Canadian Banks chasing economic boom in Native Markets TURTLE ISLAND NEWS PUBLICATIONS www.theturtleislandnews.com For Six Nations $ now blowing in the wind CHESS THEME CHECKMATE … STALEMATE … or Pawn? AFN leaders face off in Corporate Canada First Nations touted as resource game land management leaders Canada’s wealthiest native millionaire $4.00 Winter 2015 Buy 2 subscriptions, GET 1 FREE. Nearly 200 titles! Don’t miss the Annual Great Magazine Sale. ORDER NOW! Subscribe today at 1free.magazinescanada.ca/3for2 or call 1-866-289-8162 OFFER CODE: PAEB Keep all 3 subscriptions for yourself or GIVE some as a gift. Choose print or digital subscriptions. With this much selection it’s easy to find the perfect titles to read or share. 12044_MagsCanada_ad_standard.indd 1 12-09-18 2:19 PM ContentsWinter 2015 Publisher’s desk - AFN Leaders hot ticket as corporate advisers... is published quarterly by 4 Lynda Powless Publisher 5 Wind Energy project in Ontario ... Turtle Island News Publications and Multi-Media Inc. AFN Corporate Canada Boards... 7 Other publications include: Turtle Island News First Nations in Canada touted as land management leaders ... Turtle Island News Daily 12 Aboriginal Tourism One of Canada’s Wealthiest Native Millionaires... Discover Six Nations Magazine 13 Choices Aboriginal Education Magazine FORE Aboriginal Golf Magazine Canadian Banks chasing economic boom ... 16 We want to feature your business success story. Navajo bring home sacred masks... Contact us if you would like to be in 17 future editions, have an article you’d like to submit or an event you want to promote. 19 Deninu Kue first Nations get rights to diamond benefits... Submitted manuscripts accepted but may not be returned. Financial Literacy & Health Wellness... Authors of selected materials only 20 will be contacted. No portion of the magazine, 21 Ken Coates Inside Policy: Canada should get use to... including advertisements, pictures or editorial content may be reproduced without permission. Assembly of First Nations, 2014 Winter Gala... 22 CONTACT US AT: ABORIGINAL BUSINESS Editor Lynda Powless MINERAL EXploRATION CONFERENCE Writers Lynda Powless Premier Christy Clark spoke at the Ken Coates opening of the Association for Graphics Mineral Exploration Conference Nancy Gambacourt this past January 2015. Advertising Amy Catherwood AME represents thousands of members including geoscientists, prospectors, engineers, Subscription can be purchased for one year at: entrepreneurs, exploration $29.95 Canadian / $33.50 American (US) companies, suppliers, mineral $37.50 Air or Other producers, and associations Submit your payment to: who are engaged in mineral Turtle Island News exploration and development in P.O. Box 329, 2208 Chiefswood Rd., Ohsweken ON N0A 1M0 BC and throughout the world. Phone: 519-445-0868 / Fax: 519-445-0865 www.theturtleislandnews.com Member of Magazines Canada Winter 2015 / Aboriginal Business 3 editorial FROM the Publisher’s desk: AFN leaders... hot ticket as corporate advisers... Lynda Powless Publisher ormer Assembly of First Nations documents the employment of former interest in started to boil. leader, Phil Fontaine, had his consulting senators and governors on boards of But it was during Shawn Atleo’s short Ffirm on line before the door on his last directors and shows the plum jobs pay an AFN life that it boiled over and the Supreme term as national leader had closed average of $251,000 per year for part-time Court’s Tsilhqot’in First Nation decision Within weeks of returning from a month’s work. And more than 45 percent of senators granting the Tsilhqot’in land claim changed long soul searching motorcycle ride after who have left office since 1992 have served the way business is now done in Canada resigning as leader of the AFN Shawn Atleo on the board of a publicly traded firm; in for the government and the resource found himself on the receiving end of a comparison, only 20 percent of former industries. number of appointments and requests. senators have worked as registered lobbyists. That decision also clarified major issues Even former chief Ovide Mercredi is now But in First Nation politics while a number of such as how to prove aboriginal title and being seen as a hot commodity on the political leaders have over the years actively when consent is required from aboriginal corporate scene. sought out appointments and jobs in the groups. All of which now affects negotiations The whole idea of former AFN leaders private sector and used their influence to on major projects such as the Northern suddenly appearing on the boards of peddle their worth jumping on the energy Gateway pipeline and sent companies like Corporate Canada and mining and energy gravy train has brought the issue more into the Pacific Future Energy Corp., the banks, companies is a new concept to First Nations. the open. mineral companies and others out head The AFN leader has