Business awards honour success and effort

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Nishnawbe Aski Nation Business Awards recognizing business achievement were handed out to entrepreneurs, executives, businesses and organizations for the thirteenth year at a dinner held for 400 in Thunder Bay Nov. 26.

Awards were given to theYouth Entrepreneur of the Year; Business Man of the Year; Business Woman of the Year; Executive of the Year; Partnership of the Year; Development Corporation of the Year; and the Building Communities Award 2003 was handed out.

Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund Chairman Archie Meekis said, "the Board of Directors of Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund sees the presentation of the awards as a means to recognize the outstanding effort of individuals, businesses and organizations who have worked diligently to bring positive change to the people and communities within Nishnawbe Aski Nation."

The awards dinner, which began in 1991 with just two categories for business man and business woman of the year, has grown to be a networking opportunity and a bridge to non-Native business people and organizations.

Since 1993, the annual event has also served to raise funds for the Dennis Franklin Cromarty Memorial Fund that was established to provide education bursaries for Aboriginal students. Cromarty was known for his efforts to create harmony among peoples, to develop conditions that would see Aboriginal people have equal opportunities to succeed, and to enhance the recognition and advancement of treaty and Aboriginal rights. He was a tireless promoter of self-government.

The Youth Entrepreneur of the Year award went to Michael Audet, a 31-year-old from Constance Lake First Nation. He owns Geronimo Transports, which he established in 2000 with just one transport vehicle.

Gaudet, a graduate of a college civil engineering technician course and an A-Z tractor trailor operation course, now owns two vehicles, employs two drivers and generates more than $300,000 in annual revenue. He gives back to the community by supporting minor hockey and other children's recreational activities. When he has time, this busy man participates in hunting and fishing.

Business Man of the Year is Leo Moonias, proprietor of Leo's Confectionary in Neskantaga First Nation. Moonias started learning the business by working in another confectionary for six years, beginning in 1992. In 1998, he started up his own business in the basement of his home. As he expanded, he first got the use of a band-owned building, then in the spring of 2001 he opened in a new location. Moonias, who works as maintenance foreman at the band's health unit, works in his own business during evenings and weekends and relies on this daughter and granddaughter to keep things running weekdays.

In his off-work hours, Moonias is engaged in traditional activities, and he volunteers in a number of band initiatives such as the allocation and housing committees. He is also a member of the Canadian Rangers and he has previously served two terms as a band councillor.

Janie Ann Wesley, owner of April's Coffee Shop in Attawapiskat First Nation, originally started baking when on maternity leave with her third child in 1993. She created her first wedding cake, a challenge for any baker, in 1994.

After her fourth child, April, was born in 1997, Wesley decided to stay at home and bring in a second income by decorating cakes. With the help of her husband Brian, Wesley added a second kitchen to handle the commercial work. She also obtained the expertise of the Nisnawbe Aski Development Fund's staff in Timmins to put together a business plan for both the cake decorating business and a coffee shop.

Already Wesley's business has expanded to include catering services for banquets and meetings and her sales exceeded $60,000 last year in the remote community. This year, she said, she expects to increase sales slightly.

She has put some of that entrepreneurial spirit to the service of her community by hosting breakfasts for two weeks to raise more than $3,500 to end Grade 8 youth on a trip. For two weeks, Wesley devoted her time, equipment and building to the cause.

"Going to Thunder Bay still feels like I went through a dream," said Wesley. "It's not a reality for me yet. I'm overwhelmed and I'm still just trying to get over the idea that I went there."

Wesley is glad she started her own business, because when she worked for others, "babysitting was always a problem."

Banquets usually only occur at June graduations and at Christmas. In such peak times Wesley hires eight or nine wait staff and two cooks to help.

Wesley said her community had broadcast her success on the radio, and when she returned from the awards ceremony "I had several calls from the other community members, my customers, congratulating me, which was really nice."

Executive of the Year award winner Jerry Mamakwa, is general manager of Omahamo Store in the 400-strong Kingfisher Lake First Nation, which was established in 1980. Mamakwa's business emphasizes teamwork and cross-training the five staff among the various duties. In the last fiscal year, his business garnered more than $1.8 million in sales and more than $200,000 in profit. Mamakwa is married with five children and he is an active volunteer with fundraising and sports team events. In addition, for five years he has been the volunteer radio station manager in the community.

The Partnership of the Year award goes to Two River Knife Camps Inc. and it recognizes the successful collaboration of the Fiddler and Beardy families of Muskrat Dam First Nation. Stan Beardy is president and Alvin Fiddler is vice-president of the remote fly-in fishing tourist enterprise. The camp not only generates revenues in excess of $50,000 between May and July, but it allows the two families to stay on their traditional lands.

In the off-season, in August and September, the community uses the camp's buildings and facilities to provide cultural training experiences for their youth.

Development Corporation of th Year goes this to Fort Albany Power Corporation, which has established a reputation for fairness and equality in its treatment of those who purchase its services. Begun in 2001 with an operating loan of $40,000 and debt acquired from the previous utility corporation, it generated $1.6 million and assets of about $700,000 in its first full year of operation. The organization is run by a board of directors who have emphasized proper operational and budgetary procedures, as well as staff development and training programs. The corporation is solidly supported by the community, which it in turn supports by providing scholarships and supporting youth activities.

The Building Communities award for 2003 goes to Lynx North Engineering Inc, a consulting engineering firm owned by the Matawa First Nations Council. This council is made up of Aroland, Constance Lake, Eabametoong, Ginoogaming, Long Lake #58, Marten Falls, Neskantaga, Nibinamik and Webequie First Nations. They employ 10 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people whose mandate is to provide as many employment opportunities as possible in the communities where they do business.

Another part of the firm's mandate is to improve quality of life in their communities by working to enhance all areas of infrastructure that support public health and safety. In addition, Lynx North sponsors numerous sports and cultural activities for local people and it supports initiatives that reach out into the world beyond, such as Child Find and substance abuse prevention programs.

The company's clients include the city of Thunder Bay; the townships of Red Lake and Ignace, Ojibways of Onigaming; Pays Plat First Nation; the Red Rock Indian Band and other private clients.