Atlantic Canada showcases its entrepreneurs
Tulita gathering a huge success
Minister gives green light to spring trout run
Seal hunt quota radically reduced
Atlantic Canada showcases its entrepreneurs
Ulnooweg Development Group (UDG) successfully hosted the 2nd Annual Atlantic Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Awards Show last fall at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre. Ulnooweg welcomed the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the Aboriginal business sector successes in the Atlantic Region through such an effective venue. The positive responses from participants and those who attended the gala reaffirmed Ulnooweg’s conviction that celebrating these accomplishments are an important part of the process of building stronger economies for our future generations.
Throughout the day entrepreneurs and trades people arrived from the far corners of Atlantic Canada and registered for the days events. Among the display booths and the throng of trade show participants was a unique youth-orientated outfit called “Open for Business”. Expectations were high as the day got under way with presentations from various federal funding organizations. Questions were tabled and those in attendance left with new insights on how to gain access to the federal programs and how these programs could benefit their individual business plans.
The awards and trade show event:
- Provided Networking Opportunities amongst Aboriginal Entrepreneurship
- Provided Federal, Provincial and private sector agencies the opportunity to enhance existing relationships as well as provide updated information on programs and services available.
- Provided an opportunity to network with the business community and forge new partnerships
Ulnooweg received 54 nominations for the awards show from across the four Atlantic Provinces. The Awards of Excellence recognized accomplishments in various categories:
- Business of the Year for each province
- Youth Entrepreneur of the Year
- Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
- Band Enterprise of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement Awards
- Atlantic Entrepreneur of the Year
- Economic Development Officer of the Year for Community Development
All finalists were invited to attend. Ulnooweg supported the travel expenses for all finalists to attend.
Two guest speakers were invited to speak at the luncheon and afternoon trade show sessions. The keynote speaker for the morning session was Michael Rice from Kahnawake. Michael is the founder of the largest Aboriginal-owned credit union in Canada – the caisse populaire in Kahnawake. Michael detailed for those in attendance just what it took to put together this full service bank for his community. As with any business plan, market research emerged as one of the most important elements to the success of the institution at Kahnawake. The afternoon session was highlighted by keynote speaker John Bernard from Madawaska First Nation, president of Donna Cona. John delivered some inspiring messages centered around the development of his nationally recognized IT company.
Attendees took the opportunity to have a look around at some of the artwork and fine crafts on display and for sale on the second floor of the convention centre. Artists and skilled crafts people from around the region proudly displayed their goods for all to see. Many Aboriginal artists and businesses benefited indirectly as a result. The award show poster, the awards presented to the winners, gifts to participants, speakers and honoured guests were all purchased from Aboriginal artists across the region.
The entertainment for the evening offered an opportunity to showcase First Nations talent with an opening performance by the Wekatesk Singers from Membertou and the amazing talented NADACA Dance troupe from Eskasoni. Kathy Denny from Eskasoni performed a solo to honour the Elders and the evening performance was topped by the world reknown award winning band Forever.
Well known Mi’kmaq celebrities Jimmy Augustine and Candy Palmatier were the Masters of the Ceremonies for the evening. James Augustine was one of the recipients of the Export of the Year at last’s year’s inaugural event for his recording studio Thunder Spirit. Candy Palmater’s talents are far ranging, but her incredible gift of humour is by far one of the most magical gifts of all.
Each winner received a beautiful slate award plaque which were inscribed with the name of their business and the category in which they won. In addition each winner was presented with a limited edition print of the artwork used for this years show. This beautiful hand drawn piece which emulates dyed quill work was produced by Theresa Marshall of Millbrook and entitled “Mi’kmaq world view”. The Atlantic Entrepreneur of the Year Winner also received an original painting, entitled L’nu, by Theresa Marshall.
Ulnooweg Development Group has hosted two annual Atlantic Aboriginal Entrepreneur Awards Shows in the past two years. These events have received overwhelming response from the public, the Aboriginal community and leaders in business. The success of the shows has undoubtedly raised the profile for Aboriginal businesses, individual entrepreneurs, as well as Ulnooweg both regionally and nationally. The benefits from this event are far reaching. The positive response from participants and businesses has prompted the board of Ulnooweg, the only pan Atlantic Aboriginal lending agency in existence, to host a third show in 2007. Applications for financial support to host another show have been submitted to our federal partners, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Aboriginal Business Canada (ABC) and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, (INAC). Ulnooweg is also approaching other public and private sectors to contribute to this third show. There are various opportunities to become a sponsor in this unique event.
