First Nations In Business Creating opportunities The Ktunaxa Nation is a large player within the local economy by JODY MENDENHALL
THE INITIATIVE OF A NATION: Chief Sophie Pierre looks toward a future of economic independence for the communities of the Ktunaxa Nation. —photo by Jody Mendenhall
The Ktunaxa Nation makes a substantial contribution to the region’s economy through various business ventures. Chief Sophie Pierre, chair of the Ktunaxa Nation, made it clear that the communities within the nation desire economic growth and eventually economic independence.
“The overall goal is the establishment of an economy within our communities,” said Pierre. “Before the arrival of settlers to this region, the Ktunaxa were obviously a sustainable group of people or they never would have been able to last here for 10,000 years. We need to work towards getting back to that in a modern context.”
The slogan for the Ktunaxa Nation economy is “150 in 15,” meaning that the Ktunaxa are attempting to regain in 15 years what was lost in 150 as a result of colonization, residential schools and unjust legislation.
The Ktunaxa Nation Council, St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino, and the four communities of Akisqnuk, St. Mary’s, Tobacco Plains and Lower Kootenay combine to employ 440 people and have an operating budget of $31 million, with a capital budget of $1.2 million and salaries totalling $14 million. And the Ktunaxa Nation Council strongly believes in keeping that money within the region.
“Any investment that goes into either the First Nation individually or into the nation council itself—that investment stays here…in the East and West Kootenay, and that is absolutely important,” said Pierre.
Pierre added that all 440 employees are within the nation council, individual bands and their businesses. She is optimistic that with more business opportunities, more jobs could be created.
She compares the Ktunaxa Nation to a mom-and-pop business, but she sees the advantage in this.
“Like all mom-and-pops, it has meaning for us; it’s not just our livelihood, it’s our life,” said Pierre.
And like any mom-and-pop business, the Ktunaxa are eager to develop relationships with other local businesses.
Pierre noted that with recent political pushes, aboriginal people have had more business opportunities, which they are taking full advantage of. Building business relationships with industry and others is essential to changing outdated perspectives and increasing opportunities.
“I think that now that industry has worked with us for awhile…they realize that we are actually a very good partner to have,” said Pierre. “We’re conscientious, we’re enthusiastic, we’re efficient, we’re totally accountable.”
The Ktunaxa Kinbasket Development Corporation (KKDC) is the primary business implementation unit for the Ktunaxa Nation. The KKDC is currently experiencing substantial growth as it expands beyond forestry and resource management services. Its revenue has increased 300 per cent in the last two years and it is training employees in numerous fields and exploring new economic opportunities.
Pierre’s hope is that businesses in the Kootenays will view the Ktunaxa Nation as the valuable business resource that it is, offering people who are trained and ready and willing to do business.
Those interested in learning more about the Ktunaxa Nation’s business initiatives can contact the KKDC or the Ktunaxa Nation Council or visit the website, www.ktunaxa.org, which provides links to the many organizations associated with the Ktunaxa Nation Council.
Key Cranbrook contacts
Acreage lots for sale Mountain Shores Acreage Estates is located on the east shore of Kootenay Lake, 45 minutes from Creston. The lots offer beautiful views of Kootenay Lake set against snow-capped mountains. We offer access to fishing, golfing, hiking and water-skiing. We are a short drive from the championship 18-hole Kokanee Springs Golf Resort at Crawford Bay and there are spectacular golf courses close by. Build your cottage or dream home at Mountain Shores—and enjoy making memories in your own piece of paradise.
Mountain Shores Land Ventures Ltd. Boswell, BC PHONE: (250) 426-9779
WEBSITE:
Boosting education in the Rockies With expansions nearly complete, College of the Rockies prepares for a new era. The grand opening of Pinnacle Hall and Summit Hall—COTR's new trades building and academic expansion—will be celebrated this fall. This expansion, coupled with the recently opened Gold Creek campus, bring amazing new possibilities to the college, the community and the region while addressing the current labour shortage. The recent expansion increases the campus size by between 25 and 30 per cent, and the changes enhance the college's evolving programs. Trades programs are also expanded with the opening of the new Pinnacle Hall and Gold Creek campus. The college is also becoming more involved in projects that heighten awareness of global issues as well as providing opportunities for students to take further courses abroad that are still connected to their studies at COTR.
College Of The Rockies Po Box 8500 Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 489-2751
WEBSITE:
Heart of the Rockies The Rockies make Cranbrook and the East Kootenay a class, four-seasons resort destination. Visitors from around the world experience the "Rocky Mountain High" while camping, fishing, boating and hiking. Cranbrook's beautiful natural setting, well-developed tourist facilities and access to major tourist attractions, including many golf courses and Fort Steele Heritage Town, are the key ingredients for the local trade and convention industry.
