Businesspeople of the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation are complaining that band politics is getting in the way of their affairs. The complaint came at a conference on economic issues in the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation.
“This was one of the loudest messages heard at the conference,” said Brian Davey, NAN Deputy Grand Chief. “And they said that politics have to take a back seat to the people who wish to establish their own businesses privately.”
Business people came all over the NAN territory to the conference held in Thunder Bay Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. They met privately a day before the conference to discuss their issues before the Chiefs arrived. At the conference, they told Chiefs that very often the First Nations or their economic development departments set up businesses that are in direct competition with the privately-owned companies on reserves.
The Chiefs responded that it wasn’t their intention to interfere with private businesses, that there are certain things that they have to do to meet community needs.
“An example would be if there’s several homes that need renovations. For the people who don’t have the disposable income to renovate their homes, the Chief and Council are going to find a way to get the cheapest lumber possible,” the Deputy Grand Chief told The Nation.
“And sometimes they find themselves in direct competition with local private suppliers. It happens on occasion but it’s usually because of the demand from the people for cheaper materials or products or cheaper services. And they have to respond because most of our communities in the north are about 80 to 90-per-cent unemployed,” Deputy Grand Chief Davey said.
He said the Chiefs recognize that at certain times there is political interference and they think businesses should be more supportive of political decisions.
Among the other issues that were discussed at the conference was the need for a forum for businesses to start networking and working together. A resolution was passed calling for such a forum. It would be like an association or Chamber of Commerce-type system for businesses in the NAN region, where information could be shared and the possibility of joint ventures could be discussed.
Also discussed was the establishment of a database of all NAN businesses and possible investors to help with economic support for businesses and First Nations.
The other main topic of discussion was “comprehensive regional economic planning,” an idea to gather all individual community economic strategies, along with Tribal Councils and NAN’s own strategies. This would show where duplication is happening and help people find areas of opportunities where there’s economic trade between communities within the NAN region. The project will establish a system where everyone comes together in helping each other out in providing services. The information would be made available in all Band offices and Tribal Councils and constantly updated.
These projects will be undertaken by NAN and established by mid-1995, Deputy Grand Chief Davey said.
