The Sechelt Indian Band (SIB) is looking for new business partners on the Sunshine Coast. Last Thursday at a business networking event, the Band's business and education leaders spoke to local professionals on available opportunities and SIB successes.
SIB Coun. Garry Feschuk headed the panel of presenters including SIB education head Lenora Joe, Candace Campo and Sue Perry.
Feschuk sits as vice-president on the board of directors for First Nations Employment Society (FNES). That group represents 10 First Nations from across southern B.C. The objective of the group is to partner and share ideas.
The Oct. 5 meeting at the Sechelt Longhouse opened with a prayer song led by Band member Andy Johnson. Johnson, one of the busiest members of SIB, has assembled a group of Band members into the Xwamtsut singers and dancers. The name translates to ambassador, a role the talented First Nations folks have taken to heart. Johnson also teaches young people from preschool to high school the Sechelt language, shashishalhem.
In his opening remarks, Sechelt Chief Stan Dixon stressed the need for education. He talked about the difference education had made in his life.
"If we want to be leaders in regard to economic development, high school graduation is essential. There's no free lunch out there," Dixon said.
Campo, an SIB teacher, spoke about the importance of education. She called her job working directly with Band elders and school children "the best job in the world."
Joe has worked in the education department since 1987 and now manages a staff of 35. She oversees the education of all Band members from newborns to college-age students. The biggest challenge she sees right now is the need for employment programs.
"There are large gaps in trade industries - construction, electrical, plumbing, the health industry and tourism. We [SIB] want to partner with local business for training for Band members," Joe said.
She explained the Band takes a holistic approach to the health of its members. Education, recreation and spiritual needs are all given equal importance.
Perry in her turn talked about the opportunities for self-employment for Band members. She cited examples from a car wash to a kayak tourism venture as successful businesses employing local people.
Some of the barriers the SIB employment services have identified to employment include young people getting their driver's licence and the cost of training.
Feschuk talked about partnerships the Band has had in the past and has now.
High on the list are the mutually profitable relationships with both Interfor and Construction Aggregates (CAL). CAL's Chuck Cookney, the assistant mine manager, started at the mine in 1986.
"I cannot say enough positive things about the relationship between the company I work for and chief and council of the Sechelt people," Cookney said. "It's all about what we can do for all of us. We are community."
Feschuk thanked CAL for their ongoing contribution to the community, including a recently installed fence around the SIB kindergarten. Another success story, Tsain-Ko Forest Products value-added mill, was also heard from during the event.
Frank Dixon, manager, said the mill began in 2002 producing one style of fence panels. By 2003 the expanded product line included 12 different panels.
From 2002 to 2005 about 90 per cent of the product was sold through wholesale markets. That changed in April 2006 when a specialty retail yard was opened. Now products include 18 styles of fence panels, 10 different kinds of lattice, prefinished panels, siding and almost anything else for the home and business builder, sold locally with the profits staying here.
At present 10 people work at the mill plus project and retail managers. Dixon said there are many opportunities for the operation to provide local jobs and opportunities for other businesses to grow with them.
Other businesses Feschuk hopes to see in the future include a value-added cement operation. He also wants to see more returns to Band people from the forestry industry through training.
Anyone interested in partnering with the Band is urged to call 604-885-6016 and speak to Sue Perry.
