of stewardship over natural resources, our own health, and the technical capacity to stay in our roles as stewards of these lands."

Conference in Prince George looked at First Nation forestry future

Kathi Zimmerman is General Manager of Resources North in Prince George, B.C., the association hosting an important forestry conference in early March 2010. Zimmerman says, "In conjunction with FORREX, Green Heat Initiative and UNBC, we will be hosting the 'Bioenergy Solutions for Community Sustainability Workshop: Exploring Economic Diversification Options for Communities Impacted by the Mountain Pine Beetle'," and this event is running at the Prince George Civic Centre, March 2-4, 2010.

Resources North grew out of the McGregor Model Forest Network and the association has a five-year arrangement that started in 2007 for funding to assist communities transition into new opportunities. Forestry is an industry in transition and B.C. is a province in search of opportunities, says Zimmerman. "We are helping communities look at the options in all the resource sectors, with a mind to improving integration between them to reduce impacts and costs."

Topics on the workshop agenda include access to forest fibre, introduction to bio-mass conversion systems, First Nations Title and Rights implications, local case study presentations, funding opportunities, policies and regulations, emerging technologies, community readiness and partnership building.

The three-day event includes a series of field tours, presentations, displays and networking opportunities. "Options are being presented by bioenergy experts and practitioners from around the province, and participants, "will learn how biomass energy systems could provide First Nations and small rural communities with more accessible and cost-effective energy alternatives to natural gas, propane and other non-renewable energies."
     

Zimmerman remarks that a number of communities are being wooed by big industries, "Here's a pellet plant for you!" It's hard to make know what the best option is for your community so Resources North and their partners decided to host this forum to provide clarity, "We assembled an advisory group in a neutral meeting place to provide a broad range of perspectives and expertise on developing this workshop, and it has evolved to an amazing roster of speakers!"
     

Speakers will include:   Chief Geronimo Squinas, Lhtako Energy Corp., Don Gosnell, Resources Tenure Branch,  Ministry of Forest Resources, Dr. Fernando Preto, Canadian Biomass Innovation Network, Sam Kirsh, Baldy Hughes, Jim Savage, Quesnel Community Heating Project.
     

The conference is open to anyone who has an interest in learning about alternative biomass heating options. To find out more about the workshops and to register for any or all of the three days, visit the Resources North website at www.resourcesnorth.org

Fire reduction strategy was high priority in 2010

B.C.'s forests are becoming an international concern when the release of carbon continues from the MPB ravaged timber and decadent forests are standing without producing much (if any) oxygen. Chris Akehurst of Akehurst and Giltrap Reforestation says, "The Western Silviculture Contractors Association has the numbers, but B.C. exported more carbon from forests last year than lumber."

Huge issues confront the citizens of B.C. with regards to the condition of the Crown's forests in 2010, 95 percent of B.C. forests. There are increasing numbers of interface fires, decadent forests that are mismanaged, and decreasing numbers of seedlings being planted.

"Fuel reduction programs are very important now," says Chris, "and the purpose is to remove biomass fuel from areas surrounding communities." The biomass offers too much fuel for prospective infernos. "We also need to perform prescribed burns after the clean-up to further reduce fire hazard."

Failure to do fire reduction will cause increasing incidence of city and town evacuations and losses of infrastructure, including housing.

"As these MPB destroyed trees fall it happens in a criss-cross manner and the maze of fuel is laid out to burn intensely hot. The fires travel fast and run right up to cities and towns. The fire behavior becomes so powerful that it is overwhelming."

Fire fighters have told Chris that when it gets to that stage all they can do is watch, aghast. Furthermore, as interface fires spread the problem of fire-fighting jurisdictions starts to affect tactical operations of fighting the problem.

He cites one fire near Princeton that burned away while the local fire department was restricted from entering the field. "A fire department was called in from the Merritt area instead but it was too late for the Friday Mountain fire. The fire took off into the Simillkameen." Princeton was spared but the destruction of forest was greatly magnified.

