Kisik Inc.

Kisik Inc. is an aboriginal full service contract office and residential furniture dealership serving all federal departments under PSAB, as well as the private sector for all possible furniture needs. Kisik (Keeseek) is the Cree word for sky.

Since the inception of Kisik Inc. back in early May of 2003, the company has proven to be a qualified certified aboriginal supplier of office and residential furniture to the federal government not only through the several national master standing offers they hold, but also through PWGSC competitive tendering issued under set asides in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and western Ontario regions.

Kisik delivers and installs complete facility fit ups of commercial and residential furniture in the Prairie region. They also carry a full line of consumer electronics which compliments their 30 furniture lines. In addition, Kisik carries commercial safety products for buildings, complete window treatment covering, airport seating, and a complete line of furniture accessories. Schools, teaching establishements, and elders residences are an increasing part of their client base.

Founder Darrell Brown, a member of the Métis Nation of Canada, has been active in aboriginal business since 1999 when Kisik Marketing & Communications Ltd. was lauched. That company is now holding a five year in service supply arrangement agreement as a pre-qualified aboriginal consulting firm with Health Canada.

Kisik Inc. is a member of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce where Darrell has recently been appointed as a director of the board. He was instrumental in the signing of a MOU on trade between the Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce and the Winnipeg Chamber. Darrell holds an Advanced Diploma in International Business and is also active internationally in Indigenous issues at the UN level.

Mr. Brown wishes to thank INAC for it’s support by stating that the department has been a key factor in the success of Kisik Inc. under PSAB. He also wishes to bring special attention and recognition to Allen Frost and Sylvie Moquin for being strong supporters of aboriginal businesses across Canada

For more information you may reach Kisik at kisik@mts.net or call: (204) 949-0646.

The Various Aboriginal Nations

Quebec Crees

The Crees are the largest group in the Algonkian family in Canada. Although they can be found in Sakatchewan and Manitoba, the majority of them live in Ontario and Québec, with Québec having over 12,000 in population.

Their presence, mostly along the shores of Hudson Bay and James Bay on the Québec side dates back to the beginning of human occupation of what is known today as the province of Québec. At that time they were a small nomadic group sustaining primarily from moose, caribou, goose and fish. They also lived off the various rich and natural resources of the shores. The area’s unfertile soil and rigorous climate were not well suited for agriculture; however, birch trees and game abounded.

Because of the intense cold, the quality of fur was exceptional and quickly attracted European merchants, despite the long distance required to travel. The first contacts with Europeans occurred in 1610, during the explorations of Henry Hudson. The fur trade boomed with the creation of the Hudson’s Bay Company, which obtained a monopoly on 13 million square kilometers of land in 1670. The French traders provided fierce competition to the English traders as they established themselves upstream of the major waterways and bought the furs before they reached the Company posts, which were near the coast. The rivalry does not appear to have affected the Crees who dealt with both the French and the English.

In the 1950's the federal government started the colonization of northern Québec and imposed the Indian Act to the Cree communities. Until that time, the Cree life style had remained almost unchanged, but with the introduction of mandatory schooling, the construction of permanent housing and a declining value in fur prices, the Cree way of life was dramatically impacted.

The most dramatic change for the Cree (and Inuit) occurred in the 1970's with the coming of Québec’s large scale hydroelectric project in the area. At that time the Cree signed the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement in which important land concessions were traded for monetary compensation and the rights and powers conferred by the Agreement. This agreement was the first of its kind ever signed in North America between Native and Non-native governments.

The Cree communities have realized significant changes in the recent years, particularly in the social transportation and tourism sectors, but it has not meant the loss of traditions. Over 30% of the actual members of the Cree communities in Québec still live from traditional activities related to fishing, hunting and trapping.

Spotlight on Standing Offers

In this issue, we spotlight the Aboriginal MSO’s dealing with:

Air Charter Services

The following table contains the names and cities of the Aboriginal suppliers with whom a MSO has been established in this category.

These companies all have national master standing offers and will provide a service that is equivalent to some offered by non-aboriginal suppliers. Their products are also of equal quality and price value. When in need of air charters of any kind take into consideration the possibility of doing business with these firms and at the same time reaffirming your commitment to the PSAB.

Note from the PSAB Team

As you all know our Annual Conference had to be cancelled. We were disappointed in having to make that decision. However, we are now looking to reschedule for the later part of January 2005. It would still be a two day conference but the location would be within the city limits of Ottawa. We shall keep you informed.

Back