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Business IDC Business Information |
BusinessOur parents’ generation began an out-migration in the 1950s and by 1970, we had no permanent residents on our reserves. We had followed jobs, services, and opportunity. Now, fully three-quarters of us live away from home, mostly in the Fraser valley and Lower Mainland. We began returning in the 1980s, but this was made difficult by the isolation and poor infrastructure. More recently, the roads have been improved, and the communities are beginning to be connected to the BC Hydro grid. We’re also beginning an accelerated capital building program as a result of agreements with INAC that were negotiated at the treaty table. We know that bringing our people home requires housing and infrastructure, but we can’t bring them home without some means to sustain them. We have to create and sustain an economy. The most evident example of success in this area is the Douglas First Nation’s business association with Cloudworks, which provided jobs during the construction phase. Connection to the grid and improved roads will make us competitive in the business world. Beyond sustaining ourselves and our families, business success will allow us to invest in preserving and enhancing our culture and identity. And, finally, we won’t be truly self-governing until we no longer rely on government to provide for us. The longer term vision, therefore, is to develop and sustain an economy that will create profits, a part of which will be taxed in order to pay our own way. We have made some progress since we identified the broad objectives in our Wealth Creation Action Plan as: • Improved and dependable year-round road access; • Connection to the BC Hydro power grid; and • Connection to communication infrastructure. Our Wealth Creation Action Plan said that “with these things in place In-SHUCK-ch Nation (will) be able to develop meaningful business ventures that would be beneficial to all. These new ventures would enable the In-SHUCK-ch people to enjoy the same superior living conditions, premium wages, and advanced technology as the rest of Canada, things that have drawn people away from the territory. With this improved and dependable access to technology that is enjoyed outside of the In-SHUCK-ch territory, the In-SHUCK-ch Nation will be able to develop their abilities to participate in the following important business sectors: • Independent power production; • Timber and non-timber forest products; • Tourism and recreation; and • Service industries. In-SHUCK-ch Nation along with its communities will have to work at building their capacity to participate in the open economy in a meaningful way. Wealth creation needs to be addressed in all community development plans in a manner so that all of the community development plans reflect the same values. Sound business plans must be developed and implemented by all of the In-SHUCK-ch communities and In-SHUCK-ch Nation-owned entities. In-SHUCK-ch Nation through the In-SHUCK-ch Development Corporation must encourage an entrepreneurial approach in order for the Nation to be most successful. In order for the In-SHUCK-ch Nation to promote an entrepreneurial approach, we plan to make the most of the following initiatives: • Forest and Range Agreement (interim measure); • Business Development Working Group; • Business fairs; • Utilities; • Geothermal resources; • Mineral and aggregate resources; and • Oil and gas resources.” |
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