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Canadian Rural Partnership
First Nations of the Central Interior of BC  "Rural Dialogue on Community Development" Kamloops, BC |
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Table of Contents
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- Further investment for FN community projects is needed from industry and government.
- Increased access to financial institutions and greater interest among those institutions in loaning money to FN projects is required.
- Enhanced administrative skills can be acquired through proposal development workshops.
- Access to funding should be consistent across all communities.
- Community Futures is actively pursuing the chance to register in the Federal Procurement Strategy as a link to business opportunities for FN goods and services. They strive to promote an awareness of FN artists as business ventures, and increase the appreciation and global understanding of FN art throughout coastal and Interior BC. They provide small business management programs that provide credits and skills.
- Employment opportunities are generally in the forestry sector or other resource extraction sectors where the jobs are entry level or seasonal, and youth are the last hired and the first to be laid off.
- Increased local job opportunities are needed as a high number of youth are entering the job market.
- Stereotyping can be detrimental to FN students. It is also important to recognize their unique needs. More emphasis should be placed on the "cultural" aspects of education.
- Cultural awareness programs for youth can help them to search out who they are, employment options, etc.
- A group of youth, in Adams Lake, has started production of "Indian candy" that will lead to many individual economic development ventures.
- Resources, staff and time to develop and implement economic development plans are required by bands.
- Communities work hard to balance the emphasis on family, the community and the environment with the need to promote businesses that create new jobs. Maintaining the value of forestry and land stewardship while pursuing traditional business values keeps the whole community involved.
- There are disparities among communities in the level of community planning and economic development planning that takes place. This also affects the capacity of the community members to be involved in planning and implementation after many years of being dependent on government transfers. Communities should develop longer term plans - 15-20 years.
- Partnerships with other communities/agencies can help stretch administrative and other resources.
- FN should circulate their dollar by offering less profit to support the FN vision of economic development and employment (e.g. local reserve shops). The Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) has utilized the capacity being built from community resources. NVIT recognized the need to use and accept the unique skill set within the FN community.
- The Friendship Centre provides a training forum for the people of the Band to build capacity in the community. Funding for the new Band Office, a new daycare system, and the Band orchard and church has sparked future interest in other community developments.
- Recognition of title and resolution of treaty negotiation would better position communities to move forward and would create a more certain investment environment.
- Increased access to the Internet (at high speed) and additional computers, including computer training, are needed. Phone access is required in all communities - some have none or have party lines.
- Public transportation should be increased and roads should be paved and properly maintained.
- The Siska Band is working with partners in Kelowna, such as CP, CN, INAC and Venture Canada, to help bring the Internet and cell coverage to the Fraser Canyon. This will provide a future opportunity for education online using Siska computer links.
- Recognize that communities gain little local benefit out of resource extraction.
- Some communities value entrepreneurship more than others. Increased support is needed for those on Social Assistance to become self-employed. Additional wage subsidy support could help local economic development.
- Increased pilot projects between the Government of Canada and FN are required to build on the success of collaborative visions or teamwork, and to demonstrate the willingness to take chances/risks to try new things.
- Future opportunities for partnerships in forestry, fisheries, etc. that allow for community development appropriate to FN lifestyles exist.
- Address the fact that there are more opportunities for groups of communities in economic development ventures than development in individual communities.
- Non-timber forest products (soap, jams, jelly, tea) are becoming well-known throughout BC, and soon business will be expanded to include international markets. This venture began with band members and reached out to non-band employees to assist in harvesting fruits. Full-time employment opportunities exist in the future for harvesting.
- Forest licensees and Big Foot log homes have created joint partnerships to develop an Adams Lake beach front resort and hotel complex near Salmon Arm. This partnership provides diversified involvement from the MLA, major land developer, and community council members to increase trust and community support. For instance, the Band woodlot provides access to timber so the sawmill can produce treated posts for the beach front resort and other markets.
- Siska Art Gallery works in partnership with the Native Brotherhood in the Fraser Valley, and the band is connected with art shows throughout BC (e.g. Whistler, Vancouver, etc.).
- The Super Save gas station and art gallery has been the stepping stone for future employment opportunities for the Spallumcheen Band in Enderby. They have a voice on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, have formed a network with other Bands to avoid reinventing the wheel, and regularly communicate within the Band about the importance of their identity.
- The North Thompson Indian Band (NTIB) has a non-renewal forest license tenure of 50,000 m3 through which they have funded the start up of their own mill, and stabilized income for individual logging/silviculture contractors within the community. The NTIB also believes the future lies in PARTNERSHIPS, and they are forming direct partnerships with industry (e.g. joint venture with heli-ski company near Blue River that will help to diversify the economic transition from forestry to tourism).
- Recognize that most FN communities suffer from poor and declining health among band members.
- Health services should be geared to FN priorities - the demographics of FN communities is opposite of the general population in that they have a growing youth population.
- The Little Shuswap Band has started a taxation money fund to support their vision of a healthy community with a social network of alcohol and drug abuse funding support. They have also increased funding for an education, health, etc. network. The improvement of youth values for respect, love and spirituality is still to come through future opportunities such as sweat lodges, dances and ceremonies.
- Partnerships like the ones the Siska Band have established will help bring fast internet access to communities, which can help lead to tele-health pilots.
- Acknowledge that the impression of both racism and inequitable playing fields affects the hope of some communities. The First Nations (FN) peoples feel that they do not have equivalent advantages and opportunities as the non-FN population.
[Presentation by Steve Rhodes] WD has initiated renewable multi-year contracts to provide opportunities for FN communities and economic development by:
- encouraging creative economic development;
- encouraging projects driven by FN interests;
- accepting all types of proposals, ideas, or business plans - no formal applications;
- establishing partnerships with Simon Fraser University and Alcan for training opportunities and demonstrations;
- supporting bands to help them meet International Standardization Organization standards for their projects; and
- supporting aquaculture developments.
Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)
[Presentation by Ellen Paquette (local office) and Lonnie Propas (regional office)] HRDC, through the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Agreement (AHRDA), is transferring funding and responsibility for skills development, employment initiatives, and income support programs to Aboriginal communities. These agreements are based on the recognition that Aboriginal people best understand their own needs and are best able to design and implement effective programs and services. In BC, the AHRDA also provides a capacity building network for training the trainers in business skills (e.g., proposal writing, administration, etc.), and a First Nations Education Steering Committee that is working with School Net on distance education concepts.
[Presentation by Sue Hanley] INAC's primary role is to support FN and Inuit in developing healthy, sustainable communities and in achieving their economic and social aspirations. INAC negotiates comprehensive and specific land claims and self-government agreements on behalf of the Government of Canada, oversees implementation of settlements and promotes economic development. It is responsible for delivering provincial-like services such as education, housing, and community infrastructure to Status Indians on-reserve, and for delivering social assistance and social support services to residents on-reserve with the goal of ensuring access to services comparable to those available to other Canadian residents. The vast majority of these programs and services are delivered in partnership with FN.
[Presentation by Brandon Hughes, Regional Advisor in B.C.] Listening to Canadians living in rural, remote and northern areas is one cornerstone of the CRP. Responding to their needs by building networks and partnerships, and by providing support at the grassroots level is another. This dialogue will help the government build an overall rural strategy, by communicating issues discussed at local dialogues to decision makers in other federal departments and other levels of government.
| Date Modified: 2003-04-23 |
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