Looking at the world through a 100-year lens rather than just in terms of quarterly shareholder reports, Vancouver Island’s First Nations First NatioNs are harvesting the entrepreneurial energy of their people to create at the ForeFroNt a better future — one that belongs to them. by Andrew Findlay Carpenter and carver Johnathon Ryce — who worked with his uncle Rick Underwood, the foreman on the installation of the T’Sou-ke Nation’s solar panel project — OUGLAS MAGAZINE walks among the banks of solar panels on top of a building D on the reserve in Sooke. JEFFREY BOSDET/ 34 DOUGLAS DOUGLAS 35 he T’Sou-ke Nation is small but it has energy project on southern Vancouver Island. business-killing shackles of the Indian Act and Jeff Cook signed an “opportunity development big ideas. At only 250 members, mostly “This approach comes from our ancestors. reservation system, which renders them as agreement” with Vancouver-based Steelhead living on 67 hectares of reserve land Food security was always important to our perpetual tenants on federally owned land, and LNG to explore the possibility of building a Executives, business owners, Taround the Sooke Basin, you could fold people,” Chief Gordon Planes told Douglas while has burdened them with the crippling multi- liquid natural gas plant on Huu-ay-aht land with it into any neighborhood in a large metropolis commuting back from Vancouver where he was generational social issues that resulted from the access to deepwater in outer Alberni Inlet. The entrepreneurs: and it would barely make a demographic or meeting with other chiefs and Premier Christy residential school system. 25-year, $30-billion proposal is still speculative, economic dent. Clark. It’s a nasty legacy that the Huu-ay-aht First but the agreement signals that this 750-member But this ambitious band is making a dent Nation is also working hard to overcome. As a nation is on the lookout for opportunities — > Are you where you want to be with your career or business? in quashing stereotypes of First Nations by settiNg a New Course member of the Maa-nulth Treaty Society, this and the business world is taking them seriously. investing in a future based on food sustainability Put simply, the T’Sou-ke Nation sees the band joined four partner nations to become the “We want to tell people that we’re open > What is the most important thing for you at this point in your and alternative energy. With its Pacific Island’s isolation as a potential business first on the Island to sign a modern day treaty, for business,” Cook says. “Our treaty is career, business or life? Coast Wasabi operation, the band maintains which came into effect April 1, 2011. It gave the economically driven and it’s given us the ability advantage. As conventional fossil fuel energy > What is your dream? three large greenhouses with 15,000 wasabi becomes more expensive, the cost of importing Huu-ay-aht self-government and jurisdiction and authority to look at large projects without seedlings. Profits from this operation will be food will also become increasingly prohibitive, over 8,200 hectares near its main community of having to deal with the Indian Act.” > What’s holding you back? PAUL ABRA BA, BEd, MEd used to expand an existing 70-hectare organic says Planes. That’s why he hopes his band’s Anacla at the mouth of Alberni Inlet. The Songhees and Esquimalt nations, whose Certified Executive Coach I can help. community garden. And there’s more: thanks to focus on food and green energy will place them The Huu-ay-aht now own the Pachena Bay modern reserves border each other and are a $1.5-million capital outlay in 2009, the nation’s on the leading edge of a local sustainability Campground, a forestry firm with 13 employees sandwiched between Victoria, View Royal and Call for a complimentary administration building now runs entirely on a push that one day may become a necessity, not that also hires as many as 50 contractors, a Esquimalt, are also demonstrating an open- coaching session and to 75 kilowatt solar power system. Furthermore, in a choice. shake and shingle operation, a gravel pit, a dry for-business approach. They are trying hard to discuss how coaching 2013 the T’Sou-ke partnered with Timberwest The T’Sou-ke are exhibiting the kind of land log sort, as well as a market and cafe in transition from being bystanders to participants can benefit you. Forest Corp. and EDP Renewables Canada Ltd. entrepreneurial thinking that distinguishes an Bamfield plus 21 commercial fishing licences. in the economy surrounding Victoria Harbour. to explore opportunities to develop, build and increasing number of Aboriginal communities Last July, in the band’s most high-profile In October, the two nations hired Curtis operate a massive $750-million, 300 