One resident of Glenrosa in Westbank, Okanagan, described on-line what he was witnessing in  2004 interface fire: "There's a shitload of wind blowing from the south, which means the fire is heading into Westbank/Glenrosa. There have been at least 3 or 4 houses that have burned down, and the neighborhood of Glenrosa (around 8000 people) is completely shut down."

Chris does a lot of work in reducing the risk of fire in these interface scenarios around the southern interior of B.C.. One recent project in Manning Park included removing coniferous trees and replanting with deciduous trees near campgrounds and other public facilities.

"The fire reduction projects don't always involve reforestation. Often it's a process of fuel removal and reduction." Meanwhile silviculture in the province is being reduced because the number of trees harvested has been shrinking in a down-turned economy.

The forests that are filled with dead trees create new priorities in forestry management. Twenty to 30 percent of the untouched MPB forests filled with dead pine trees will not come back naturally. It requires silviculture on a massive scale to restore these forests that are being written off and ignored.

Further delays will make problems worse, and Chris believes the federal and provincial governments must take responsibility for the damage ensuing from the pestilence. "Back in the 1980s and 90s we took on silviculture projects to restore the 'silviculture slums' left from the 1960s and 70s."

Chris notes that when Prime Minister Harper got off the plane in Prince George some years ago he promised $1 billion to work on the restoration of B.C. forests, with dispersals at $100 million a year. The industry is standing around wondering what happened to that money.

Foresters are grappling with the issues and growing cynical. "There is a moral obligation to do the work in these forests. The funding mechanisms aren't going to magically appear." He is aware that fire reduction programs are underway and funding is flowing to the problem. The MPB issues are magically ignored.

His own business saw a 44 percent reduction in volume last year, and this year it will fall another 10 percent. Chris works with the Upper Similkameen First Nations. Elsewhere he sees openings for forestry workers in fire reduction plans. It may be good prospects for First Nation forestry personnel, he says, because they seem to prefer working with chain saws rather than seedlings.

Zanzibar Holdings partner discusses their B.C. silviculture prospects in 2010

Tree planters are looking at 2010 with less certainty. There are 25 million less seedlings being planted in 2010 than 2009, according to Tony Harrison, Zanzibar Holdings. This is partly due to reduced funding for provincial funding called Forests for Tomorrow. The current funding of 44 million a year for the next 10 years will address about  4% of the need. Harrison says the growing carbon credits business and the new biomass proposals could help with some of the funding shortfall but there is a big gap to make up. 
     

FFT has been set up  to manage the work in Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) destroyed forests and is mandated to provide 25 percent of the work to First Nations. "First Nations could be key players in the business of carbon credits and silviculture. They have an potential role to play in negotiating carbon credits through treaty discussions." Pat Bell the BC minister of Forest recently said that he believes carbon credit sales will be funding a major source in the provincial silviculture in the near future.
     

This MPB crisis makes everybody in the forestry industry a little queasy. Harrison notes that B.C. is looking at 16 million hectares of MPB eaten forests. "There is a huge opportunity for the silviculture industry here that has been stalled for the past 5 years.
     
Zanzibar is a silviculture company with 120 employees, "For the past two years we've been working in joint ventures in the Cariboo country with members of the Shuswap nation and the Tsilhqot'in Nation Government (TNG) . Presently we are working with Western Silviculture Contractors Association (WSCA) on the issues of First Nation participation with the discussion to centre on the lack of First Nation silviculture businesses involved in the FFT program.
    

 For the past couple years Zanzibar has been planting and surveying in First Nation territory, "We've been working with them to put the Bands in profitable situations and workers are making a good living. The province has a history of Bands launching into silviculture and failing but the partnerships we have formed make the process work."
     

