Cold Lake company donates to new U of A, CFAR extension program

September 30, 2015. Primco Dene has donated $18,000 to the Aboriginal Community-Industry Relations certificate, a joint program by the University of Alberta’s faculty of extension and the Circle for Aboriginal Relations, launched earlier this month. “What I like best about the ACIR program is that it uses traditional knowledge and teachings throughout its curriculum,” said Tammy Charland-McLaunghlin, Primco’s vice-president of operations. “This is very unique — you don’t see that anywhere else — and not only is it empowering for Indigenous peoples, it also gives to non-Indigenous peoples an opportunity to really learn and have a better understanding about who we are.” Funding from Primco will be used to bring Aboriginal students to the program. Primco Dene, a wholly owned company of Cold Lake First Nations, is comprised of 10 different companies. It is considered a model for First Nations business, employing a large number of people from 50 different Aboriginal communities across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and B.C. The ACIR program has also received significant donations from the Edmonton Community Foundation and Single Source Project Management.