FNFP Ties That Bind

The First Nation Forestry Program (FNFP) has forged some good friendships, and contacts established through the program have produced some valuable spinoffs. Take, for example, the friendship that Jack MacDonald of INAC in Amherst, NS and Tom Murray of the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) in Fredericton have established during the course of their work with the FNFP.

Last autumn, when Gregory Jeddore of the Miawpukek Band in Conn River, NF related some of the problems he was facing to Jack MacDonald, he received more than a sympathetic ear. Jack immediately thought of colleague and fishing buddy Tom Murray, coordinator of the FNFP in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. A phone call to Fredericton was all it took to solve Greg’s problem.

Owner of a small Christmas tree business, Greg’s bailer had broken down and needed new parts. When he went to order replacement parts and twine, he found that his supplier had gone out of business. He called around, but had no success finding a new supplier.

Tom Murray is a registered professional forester who has been with the CFS for some 30 years. When he heard of the problems Greg Jeddore was having, he knew exactly what to do. Through his extensive contacts in the forest industry, he was able to arrange a visit for Greg with Gordon Young, owner of Keywood Christmas Trees in Fredericton. In October 2000, Greg came over to Fredericton and spent the day at Gordon’s operation, learning about his thriving international export market for Christmas trees and related products and the way his local business runs. A major bonus was that Gordon is a supplier for bailer parts and Greg was able to get the necessary replacement parts in time to meet his own production obligations.

This year has proved to be a pivotal one for Greg. He’s had his most successful sales ever and, thanks to some NF buyers Gordon put him in touch with, has significant new orders for next year. He expects to double, perhaps even triple, his orders next year.

Although officially outside the mandate of the FNFP, this example of practical help that Tom and Jack were able to broker for Greg has been significant in keeping a First Nations small business not only operational, but expanding.