Harrison says the training aspect of silviculture adds 20 percent to the cost of a tree-planting operation, but is well worth the investment. FFT in the Cariboo has supported First Nations to date but there is a need to expand the program and continue to promote joint ventures between local Bands and experienced contractors. Unfortunately because of the downturn in the forest industry and Federal and Provincial governments cutting back funding there is less opportunity at a time when our forests need silviculture the most. "We should be planting 250 million seedlings a year, but this previous year the province planted 200 million. In 2010 the province will plant 175 million," and next year we may be down as low as 150 million new trees will go in the ground.
     

The Tsilhqot'in National Government and Secwepmec ( Northern Shuswap) will be gearing for tree-planting operations that are so much in demand because the MPB has been especially virulent in the heart of their traditional territory. WSCA sponsored First Nation Silviculture Safety training sessions will be available this April in Williams Lake."

Looking for the way forward in a Mountain Pine Beetle devastated forestry industry

First Nations Forestry Council is an organization formed from a specific mandate, says Keith Atkinson, Chief Executive Officer, "The Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) is the main reason why the FNFC was formed in the early 2000s." With $300 million flowing to bio-energy development out of the forestry disaster in Canada the FNFC is actively promoting bio-energy development, "First Nations need to be involved."

Atkinson believes First Nation communities are fighting for their lives in the face of the MPB, "We cannot abandon our communities." Foremost, the MPB creates huge potential for biomass development, "The beetle may have peaked in its destructive force in B.C.," says Atkinson, "but enormous killing of trees continues."

Atkinson explains, "The FNFC began out of the MPB crisis. Millions of dollars were initially committed and the First Nations were included in the $100 million a year funding scheme, with $20 million a year earmarked for First Nations." Twenty percent of the federal commitment was designated to First Nation communities.

When the federal government first transferred $100 million to the province, "First Nations saw $8.4 million." Forestry is a multi-billion dollar industry in Canada. Rather than meeting the commitment, "In four years we saw $20 million for First Nations to do assessments and identify the impact of the MPB, and list the First Nation priorities to deal with it."

Atkinson notes that 50 percent of the 200 First Nation communities in B.C. are directly affected by the MPB blight, yet the federal government changed course in the middle of the funding program. From then on the federal government began diverting funding to national organizations for distribution through Natural Resources Canada and Western Diversification.

"Our agreement with the province of B.C. broke down. We continued to try and monitor the funding situation through working groups, to share and coordinate what money we received. The dollars started to flow and then it changed."

It's about the money because, "The number one issue is forest fuel management," which, Atkinson notes, "is fuel created by the MPB. Then comes the risk of forest fires. We have to make an urgent effort to mitigate against the forest fire hazard. These fires are increasing in severity and so is the incidence of interface fires," where cities like Kelowna and towns like Lillooet face  devastating infernos.

Indian Reserve communities are always in peril in spring, summer and fall today. "We have a lot of work to do on reserves because the biomass fuel is constantly interfacing with these communities. The cost of treatment to reduce fire risk increases every year," and Atkinson estimates it is currently $135 million a year. "We've submitted funding proposals over and over and they always get culled down."

He says the First Nations require $20 million a year in B.C. over the next three years, $60 million, to reduce the threat to communities. Instead of funding, FNFC continues a four year battle to find a place in funding schemes that would reduce the threat to communities. "We are down to $2 million a year and we have the local rural First Nations willing to do the work but the money isn't there."

It's a difficult situation for an organization that was established for the purpose of fighting a pestilence that threatens the safety and existence of Canada's first people. "Our industry is facing a new kind of forestry. Restoration is the goal and we want communities to be running their own programs. It includes cultural and social sustainability of these communities. We also need to participate in the research of climate change."

Atkinson says the communities are structured for biomass fuel management and proper funding would enable economic development. The FNFC worked diligently from the outset to design a strategy based on $20 million a year for ten years. "The present Prime Minister says he will supply $1 billion to fix the problem, but he fails to recognize the 20 percent agreed for First Nations."

