| August 1st, 2003 |
Edition No: 17
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Ininew Project Management
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An important factor in the growth of First Nation economies will be the ability
of First Nations to retain both knowledge and capital within their communities.
When it comes to major on-reserve capital projects a lack of skilled
professionals can put a strain on a community's financial resources. Paying
for the services of an outside architect or engineer is an expensive proposition.
In 1990, three Manitoba First Nations joined forces to reduce, and ideally
eliminate, this kind of economic drain. They created Ininew Project Management
Ltd., an organization of professional project managers that helps to transfer
skills to First Nation project coordinators. Ininew is also building a
team of highly skilled Aboriginal professionals. Over 50 percent of Ininew's
core complement of experienced project managers are First Nation members.
In the past, it was too often the case that a contractor would be handed
a job and complete the project, and in the process create very little
employment for people on the reserve. Ininew contractors use the labour
pool already on reserves and rent as much heavy equipment as possible
from First Nations. They also train as many tradespeople as they can.
"We train them because it's a good idea," says Ininew president
Jack Braun. "We try to maximize our training and keep those skills
in the community, because it just makes sense to do so, to make our First
Nation communities self-sustaining".
The organization is 85% owned by the Tataskweyak Cree Nation, the Chemawawin
Nation and the Mosakahiken Cree Nation. It does between $2 and $3 million
in business annually in professional engineering and architectural design
services, and project management expertise for capital projects within
First Nation communities.
Ininew has 50 client communities throughout Saskatchewan, Ontario, and
Manitoba.
Braun says the future of partnership building is First Nation joint ventures.
"We're now approaching some Saskatchewan and Ontario First Nations
for joint ownership of some projects, and we've reached an agreement with
Nisga'a First Nation in BC", Braun says.
The agreement with the Nisga's is for a five-year diminishing joint venture,
where Ininew will help them set up the same kind of company in their area.
As the capacity builds for the Nisga'a project management venture, the
Nisga'a will buy out Ininew's shares in the company.
Braun says the reasons for this initiative are the same as those that
led to Ininew's creation - to ensure that the majority of economic benefits
stay on First Nations territory.
Our reputation for quality work and unsurpassed service has allowed us
to build strong and ongoing relationships with clients, and much of our
business comes from repeat customers. The firm has also been hired by
private business, Crown Corporations and federal government departments
to carry out projects ranging from office renovations to environmental
site assessments.
Thanks to Anna Fontaine and Sherry Beardy of our Winnipeg office for
this success story.
The Various Aboriginal Nations of Québec
THE CREES
History
The land of the Crees is located in the basin of James Bay between
the boreal forest and the taiga. In this area, which does not favour
agriculture, the nomadic Cree tribes acquired impressive hunting,
fishing and trapping skills, as well as a steadfast determination
to protect the environment. Having been important participants in
the fur trade, they were also in the forefront of the 1975 negotiations
with the federal and provincial governments covering hydroelectric
operations in their area. These discussions represented a decisive
turning point in their lives and fostered an increased desire for
self-determination. In fact, since that time, the Crees of Québec
have taken complete responsibility for their own affairs and have
experienced remarkable economic growth.
Population and language
Nine communities account for almost the entire 13,027 Crees spread
throughout the most northern part of the province still accessible
by road. The newest settlement, Oujé-Bougoumou, inaugurated
in 1993, won a United Nations award for its architecture combining
traditional and modern styles in a tasteful and original way. The
Cree Nation is second in demographic importance (there are Crees
also in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan). The majority of the
population uses its original tongue in daily communications and
English, which has long been their second language. A growing number
of young Crees are now learning French.
Art and culture
The Crees, with their long cultural heritage, are past masters
in the art of creating moose skin clothing and gloves tastefully
decorated with pearls and embroidery. Their famous decoys consisting
of birds carefully made from tamarack branches, are veritable assets
to a decor. Sculpture, painting and music are also fields in which
a great number of Cree artists stand out.
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TID BITS
Did you know?
Did you know that we have two team members that monitor the Merx
system on a daily basis to identify if there are mandatory and or
voluntary PSAB set-aside notices?
Well we do! On a daily basis we monitor the Merx system to identify
opportunity abstracts that have been identified as a mandatory or
voluntary PSAB set-aside.
What do we do with this information?
Where opportunities have not been posted as a mandatory or voluntary
PSAB set-aside, we will contact the contracting officer to re-align
the opportunity on the basis of a mandatory PSAB set-aside especially
if the requirement is destined for Aboriginal populations or communities.
Where opportunities are posted and we know of Aboriginal capacity,
we may contact the contracting officers to negotiate a PSAB set
- aside in order to help government departments and or agencies
meet their PSAB Performance Objectives.
In addition, we know that the contracting process is a long process,
and therefore we will send either an email or a fax advising contracting
officers to inform INAC of their PSAB set-aside opportunities as
per the Treasury Board Policy. If you forget this step during your
process, we are there to ensure that INAC is advised of the possibility
that an opportunity exists which may be audited to ensure that Aboriginal
companies are qualified under the PSAB requirements. The information
gathered is used to write up success stories for government departments
and or agencies and also to write up success stories on Aboriginal
businesses which will demonstrate how the PSAB Strategy is working.
That's it for now.... until the next newsletter.
Dolores Coelho
Program Officer
PSAB Team member
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