Forum aims to improve Métis business in the province
- EFN Staff | November 16, 2016
Supreme Court decisions, business financing and using economic development to end homelessness were topics on the table for the 2016 Métis Economic Development Forum. Created by the Saskatoon Aboriginal Employment Partnership (SAEP), the forum brought together business leaders from around Saskatchewan to share best practices and network on the common cause of improving Métis business in Saskatchewan.
The event began with a prayer from Métis Senator Nora Cummings. She also shared how her family had a community right on the land where the forum was hosted, the Saskatoon Western Development Museum.
“Our family has been involved in the economy of Saskatoon since it started,” said the Senator. “Our people have always been hard working and we helped build this city. I remember hauling wood with a horse drawn cart over bridges in Saskatoon. We have to tell our children these stories so they know our role.”
Métis legal eagle Jason Madden was the key note speaker. Managing partner in the prestigious law firm Pape Sallier Teillet LLP, Madden spoke of the importance of the Powley, Manitoba Métis Land claim and Daniels Decisions for the Métis people.
“Powley established that the Métis have Aboriginal rights that are equally protected in the Constitution. The Manitoba case showed the Crown has a Constitutional morality for promises made long ago and can’t just dust history under the rug,” said Madden who has appeared before the Supreme Court for all Métis rights cases in the past decade. “And the Daniels Decision has now shown us whose door we go to for the funding relationship.”
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All of these decisions have helped define the place of the Métis in Canada. Further cases like Duty to Consult have also helped thrust more Métis communities into the economy.
“The Métis were the brokers and played a fundamental part of building western Canada,” said Madden. “Métis were the brokers and played a fundamental part in building western Canada. The government now can’t have convenient amnesia. They have a duty to negotiate with the Métis.”
SAEP is comprised of 20 members representing a diverse cross section of stakeholders including employers, education & training institutions, program & service providers, and Aboriginal representative organizations. It is co chaired by Gilles Dorval, Director Aboriginal Relations for the City of Saskatoon, and Gabe Lafond, Director Representative Workforce/First Nation Métis Health Service with the Saskatoon Health Region. “We were really glad to get all of these leaders together in one room,” said Dorval of the Forum. “Métis business often gets overshadowed by First Nation business ventures so it was important to have this one specifically for the Métis.”
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Panels discussed financing and procurement for Métis business.
“Métis are doing business in the province in a big way,” said CCDF CEO Roland Duplessis. “But I also want to point out we have identified that we need $67 million to meet the needs of Métis communities in Saskatchewan. We need that capital and I encourage you to lobby the government for it.”
Panelists also included Greg Fofonoff of SMEDCO, Jeff Lindgren of Kikinaw Development Corp, Terry Bird of K+S Potash Canada, Bruce Richet of CIMA and Blaine Dubriel of Allan Construction.
The success stories of Pinehouse Business North and CUMFI Local #165 were also explored. Walter Smith shared the Pinehouse story.
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“Our community has changed because of leadership,” said Smith. “From PBN’s first venture where we borrowed a purple truck and someone used their Visa card to buy paint, our community now has 34 apprentices from level one to four and a multi-million dollar business. And we have a really high graduation rate. We need those grads as we are building a workforce.”
CUMFI President Shirley Isbister closed the Forum with the story of her Local using economic development to benefit the neediest in the community.
“We are committed to improving the quality of life for Métis people,” said Isbister as she talked about the 160 staff and the multiple apartment buildings and houses under control of CUMFI. “Too many of our people face poverty and family violence. In our buildings we surround families with a caring environment. Better yet, by using economic development to help our community, we have helped take over 800 children out of the social services system.”