The federal government put the money into existing federal departments effectively bypassing First Nations. Furthermore the money available causes competition between First Nations for available funds. This unexpected diversion has shattered the organization of support. "Most people recognize First Nation issues today," says Atkinson, "and they know a few things about our plight."

It's a fact, "When you give money to First Nation communities it ends up in the hands of non-Natives, but when you give it to non-Native communities it never ends up in First Nation hands. And we're not trying to do this alone. We have a protocol agreement with the BC Bioenrgy Network to showcase 'best practices' and show the way to replicate success."

In short, the FNFC is working toward a governance model that works with industry and business and which could ultimately lead to solid government-to-government relations and increased certainty for economic progress. "Everybody needs First Nations full participation to support the forestry strategy.

National housing management certification in the works for Aboriginal Housing in Canada

Sylvia Olsen is developing curricula for housing managers to become certified in First Nation housing. “The key goal is establishment of an accredited course in housing management,” says Olsen. The over-arching accreditation will ensue from the First Nation National Housing Managers Association  (FNNHMA).

Olsen comes by her experience in First Nation housing from more than three decades living on Tsarlip Indian Reserve near Victoria, B.C., “I met my husband and moved there when I was 17 years old and I raised my family there,” she says. “It's a very nice place to live. I worked in housing at Tsarlip beginning in the early 1990s.”
     

Olsen is a founding member of the board of FNNHMA in 2006. She worked in provincial and national Aboriginal housing committees over the years. She is doing a Ph.D. in First Nation housing based on the history of Aboriginal housing development in Canada. She has other interests as a storyteller at heart, as a writer-in-residence at Carson Graham School in North Vancouver, B.C.. “I am a member of the Victoria Storytellers Guild.”
     

Olsen works with Mike King at FNNHMA (Housing Manager of Beausoliel First Nation in southern Ontario since 2000), and Nancy Hamilton at Vancouver Island University's Distance Education Department. Mike King describes a bit of FNNHMA history, “We work-shopped the idea of a housing managers certificate program with CMHC when we started the organization in 2006. We received funding from CMHC to visit housing trade shows and conferences, get a website established, and start developing a proper job description for  housing management.”
     

Mike says, “It's really all about property management on-reserve. Property management comes into it because the area of responsibility grows when you consider the tens of millions of dollars in property management we are discussing. It involves rents, mortgages, and asset management. A lot of these administrative functions are being done on a part-time basis. Much more needs to be done.”
     

Success is in the wind, says Olsen, “We have developed the Housing Managers Certificate Program 101.” The first module of FNNHMA certification has been delivered. It was piloted in three locations around B.C. in 2008/09. Fifteen students took the course in Nanaimo, and other classes were held in Terrace and Kamloops.
     

She was the initial facilitator teaching the course. Now the graduates are chomping at the bit to get the rest of the certification, “A complete curricula will include finance, administration, communications, and construction management,” she says. “Once it is all put together, VIU will work-up the details on national certification.”
     

The Atlantic provinces  also received pilot programs from FNNHMA, “We delivered pilot courses in Moncton and Halifax. We are now shore-to-shore with the program. There is strong interest in Quebec and Ontario Aboriginal housing, and we are working out the language questions for FNNHMA to certify in Quebec. We feel the urgency to get the whole thing going on a national basis.”
     

The curricula should be complete by the end of this year, she says. The way it stands VIU is now ready to deliver Housing Administration course one and two, and the course on finance is well underway. The course on communications is at hand, and Olsen will commence writing the last module on construction before the end of winter.
     

“We will be done in 2010,” she says, “VIU is really dedicated to developing this program. They are applying for extra funds and showing themselves to be an exceptional school. At the same time they recognize it is FNNHMA's initiative.” The FNNHMA certificate will be delivered at other universities like the Aboriginal department of a college in Sault St. Marie, Ontario.
     