The city boasts a well-rounded menu of community facil ities including a community college, 14 public schools, an acute, intermediate and extended care hospital, senior citizens' homes, 20 parks, three golf courses, arenas, a curling rink, a recreation complex, performing arts theatre, five-screen movie theatre, library, daily and weekly newspapers, two radio stations, cable television, high-speed Internet service and the internationally renowned Canadian Museum of Rail Travel.
City Of Cranbrook 40 - 10th Ave S Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 426-4211
WEBSITE:
A new way of living Shadow Mountain Golf Community will be a gated lifestyle community located three minutes from the Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook, B.C. This private gated community will be situated on 580 acres of land that will include a 19-hole, 7,400-yard championship golf course, practice academy, clubhouse and approximately 600 properties with residential lot sizes ranging from 6,000 to 11,000 square feet and acreage lots from half- to one-acre parcels. Owners will enjoy views of the golf course, river and surrounding mountains.
Countertops that rock Based in Cranbrook, B.C., Kootenay Granite Plus is Canada's largest exotic stone distributor. With imported products from Brazil, Italy, Africa, the Philippines, Quebec and North America, Kootenay Granite Plus will help you enhance the character and timelessness of your home with a beautifully crafted stone countertop. Our staff of 13 skilled workers are dedicated to producing quality products and superior customer service.
Kootenay Granite Plus 1001 Industrial Rd 2 Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 426-6278
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Report workplace injuries faster Teleclaim—a new WorkSafeBC service designed to simplify the claim process and improve the timeliness of injury reporting—is available in B.C.'s Interior and North regions. Workers in those areas will be able to call WorkSafeBC directly to report a work-related injury that results in time away from work. Callers will speak with a knowledgeable WorkSafeBC representative who will complete an injury report on their behalf, explain the claim process, answer questions and direct them to services that assist with their recovery and return to work.
Call 1-888-WORKERS (1-888-967-5377) Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are a Telus Mobility, Rogers or Bell Mobility customer, dial #5377 on your cellphone.
Worksafe BC 524 Kootenay St Nelson, BC PHONE: 1-888-967-5377
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Where lifestyle counts. Situated above Kaslo Bay Park and overlooking Kootenay Lake and the Purcell Mountains, Kaslo Bay Estates offers a tranquil setting for those desiring a leisurely lifestyle in the Kootenays. Just a five-minute walk to downtown Kaslo, this development offers year-round living and the opportunity to take advantage of the many features of the surrounding region. Kaslo Bay Estates is a community Strata. Please visit our site weekly for updates on our progress on the development of the Kaslo Bay Estates Townhomes.
Kaslo Bay Developments 625 Front St Nelson, BC, BC PHONE: (250) 354-0112
WEBSITE:
Specialty Cut Lumber For Sale! The Tobacco Plains Sawmill caters to those in need of specialty cut sizes of lumber.
Most of the mill's lumber is made from pine or fir and is rough cut.
For those requiring planed lumber the mill has a planer on site.
The sawmill is owned and operated by the Tobacco Plains Indian Band,
one of seven Bands of the Ktunaxa Nation, in Grasmere, BC.
Contact the band for lumber prices or information about the band's other business ventures:
Tobacco Plains Duty Free Shop and Edwards Lake campground.
Tobacco Plains Band Sawmill Grasmere, BC PHONE: (250) 887-3461
WEBSITE:
Spaces that bring style to life Located in Radium Hot Springs is a Toy Hotel project offering high-end townhomes and breathtaking views of the Kootenay valley. The Bluffs were designed with the recreational enthusiast in mind. Each unit has lots of room for all your toys in the garage and luxurious accommodation designed for relaxation and entertaining. Sicamous Developments is currently accepting expressions of interest for this exciting new project. Please visit our website for more information.
Sicamous Developments Sicamous, BC PHONE: (250) 803-1942
WEBSITE:
Freedom. Comfort. Peace of mind. When was the last time you leapt a tall building in a single bound? Unless you like spandex, capes and an undisturbed moment in a phone booth, you probably need insurance. Falkins is proud to offer the same great professional service we've provided to the Kootenay region for more than 100 years. Visit us anytime to talk about your insurance needs. With or without your cape.
