Company with a conscience aids Aboriginal youth

Page 10

Many First Nations youth are discovering that hard work can build both their bank accounts and self-esteem.

An innovative forestry company, based in Wikwemikong, is giving urban and reserve youth a chance to learn employment skills and life skills simultaneously.

Eshkawkogan Timber Company, operated by Gary and Tina Eshkawkogan, was established in 1994 to carry out independent harvesting operations within the North Shore, Spanish, Sudbury and White River forest management areas. Since that time, dozens of young workers from Manitoulin Island to Moosonee have benefitted from jobs in tree planting and other forestry contracts.

Gary "Josh" Eshkawkogan, a 20-year veteran of timbering, provides hands-on training for loggers. He instructs novices on the safe operation of skidders, cutters and chainsaws. In addition, he offers instruction in thinning and silviculture.

The family enterprise has completed pre-commercial thinning projects for Domtar Inc., as well as spring tree-planting for Vermillion Forest Management Inc. Contracts for the upcoming spring and summer seasons are currently under negotiation. "Last year we employed 117 people in various projects," said Tina Eshkawkogan.

But Eshkawkogan Timber is not a traditional forestry operation. With a trained social worker on staff, they say they are more interested in human development than the bottom line. Employment in the great outdoors is advocated as an alternative to incarceration.

Having served as a band representative, an addictions counsellor, a Children's Aid Society board member and a family support worker, Tina Eshkawkogan has observed the challenges facing First Nations youth.

"As a social worker I saw that I couldn't always make a difference. There were gaps in service in the community."

But she learned through experience that her husband's timber company could be a valuable "tool to reach more people and help them break dependency on the welfare system."

She learned the ropes personally by tree planting for a season with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and by working as a bush cook. She describes herself as a "jack of all trades" since she is in charge of hiring and payroll.

"Our company is geared to Native youth," she said. "This is my way of giving back to the community. We get them into the bush where they work under our supervision. They learn fire-fighting skills and health and safety skills."

"We try to make everyone succeed at something," she said. "Everyone needs a chance to succeed. We may turn them into cooks or field personnel. If a person doesn't succeed in one area, they are given a chance to succeed in another area."

Even if workers are not up to the physically demanding tasks, the company gives them a second chance. "We take them back year after year," Eshkawkogan said. "We hope that they grow during the time off and we hope that they can prove themselves. We never give up on anyone."

The company doesn't just supply food and shelter for bush crews. The company strategy incorporates a surrogate mother in Tina Eshkawkogan. She opens her home to youth in crisis and writes letters of support for those under her supervision. She assists them with child custody matters and will often pay child support payments and fines on their behalf.

Eshkawkogan takes on the role of "mother, nurse, nag and lecturer" for the streetwise or wayward youth. Since some employees may be on probation, she also provides an unofficial liaison with the justice system. Her informal mediation can sometimes spell the difference between a lengthy jail sentence and the chance to get back on track.

The holistic approach to hiring and training is what sets this company apart from others in the industry.

"The court system is not working," in Eshkawkogan's view. "Just serving jail time doesn't work. Here they find working in the bush is very therapeutic," she said. "They work hard and earn their own money and gain self-respect in the process.They experence the pride that comes from succeeding"

"Many of our youth don't fit in the educational system," she said. "It could be literacy problems or just that an office job is not suitable for some people. But here they can earn a good living; they can have a trade and provide for themselves and their families."

Tina and Gary Eshkawkogan understand that the cost of suitable equipment can be a barrier for some youth.

With brush saws costing $1100 each, hard hats $69 each and sleeping bags $118 each, it is expensive to get started. The company uses its credit to help prospective employees acquire necessary supplies.

Although the work can be demanding, she has seen individuals return season after season. On tree planting projects, crews work six days on site with one day off. During brush cutting contracts in remote areas workers have to be prepared to work 10 days and have four days off.

"There are a lot of hardships," she acknowledged. "There are long hours in the bush dealing with the elements like heat and mosquitoes. They have to plant in the pouring rain, sometimes with blisters bothering them. Basically we work until the weather stops us. But in the end they are anxious to come back, even though it is hard."

The camaraderie created on the job is another attraction, Eshkawkogan emphasized. "We work together and we help each other out. A friendship develops within the family unit. I have seen a lot of giving and sharing, and when the work is over they miss each other."

Since the family atmosphere is important, anyone who is self-centred or "not a team player" may be asked to leave. Of course, there's always next season, she suggested.

"The reality is that there is no work on reserves. We are able to provide work with two reputable companies and to create employment for our people. We appreciate the good working relationship we have with these companies. Without them, 117 people wouldn't have had a job last year.

"Through these contracts, students learned howto apply themselves and to succeed, maybe for the first time in their lives," Eshkawkogan concluded.