One of the main battles for FNNHMA is to establish appropriate financial remuneration for these certified housing managers. “Finding the wage for certified housing managers is one of the challenges. You have precedents out there but a great deal depends on the financial state of the Band.” Even so, “Across Canada we have some of the most amazing people working in housing management on reserve,” and she notes, “The force of their expertise and a certification process will help make housing management certification a national reality."
     

Housing on-reserve is changing. “Lots of people are working to resolve the structural issues in First Nation housing. Poverty remains the main problem in housing.  Another problem is that housing remains entirely government-run,” whereas other social activities like health and education have been taken over by the First Nations. “Aboriginal housing will eventually be,” sooner rather than later, she says, “under the direct control of  First Nation leadership.”
     

FNNHMA is composed primarily of a board of directors at present. “We took a run at creating membership when we started the organization. Now we have the foothold to started a second membership drive. It has been a huge project to get a certified housing managers program and we have worked hard to get this production done. To roll it out nationally is cumbersome but it will become part of the whole group of housing organizations in this country.”

Huu Ay Aht constructing new administration and community facility

The Huu Ay Aht administration building is under construction in the First Nation community in Bamfield, B.C.. Charlie Clappis is project coordinator for Huu Ay Aht, "They poured the footings on the site Jan. 16, 2010," says Clappis. "It's 1,352 sq. m. (14,500 sq.ft.) on two floors. The building is heated by geothermal. It's going to have nice warm floors."
     

The facility is the difference between night and day for the community. Island West Coast Developments is the general contractor, Cobalt Engineering is the designer, and Ground Source Drilling is drilling the geothermal array. Clappis says, "Geothermal is definitely the way to go. We had a $4 million contribution ffrom INAC to the energy side."
     

Clappis says, "It's going to have a great location on a high point," affording a view of the Pacific Ocean, "and enough altitude to survive a tsunami," he jokes. The Huu Ay Aht Long House is on the site. It holds community events for 150 residents. The new admin-building also overlooks picturesque Pachena Bay Campground, the busy seasonal facility owned by Huu Ay Aht.
     

Clappis says the facility will hold a number of important community offices, administration, health and dental facilities, and offices for fisheries, forestry, aggregate mining, economic development, youth, Elders, education, and housing. "We started digging in November. The construction involves employment for Huu Ay Aht and skills development will be delivered."
     

Reid Longstaffe is the Island West Coast Development project manager on the project, "It's a beautiful location set up on a hill looking over the ocean. Construction began in November, and it's a bit of slow going with the winter weather conditions," says Longstaffe. "We poured concrete on the weekend. It was sunny, and the sun is still hanging in through the early part of the week."
     

The building contains two floors and a basement for the utility services. "It's a geothermal project with a lot of energy efficiencies," says Longstaffe. "We are doing some nice wood beams and using Douglas Fir doors, with full-length glazing on the back-side (facing the ocean)."  Longstaffe says the building should be done by the end of 2010.
     

INAC and Health Canada put money into project. The design phase goes back a couple of years, done by David Nairne and Associates. IWCD recently finished their own building in Nanaimo with geothermal installed in a horizontal loop.
     

Goran Ostojic is the engineer from Cobalt Engineering that is designing the building and geothermal array. "It's a sustainable project that came in reasonably priced with a few nice features in Douglas Fir, beams, and glazing. It is designed to have specialized health and dental services delivered in the building. It started in November and has proceeded below the initial budget projections."
     

Ostojic says he started to work on Huu Ay Aht's building design about 18 months ago. "It has design features like windows to use solar heat in winter and deflect heat in the summer. The whole build is designed for sustainable use." Cobalt has done the design work on a number of First Nation projects, "We encounter specific requirements from each First Nation tribe from different historical and cultural aspects."
    

 Cobalt will be working start to finish on the Huu Ay Aht facility that should be open in the spring of 2011 at the latest.