Falkins Insurance Group Ltd 907 Baker St. Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 426-2205
WEBSITE:
The Hearing Loss Clinic More and more people under the age of 60 are finding themselves with some loss of hearing. The sooner a person is diagnosed, the sooner the effects of hearing loss can be controlled. While past generations have suffered in silence—literally—the friendly, professional and knowledgeable staff at The Hearing Loss Clinic provide the instruments and expertise to help people hear clearly again. Experience Destiny 1600, the first hearing device
The Hearing Loss Clinic 800 Baker St Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 489-2551
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The Better Insulation Roxul Inc. is part of Rockwool International, the world's largest producer of mineral wool insulation with 23 facilities in 14 countries. Our products are produced from a combination of natural basalt rock and recycled slag. These simple ingredients, combined with Roxul's world-class technology, produce a mineral wool insulation product of the highest quality that is better for the environment.
Roxul Inc 551 Harrop Dr Milton, ON PHONE: (905) 875-9307
WEBSITE:
Teck Coal Limited Our company is a global leader in the production and sale of hard coking coal...a relatively uncommon mineral that is essential in the production of steel. With six mines in two Canadian provinces, more than 3,000 employees and a business focused on supplying world steel producers, our company is strongly positioned in a very competitive market.
The Fording River operation is located in the Elk Valley region of southeastern British Columbia, 29 kilometres northeast of the town of Elkford. The minesite is comprised of 20,304 hectares of coal lands of which 3,592 hectares are currently being mined or are scheduled for mining.
Teck Coal Limited PO Box 5000 Elkford, BC PHONE: (250) 865-5103
WEBSITE:
A healthy choice As an innovative and growing $1 billion organization, Interior Health is rightfully proud of over 19,000 employees and 1,200 physicians making up our dynamic, progressive team.
You will come to truly admire your colleagues in the East Kootenay Health Services Area. They embody the essence of empowerment, innovation and teamwork. With a regional referral hospital in Cranbrook, and numerous community-based hospitals and health centres, patients throughout East Kootenay will find many of their health care needs met within their region, resulting in fewer trips to Calgary or Vancouver.
Interior Health - East Kootenay Health Service Area 1212 2ND Ave. N., Cranbrook, B.C. PHONE: (250) 420-2442
WEBSITE:
Gateway to Adventure Radium Hot Springs has it all: unlimited outdoor activities, fine dining, golfing, skiing, natural hot springs pools and the most beautiful scenery you can imagine. Located on the warm side of the Canadian Rockies, Radium Hot Springs is British Columbia’s best mountain getaway village. A short three-hour drive from Calgary, Alberta, at the south entrance of Kootenay National Park, this mountain village has something to please everyone’s tastes.
Radium Hot Springs Chamber Of Commerce Radium, BC PHONE: (250) 347-9331
WEBSITE:
We have all your financial needs covered BDO Dunwoody is Canada's sixth largest accounting services and advisory firm. Our team serves a highly diverse clientele, which includes owner-managed businesses, large enterprises, mid-market public companies, community organizations, not-for-profit agencies and professional firms. From agriculture to real estate, technology to union pensions and aboriginal communities to municipalities, our professionals have the expertise to handle any business sector.
BDO offers the full range of accounting services, including assurance and audit, taxation, business advisory such as financial and risk advisory and financial recovery services.
BDO Dunwoody LLP 35-10th Ave. S. Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 426-4285
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Developing the Kootenays and beyond Martel Developments is your solution for building and development in the Kootenays. Hiring only certified journeymen, our company guarantees a high level of quality and professionalism in our workmanship. Framing crews are available to provide timber framing. We not only specialize in general contracting, but also in custom-built homes. Let us bring our exceptional standard of quality to your construction development. Call us today.
Martel Developments 496 Celio RD Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 417-0877
Geoscience BC 440 - 890 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC PHONE: 604-662-4147 WEBSITE: www.geosciencebc.com
Friction Fit Insulation Unit B 632 Industrial Road 2 Cranbrook, BC PHONE: 250-426-8098
Live your dreams Go Travel & Cruises is located in the Rocky Mountains in beautiful British Columbia. It has been locally owned and operated by Carla Nelson since 1993. We are licenced by the BC Travel Registrar and IATA and we are a member of ACTA (Association of Canadian Travel Agents) and CLIA (Cruise Line International Association). Whether you are planning a cruise to the Caribbean, a corporate getaway, wedding or an adventure to Asia, Go Travel & Cruises covers all your trip planning needs.