Last year’s Aboriginal Entrepreneur Awards Show was a very successful and well received event. Deserving enterprises and individuals were recognized for their accomplishments. Beyond the awards themselves many have pointed out another important factor resulting from the awards; that is encouragement for today’s youth. Young people can see the results of following through with an idea and the value of persistence. It is hoped that young people will take a queue from those recognized and will gain confidence and pursue their dreams to success.
Ulnooweg plans to host the third show in a different part of the Atlantic region where the impact will be beneficial to the Aboriginal business community. The next location for the show will be in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The date of the show is September 11, 2007. Plans are underway to make this event as successful as the past two events and by doing so, celebrate our successes throughout the region.
Tickets for the event, registration for the daytime events can be reserved by visiting the Ulnooweg Website at www.ulnooweg.ca.
Tulita gathering a huge success
By Dene Skylar
After over half a year of planning and preparations by the Fort Norman Métis Nation #60 and the Tulita Dene Band Council, the Tulita Unity Accord held during the week of February 9th to 18th was a huge success.
“The Tulita Unity Accord is about our community working together and finding solutions to ensure that our people benefit from our lands and resources,” Tulita Dene Band Council, Chief Frank Andrew told Native Journal. Chief Frank Andrew along with President Rocky Norwegian of the Fort Norman Métis Nation #60 were the key leaders who advanced the unity vision for Tulita.
(Left to right) President Rocky Norwegian, Actor and former Tulita resident Leslie Nielsen,
ans Chief Frank Andrew.
Tulita is a community of about 500 Dene & Métis people. It is located about 97 kilometers south if Norman Wells by winter road. Tulita is one of the oldest communities in the Northwest Territories.
It is also surrounded by vast mineral, gas, oil and other renewable resources. The proposed multi-billion dollar Mackenzie Gas Pipeline will run right beside Tulita, likely near the same right-of-way that the current EnBridge pipeline does. The EnBridge line is capable of pumping 30,000 barrels of high quality Sahtu oil.
Tulita is one five Aboriginal communities in the Sahtu Region of the NWT that belongs to the Sahtu Dene & Métis Comprehensive Land Claim Agree-ment. Tulita is presently negotiating self-government. It is also experiencing an increased interest by resource companies in its potentially rich lands. In part it is this vast unknown resource-rich potential combined with community governance and the need for community capacity development that spurred the Tulita Dene and Métis governments to engage a community unity effort.
“There is lots of development happening and lots of potential on our lands and we want to ensure that we work together for our people and that our people share in the opportunities and benefits from our lands and resources,” stated President Norwegian.
“The Tulita Unity Accord is about celebrating our history, heritage, culture and inspiring our youth, adults and Elders to participate in making our community a better place,” stated Tulita Dene Band Council, Band Manager, Carl Yakeleya. “It was an awesome event and we want to make it an annual event that encourages unity and good community development.”
Leslie Nielsen (left) and Carl Yakeleya having fun at the Unity Accord.
The Tulita Unity Accord event was indeed an awesome experience. Dene and Métis people participated from all across Denendeh as well as the Beaufort-Delta Region of the NWT. A whole week of cultural, recreational, educational, economic development, community justice and other activities kept Tulita humming during the Valentine’s week in February.
The list of events was impressive: hand games, youth hand games workshop; Sahtu Nielsen Cup Hockey Tournament; traditional drum dances; ssquare dancing; NWT WCB Health & Safety Training for Youth; story telling and Dene legend sharing by Dene Elders; a traditional fiddling workshop; jigging and square dance lessons; youth and adult talent shows and much more.
Also impressive was the line up of presenters, entertainers, teachers and musicians. Dr. James Battle, PhD., Chartered Psychologist and former NFL football player led workshops on community justice solutions. The Casa Comedy Kings basketball troupe informed youth and community members about healthy life-style choices in their unique recreational way. Canadian Actor Leslie Nielsen returned to Tulita for four days. Nielsen lived in Tulita from 1927 to 1930. The last time he was in Tulita he traveled in and out by a steam boat but this time he flew up on an Aboriginal-owned airline Canadian North as well as North Wright Airways. Nielsen told the audience, “This has truly been a wonderful experience. Tulita is a place where a person feels like he is part of the community. I feel at home here and it has been an honor to return home.”
