Partnerships lead to larger economic development on Piikani Nation

Showcasing larger business ventures at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce in October presented a golden opportunity for the Piikani Nation, said Kirby Smith, resource development manager.

“Not having adequate exposure points for the local community is a bit of a barrier,” said Smith. “More could be said about people’s experiences, that is, the human capacity for small business, trades, services, crafts and tourism.”

It’s important, said Kirby, that small business opportunities be developed for Piikani Nation members.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Rockies in the grassy windswept ranch lands of the rolling Porcupine Hills, the Piikani Nation covers an area of 45,777 hectares, including the timber reserve 12 km to the west. The community‘s centre, the hamlet of Brocket, has an infrastructure comparable to local municipalities, providing employment, social and health services, public works, recreation, education, retail and public administration to its 3,483 members.

Business endeavours undertaken by Piikani Resource Development Ltd., a corporation that focuses on developing, designing and implementing programs, projects and services are  guided by the Nation’s mission statement: to recognize, interpret and incorporate Blackfoot protocol, based on the belief in a reciprocal relationship with the earth, combined with best business practices of today.

“Respect for the spiritual energy of the earth that gives us life and replenishes it is the guiding principal to promote a harmonious relationship,” Smith said.

In 1960, the Nation began providing electrical services to its rural members, ranchers and businesses through its own company, Peigan Indian Rural Electrification Association Ltd., the first of three First Nation REAs. For bigger projects, such as developing wind, electricity and oil and gas, PRD has developed significant partnerships with AltaLink, ATCO, Sequoia Energy and EOG Resources. Nearing completion of a 240 kV line with AltaLink, PRD is working on an option agreement to purchase up to 51 per cent of the value of the line and substation.

In 2008, Piikani Utilities Corporation received a Canadian Environmental Award for Weather Dancer, a wind turbine run in partnership with EPCOR that generates 2,960 megawatt hours of carbon-dioxide-free power annually. More recently, the Nation has entered into a large scale business partnership with Sequoia Energy to develop a 210 megawatt wind farm project. PRD has also begun oil and gas exploration with EOG Resources in 2009, using business opportunities such as these to train and employ its own members.

Within driving distance of two UNESCO World Heritage sites, Waterton Lakes International Peace Park and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, the area hosts thousands of international visitors each year, presenting an opportunity for the Piikani to enhance tourism enterprises.

 PRD provides entrepreneurial training and small business grants which have grown from six recipients receiving $10,500 in 2007 to 21 recipients receiving $38,700 in 2010.

“The Piikani Nation is striving to acquire additional business partnerships in order to have more opportunities to develop our Human Resources,” Smith said. “These include building smaller enterprises, small business opportunities, marketing, and referrals to other Aboriginal capital corporations for loan and grant funding to facilitate needs.”