Go Travel & Cruises 1001 Baker ST Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 489-4788
WEBSITE:
Live your dreams Go Travel & Cruises is located in the Rocky Mountains in beautiful British Columbia. It has been locally owned and operated by Carla Nelson since 1993. We are licenced by the BC Travel Registrar and IATA and we are a member of ACTA (Association of Canadian Travel Agents) and CLIA (Cruise Line International Association). Whether you are planning a cruise to the Caribbean, a corporate getaway, wedding or an adventure to Asia, Go Travel & Cruises covers all your trip planning needs.
Go Travel & Cruises 1001 Baker ST Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 489-4788
WEBSITE:
Willow Appliances & Refrigeration Ltd. 1809 Cranbrook ST N Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 426-5237 WEBSITE: www.willowappliances.ca
Sandor Rental Equipment Ltd. 2450 Cranbrook ST North Cranbrook, BC PHONE: 250-426-5254 WEBSITE: www.sandorequipment.com
EK Transmission Ltd. 1019 Kootenay St. N. Cranbook, BC PHONE: (250) 426-4157
A.C. Dyck Financial Services Inc (westpro Benefit Systems) 202-135 10th Ave. S Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 426-4949 WEBSITE: www.westprobenefits.com
Napa Auto Parts (Cranbrook) 1001 Industrial Rd # 2 Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 426-8282 WEBSITE: www.napaonlinecanada.com
Sutherland's Decoration Centre 9 - 12 Ave N Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 426-3911
Kootenay Concrete Pumping Ltd 3008 Wycliff Store Road Cranbrook, BC PHONE: 250-421-1750
BC Forest Safety Council 200-1055 West Hastings St Vancouver, BC PHONE: (604) 632-0211 WEBSITE: www.bcforestsafe.org
Striving For Excellence Chalet GM is your one stop Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick and GMC Truck dealer in the East Kootenays. We offer total customer satisfaction, exceeding the customer's expectations with professional sales and competent GM Goodwrench Service.
Chalet GM is a multi year recipient of the General Motors Business Excellence Award and includes certain sales staff members that have achieved the GM Sales Marketing Guild Gold Level.
Chalet GM Marysville, BC PHONE: (250) 427-4895
WEBSITE:
Key City Drywall Ltd. Po Box 157 Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 426-4056
Salvador Ready Mix 301 King St NW Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 426-7283 WEBSITE: www.salvador-readymix.com
Steele O' Neil & Associates Inc 36 - 11th Ave S Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 489-4180 WEBSITE: www.steeleoneil.com
East Kootenay Insulation Ltd. 125 10th St S Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 421-1289
Dueck Enterprises 416 15Th Ave S Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 426-5460
A must see This beautiful rancher has it all! 3+1 bdrms, 3 baths, fully finished up and down, updated granite counters, formal dining room, covered patio, great view of the golf course, double attached garage and more. A must see!
Janice Sommerfeld-East Kootenay Realty 25 10th Ave S Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 426-8211 WEBSITE: mlslink.mlxchange.com
Creating a Legacy Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) works to promote the self-sufficiency of Basin residents, and to build a foundation of social, financial and environmental wellness. With the Investment Program, the CBT is able to provide Delivery of Benefits activities that support various other programs and initiatives in the area. By assisting the communities and responding to their needs for education, economic help and other benefits, Columbia Basin Trust makes it their top priority to improve the quality of life for Basin residents.
Columbia Basin Trust (Castlegar) Suite 300 445 13th Ave Castlegar, BC PHONE: (250) 365-6633
WEBSITE:
Proudly serving and surveying British Columbia The Association of British Columbia Land Surveyors is charged with the responsibility of setting educational requirements, examining for admission, and regulating professional land surveyors to perform legal surveys within British Columbia, Canada. Many British Columbia Provincial statutes specifically designate B.C. Land Surveyors as the only persons entitled to perform legal surveys of land pursuant to the particular Act. The British Columbia Land Surveyor is well grounded in the science of surveying and the application of this knowledge in service to their clients. Our mission is to protect the public interest and the integrity of the survey systems of BC.
Association Of BC Land Surveyors 301 2400 Bevan Ave Sidney, BC PHONE: (250) 655-7222
WEBSITE:
Building progress through innovation, every day. The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. regulates and governs the professions under the authority of the Engineers and Geoscientists Act by setting and maintaining high academic, experience and professional practice standards for all members. Individuals licensed by APEGBC are the only persons permitted by law to undertake, and assume responsibility for, engineering and geoscience projects in the province of B.C. The mission of APEGBC is to serve the public interest through regulation and leadership of the practice of professional engineering and professional geoscience in British Columbia.
Association Of Professional Enginners Of BC 34 11th Ave S Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 489-3013
WEBSITE:
Nutters Bulk & Natural Foods 1107 Baker St Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 426-5519 WEBSITE: www.nutters.ca
