Representatives from all regions of the NWT were in Vancouver last week to attend B.C.’s annual mining conference, putting them in touch with industry reps and each other to talk about resource development in the territory.
“We have a lot of key people here from each of the regions, aboriginal components, and some of the groups that are working with these diamond mines,” said Joseph Kochon, band manager for the Behdzi Ahda First Nation and president of its economic development wing. “We’re having some good insights from them. Just meeting with other regions – that’s very interesting.”
Kochon said he and his colleagues in the NWT’s delegation have been immersed in discussions about where the industry is going around the world, its modern ways of doing business and its new technologies. These insights and conversations, he said, are worth the cost of the trip.
“You know, with the environment, there’s a more cleaner way of doing work versus the old way,” said Kochon. “There’s so many insights that it’s worth looking at. Sitting at home, you really can’t get those insights. You have to spend money to make money and there’s no going around that.”
Kochon says there’s no real industry activity right now in his home region, around Colville Lake, but many of his fellow band members are employed by the diamond mines. A big piece of the puzzle the NWT needs to build on, he said, is in training.
“There is a way to recruit aboriginal people,” said Kochon, “it’s just training and everything that needs to play a big part in getting into how a mine works and everything – you can’t just walk in the door, just like that.”
During a luncheon for the aboriginal delegation, Premier Bob McLeod brought in B.C. MLA Ellis Ross, a former cabinet minister now in the Liberal opposition to the province’s NDP government.
Ross is a former chief councilor for the Haisla Nation in B.C., and grew up on reserve. He’s made his name recently by being pro-development, which has led to him being called a “sell-out” and “assimilated,” he told the audience. But he says it’s worth it.
“It’s not about getting rich. It’s about stopping poverty and all the issues associated with it,” he told his audience.
In an interview after the luncheon, Ross says he was approached by many after his speech, saying he touched on the issues NWT communities were going through.
“We’re talking about poverty, alcoholism, drug abuse, violence, and they’re just trying to find a way out of it,” said Ross.
“What it boils down to is putting aboriginals in a position where they can help themselves because there’s too much of the idea that government can help, that people outside of the community can help.”
Kochon said the idea of self-reliance in the speech resonated with him – ensuring that there is money in the pockets of our young people.”
“Building up your own workforce is very key and having the training and the ability to participate in any type of project is a very beneficial thing,” said Kochon.
He said his band has built up its own resources over time.
“Now we invest and make more money here and there,” he said. “Wherever the money goes, we follow it. Whereas you don’t really have to be sitting on your [butt] doing nothing and waiting for something to come to you, which is not really going to happen unless you go out and participate.”
News/North attempted to reach Tlicho Grand Chief George Mackenzie and Gwich’in Tribal Council President and Grand Chief Bobbi Jo Greenland, who were also in attendance, but couldn’t connect with them by press time.