always been seen as Matthew Coon Come is still in politics hunting for well-known and respected first that, the national leader and thoughts about serving as Grand Chief of the James Bay Cree nation leaders in controversial development what they did after their political life was Nation of Eeyou Istchee and Chairperson of areas to add to their leverage with first never really given the time of day...they were the Cree Regional Authority. Serving as AFN nation communities. just the national leader. leader from 2000 to 2003, seems almost like While most Canadians and American At least it wasn’t until the west’s oil a pit stop for the well- known Cree who went politicians are already successful business industry, eager to prevent First Nation back to Cree politics after leaving office. people before they join politics, for protests on their future development plans Ovide Mercredi served as AFN leader from aboriginal politicians, becoming politicians began seeking out First Nations leaders to 1991 to 1997 and upon leaving entered the in cash-starved communities is the successful act as advisers, well rewarded advisers, to world of academics, teaching, became an business ( in communities without jobs) their companies, boards and plans. author, speaker but recently was appointed that gets them on their road to becoming And let’s face the reality, the hope is they to Pacific Future Energy Corp as an adviser. national leaders and coming to the attention won’t just provide advice but look real good In fact the energy giant brought on a wall of boardrooms across the country. to First Nation people. of aboriginal leaders from Mercredi to Shawn Without those leadership positions as Life after politics isn’t a new concept in Atleo, Robert Louie and more. jumping off points the chances are Phil either American or Canadian politics. Phil Fontaine works as an advisor to Royal Fontaine would never have been heard of, Politicians are often recycled on corporate Bank of Canada and TransCanada Corp on its Shawn Atleo would have been a popular boards and the public accepts the move. energy east pipeline academic and Ovide Mercredi practicing And companies want them. He sits on the boards of New Brunswick law. They want them for the prestige but more Power, the provincially owned utility; of But it is their characteristics that helped importantly they want them for who they Chieftain Metals Group, which is developing them get elected and bring them into the know. mineral properties in northwestern B.C., and national spotlight that also make them Both Canadian and American politicians on of Avalon Rare Metals Inc. He also represents attractive to boards and corporations looking leaving office considering becoming lobbyists the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation to find the road least bumpy in their path to face a “cooling” off period of two years but in their negotiations with Ottawa for the unfettered development. can jump on the corporate bandwagon as the return of the former Ipperwash military base And it is also these former chief’s first door to political office closes behind them. to their reserve. nation leanings that current AFN leader Many of them do still profit from the There is no doubt all of these lucrative Perry Bellegarde is counting on to help First political connections, influence and expertise spots are due to their time in office, but Nation grass root leadership get the best they accumulated during their time in office. for Fontaine it became much easier. It was deals possible for their people as Corporate A U.S. study “Capitol Gains: The Returns to during his time that the concept of First Canada expands onto the last frontiers... Office from Corporate Board Directorships,” Nations land owners and lands they hold an First Nation lands. 4 Winter 2015 / Aboriginal Business project Samsung, Pattern Energy and Six Nations Complete Wind Energy Project in Ontario THE BIGGEST WIND FACILITY IN THE WORLD It’s the biggest wind facility Council producing income and jobs for Six in the world and its owners Nations people to the tune of almost $44 million. include Six Nations of “Samsung and Pattern Energy are proud the Grand, the Grand of the engagement agreement we signed Renewable Wind facility’s with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs 1000 turbines will now Council(HCCC) in 2013 that increases local employment opportunities and provides generate clean energy significant community funding for the for 50,000 homes lifetime of the project. We look forward to continuing our positive working By Lynda Powless relationship with the HCCC,” says Editor Samsung in a statement. TORONTO, ONTARIO, – Ontario’s Samsung provided the HCCC with newest wind facility is now up $4.5 million in compensation over the and running and able to provide next 20 years. enough energy to power 50,000 And they entered into an equity Ontario homes.