MW wind as they attempt to free themselves from the venture to date, Huu-ay-aht chief councillor Grad, former CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA), to head up the Skwin’ang’eth Se’las Development Company, a joint venture between the Songhees, Esquimalt Honouring tHe Past exPloring tHe Future and GVHA that aims to generate business motivatedcoaching.ca 250.216.2599 [email protected] opportunities and jobs for band members. In a news release, Esquimalt chief Andy Thomas Inspiring and motivating individuals to fulfill their dreams John Jack admits that mentioning First Nations in called the development company a “vehicle that in their businesses, in their careers and in themselves. a room full of business executives might conjure up and transparent and accountable governance structures that keeps will enable our young people to return to the anti-business obstructionism stereotypes. But these business and politics at arm’s harbour to create livelihoods.” are old, increasingly inaccurate perceptions, says the length from each other,” Jack 33-year-old elected Huu-ay-aht councillor, part of a says. “We have a guaranteed CreatiNg LiveLihoods seat at the table with anyone vanguard of young Aboriginal leaders working hard to Creating livelihoods is a goal the K’ómoks First proposing major projects in Huu- Nation (KFN) is having considerable success show that First Nations can stay true to cultural roots ay-aht territories.” in reaching. With a small reserve on the shores Bands without treaties may while being progressive in business. of Comox Harbour wedged between Courtenay resort to confrontational direct Al’s Business Tip action to assert their rights, a and Comox, and a total on- and off-reserve OUGLAS MAGAZINE for success D Along with his role as a councillor, requirement of the Maa-nulth strategy that may be necessary population of 320, this nation’s economic he also holds the Port Alberni- treaty, which came into effect in the short term but, says Jack, development arm has been busy while band based nation’s economic, policy in 2011. As a band member, he doesn’t bode well for future politicians inch toward a modern day treaty. and law development portfolios, received a survey to fill out. He economic opportunities. In 2012, band-owned Pentlatch Seafoods JEFFREY BOSDET/ and represents the band on took a red pen and marked up Jack describes the Huu-ay-aht’s Ltd., which markets its product under the brand “Have three things on the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional what he considered to be a poorly approach as “positive soft power,” Komo Gway, bought Aquatec, a well-established your daily to-do list, and District board. worded survey full of leading using some of the jargon he Comox-based seafood processing company. With “The opportunities are ever and misleading questions. Band acquired from his Global Studies do the toughest first. You over 20 full-time staff, Pentlatch harvests two expanding for First Nations administrators took notice and degree. will be more productive willing to communicate and asked him to join the process. As for the band’s decision million oysters annually with sales to Taiwan, engage with business partners That offer led him into law, policy to further explore the proposal China, the U.S. and Canada. Last year the band — not just busy.” and neighbouring communities,” and economic development and for a LNG plant, an industry not opened Salish Sea Foods, a retail outlet selling says Jack, who is the Huu-ay- ultimately into politics. without controversy, Jack says it’s Oysters Rockefeller, Cajun salmon skewers and Al Hasham, President of Maximum Express aht’s lead voice on economic Jack’s accidental career choice the result of careful consideration other value-added seafood products. issues including the potential has been the Huu-ay-aht’s gain. and a realization that the Huu- The band also owns I-Hos Gallery, the development of a $30 billion LNG He has represented the band on ay-aht need a substantial project Puntledge RV Campground at the confluence plant at Sarita Bay in partnership trade missions to Asia, and last to form the bedrock of a local of the Tsolum and Puntledge rivers, and has with Vancouver’s Steelhead LNG. year gave a keynote address economy. In November, the Huu- several MOUs with companies like Upland Jack’s involvement in Huu-ay- at the Northeast B.C. Natural ay-aht voted 61 per cent in favour Excavating Ltd., giving the band economic aht politics and administration Gas Summit in Vancouver. Now, of moving onto the feasibility came about more by accident midway through a second term study stage of this joint venture opportunities for projects on its traditional territory. The KFN is also negotiating with BC than design.