Business achievements recognized by NAN awards

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Celebrating business success was on the agenda on Nov. 29 as the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF) handed out its annual Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Business Awards in Thunder Bay.

Among the winners of the 2005 awards were Bruce Brunette, who was named Business Man of the Year, and Laureen Wassaykeesic, named Business Woman of the Year.

Brunette, a member of Fort Albany First Nation, is owner and operator of B & M Auto in Cochrane. When he started the business in 2001 he was the sole employee. Now he employs a second mechanic part-time and operates a two-bay garage, which he is considering expanding to three bays to meet demand for his services. He also provides First Nation people from Moosonee and Moose Factory with outside storage space where they can store their vehicles. Brunette is on the board of directors of the Cochrane Food Bank, donating both time and money to the organization.

Wassaykeesic is no stranger to the NAN business awards, having won the Business Woman of the Year Award previously in 2000 and 2001. A member of Mishkeegogaming Lake First Nation, she has been owner and operator of Laureen's Grocery & Gas on the First Nation since 1998. The business sells groceries, gas and fuel, confectionery items and dry goods, and has recently added a post office to the list. In July 2005, Wassaykeesic became a band councillor. She also contributes to the community by sponsoring youth groups and women's events.

Darcy Kejick received the Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award and his business, Darcy and Susan's Gas, was named Partnership of the Year.

Kejick, a member of North Spirit Lake First Nation, started his business in 2001 with three 200 litre barrels of gas. There already was a well-established business selling fuel in the area at the time so Kejick had to find a way to give customers something they weren't already getting. He did this by having his business open 24 hours a day during the winter road season to better serve travellers. When a fire forced his competition to close in October 2002, Kejick bought his fuel tanks and pumps. His business has continued to grow, the latest expansion coming in March 2005 when he bought two 50,000 litre tanks and additional inventory with help from the NADF.

The Partnership Award recognized the efforts of both Kejick and his wife, Susan Rae, to provide fuel to community members at a reasonable price, and their contributions to the community. In addition to sponsoring youth activities, Kejick also volunteers his time to take youth on hunting and fishing trips in order to educate them about traditional ways.

It was also a big night for the Attawapiskat Development Corporation, with the corporation being named Development Corporation of the Year and its CEO, Thomas Tookate, receiving the award for Executive of the Year.

The development corporation has been working to co-ordinate economic development opportunities, create employment and provide training for community members since 1997. The corporation currently has seven full-time employees and generates revenues of more than $1 million annually. The organization has recently brought improved cable and Internet services to Attawapiskat and is currently working to bring a new mall, a post office and banking services to the community. Through the fundraising efforts of its staff, it supports community organizations such as the Junior Ranger program, the safe house, the high school graduation, Elders feasts and local sporting groups.

Tookate has been CEO of the development corporation for four years, during which time he has turned the organization's financial situation around, brought in new policies, recruited and trained new staff and established a new board.

A member of band council, Tookate holds the land resources portfolio for the First Nation. He headed up the community's negotiations with De Beers Canada regarding the impact benefit agreement for the Victor diamond mine, and is joint venture negtiator for Attawapiskat Resources Inc. He is also founder and chair of James Bay Employment Training Inc., which will work to train Aboriginal people to work on the Victor diamond mine project. Construction on the mine is expected to begin in early 2006.

The Building Communities Award was presented to Bamaji Lake Development Corporation and the newly-established NeeChee Achievement Award, which recognized business achievement in the 1850 Robinson Superior Treaty and Treaty 3 areas and within Metis Nation communities, went to Long Lake #58 General Store.

Since 1993, the Bamaji Lake Economic Development Corporation has been responsible for operating the public works department of Slate Falls First Nation. Those responsibilities include housing renovations, new housing construction, yearly winter road construction and maintenance of sporting facilities. The corporation works to ensure staff have access to the most up-to-date training in first aid, operations and maintenance and develops workshops to provide career-related training to community members. The corporation also donates money to community groups and events, provides food and beverages for community feasts and provides assistance to seniors.

Long Lake #58 General Store, operating since 1994, is one of three businesses owned by the Azaadi-Wag Economic Development Corporation. The business, which sells groceries, gas and fuel and tobacco products, was created as a way to provide employment and training for band members and currently has four full-time and five part-time employees. The employees are currently completing a Retail Sales Associate Certification Program and two employees are being trained on gas pump maintenance. The store gives back to the community by providing funding for children's programs and youth sporting events, and recently provided financial assistance to a family with a child undergoing cancer treatment.