The Chief Albert Wright School, with the largest student population in the Sahtu, was alive with music, art, traditional dance teaching, safety training, Dene elder knowledge sharing and much more. “The staff at the school were very supportive and the youth loved the events,” stated Carl Yakeleya. A young Dene participant from Fort Simpson who participated in a Dene painting workshop said, “This was one of the best experiences of my life. I really loved it. We made a painting and really enjoyed the workshops.” There were smiles, tears, laughter and lots of great dancing. Legendary Inuvialuit Beaufort Delta rocker Louie Goose and his rising star daughter Leanne Goose performed two nights of spectacular music. Dene drum dancing and old time fiddle dances were also enjoyed by many.
If that was not enough there was more historical educational activities when the main federal regulatory boards, land use planners and people from both sides of the environment and development spectrums shared their agencies development experiences in the north. This was followed by an economic development workshop that featured Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band.
After an incredible week of exciting activities, Fort Norman Métis Nation #60 President Rocky Norwegian and Tulita Dene Band Council Chief Frank Andrew signed the Tulita Unity Accord. The crowd at the Arthur Mendo Memorial Complex exploded in happy emotion as Chief Andrew and President Norwegian embraced each other after signing the historic document. Sahtu Dene & Métis leaders, business leaders, NWT Premier, Joe Handly; Minister Brendan Bell; Minister David Krutko; Commissioner Anthony Whitford; and Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya witnessed the signing event.
The Tulita Unity Accord was an incredible event. More information can be viewed at www.tulitaunity.com Congratulations to all and all the best in community unity.
Minister gives green light to spring trout run
The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) congratulates Minister David Ramsay and the Ministry of Natural Resources for agreeing that this spring's fish migrations will occur as they did last year and for decades before that, and that issues surrounding VHS, a disease that affects some fish, will continue to be monitored closely.
"Interim direction to M.N.R. staff late last week muddied the waters, and we appreciate receiving clarification of the Ministry's intentions," said Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director. "Our neighbours in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan are already operating the same as we are here, meaning fish passage as per normal."
The O.F.A.H. also agrees with the M.N.R. that for all of those involved in rainbow hatchery activities, successful fish health activities, such as egg disinfections, will be in place.
"We are also pleased that the bait fish industry will receive some much needed relief under this decision. Specifically, we understand that harvest and use of live bait fish within VHS positive waters will be permitted, which is another informed and common sense decision by the Minister," said Reader.
For more information, including the M.N.R.'s directive and protocol on VHS control measures, visit www.ofah.org.
Seal hunt quota radically reduced
The Canadian government has reduced the number of seals hunters will be able to take in this year's East Coast seal hunt, but an animal welfare group says the number isn't low enough.
The total allowable catch for harp seals will be 270,000, a sharp reduction from last year's quota of 335,000 animals, Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn announced March 29th.
The reduction relates to concern over poor ice conditions in the southern part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, although Fisheries officials insist the hunt will go ahead and the harp seal herd remains healthy and abundant.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare, which has long led an international campaign to end the centuries-old hunt, immediately condemned the new catch limit.
``It is absolutely appalling that the minister is ignoring the evidence from his own scientists showing that the harp seal population simply cannot sustain hunting at this level,'' researcher Sheryl Fink said in a statement.
``This decision has no basis in science or conservation.''
The animal welfare group argues that figures provided by government scientists show that any catch limit set above 165,000 will see the harp seal population continue to decline.
``With harp seals facing a growing threat from global warming and poor ice conditions, continuing the hunt at the unsustainable level announced today is nothing short of irresponsible,'' Fink said.
The group also says thousands of seal pups have already drowned because of the poor ice and they are blaming global warming.
Federal officials have stressed the harp seal population off the East Coast, estimated at somewhere between 5.5 million and 5.8 million animals, is not threatened by the hunt.
The one-year quota of 270,000 includes allocations of 2,000 seals for personal use and 4,860 seals for Aboriginal initiatives.
The largest part of the hunt will take place off Newfoundland and Labrador, where 70 per cent of the quota will be taken.
Thirty per cent of the seals will be taken in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, mostly in the northern regions of the Gulf.
But there was still no word on when the hunt in the Gulf will start.
Hearn said the department will accelerate the next harp seal population survey to make sure the herd is strong. As a result, the survey will take place next year instead of 2009.