Big business and First Nations talks progress

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First Nations' environment, employment and education issues all made it onto the agenda at the city of Fort St. John's annual oil and gas conference this fall, and for the first time the First Nations' points of view were heard on panels dealing with these topics. It was the first time organizers invited First Nations representation and made their participation a priority, which was reflected in the name of the event: the Prosperity through Unity Oil and Gas Conference.

A highlight of the conference was the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards to Elders by the city's mayor, Steve Thorlakson. Recipients were Harrie Dickie, Adolphus Capot-Blanc and George Behn (Fort Nelson); Madelaine Davis, Billy Attachie, Tommy Attachie, Margie Miller and Margaret Dominic (Doig River); Chief Liza Wolf (Prophet River); Sophie Isadore (McLeod Lake Indian Band); Max Desjarlais (West Moberly); and May Apsassin (Blueberry River).

Prosperity awards, chosen from 22 nominees, were handed out to Erik Halliday, Duz Cho Logging, Murphy Oil and Gerry Attachie.

Chief Clarence Louie from the Osoyoos Indian Band gave a keynote address.

To ensure a high level of Native involvement this year, the manager of stakeholder relations for the Oil and Gas Commission, Colleen Sweet, asked Paulette Flamond, a First Nations woman with a background in public relations and marketing, to be the First Nations liaison.

It was an extremely successful event, said Flamond. "We had a high participation of First Nations, and possibly because they did make a position available to me as a First Nations liaison to help with the conference."

But she was quick to point out that it took a joint effort by the city of Fort St. John, the Oil and Gas Commission and First Nations to make it work so well.

She said there was also a major commitment made by the Treaty 8 First Nations of the area to work together, and there was high Native participation rate in all workshops. She also stressed how pleased their Elders were to be included and recognized for their work in the communities.

Seven First Nations in northeastern British Columbia sent the majority of Native delegates -Blueberry River, Doig River, Halfway River, Saulteau, West Moberly, Dene Tsaa Tse K'Nai First Nation (Prophet River) and Fort Nelson.

The event was sold out, with more than 200 attending.

Flamond said that while no concrete solutions to First Nations' outstanding issues came about, "there were some commitments that were made from the oil and gas conference."

Before next year's conference, Flamond says she "would like to see the provincial government make some commitments, because they came to the conference and they didn't make any."

She added that "Industry made commitments and the OGC made commitments," but Minister of Energy Richard Neufield's silence "was a really big disappointment to First Nations people." Especially since all the key players "knew about the commitment strategy that we had designed well before the conference started." Others came prepared to unveil projects, but the province did not.

Flamond said she was happy that First Nations attended, because "I wanted them to be able to have a voice with industry and with government." She also recognized the networking possibilities.

When some of the bands were "leery about participating," Flamond said, she had urged them to consider "that this is a good marketing tool, not only for our leaders, but also for our First Nations contractors." She added, "I know there were some First Nations contractors that did get some work out of that conference."

Chief Garry Oker from Doig River First Nation was also pleased that First Nations chose to attend and have a voice in the development issues that directly concern them and their traditional territories. He said there is generally good will between various facets of industry and the bands, and a genuine desire to work together.

But he's waiting to see some movement from the province to esolve outstanding issues that frustrate both the First Nations and non-Native players.

"If there is going to be real prosperity, with unity, that means the First Nations issues must be addressed," said Oker. "Which is sitting down with the government and talking about revenue sharing, co-management, and cumulative impacts. Those are the big issues we need to address with the industry and the government," the chief said.

"Many of the people that we talked to, including the government, are willing to sit down and start talking about these issues. And industry is definitely supporting us-they do want the government to deal with the set-aside issues, because the industry needs certainty, to access the land."

The First Nations would like to be able to give them that certainty.

"We've got to do business," Oker said.

"We need to have jobs for people, we need to get youth dollars . . . education, employment and training, contracting opportunity and business development."

As for the political issues, he said, "the faster the government sits down with us to really hammer out these outstanding issues, then we'll have certainty, then we'll really be part of resource development."

He said they have submitted a proposal to discuss capacity development with the government. Soon they will know how much good will is on the government side, Oker said.

That was Flamondon's view as well.

"It was a good start, getting (First Nations) involved in the conference, but there's definitely a lot more work that needs to be done."

She pointed out, "This is where the province of British Columbia gets all of their money (northeastern B.C.). I mean billions and billions of dollars are taken out of here constantly" from the resources on traditional land. At the other extreme, Flamondon said, people would be surprised "at the amount of people that we have sleeping on our streets in Fort St. John."

With small reserves and large traditional territories, the bands have been left out of resurce development up to now. Oker estimates there are 2,500 First Nations members in the Treaty 8 region of the province.

Despite the barriers, some have their own companies, have agreements with outside corporations, and have alliances with service companies such as pipeline companies.

"We want to be involved right from the beginning, not at the end," Oker said. "We want to be right at the land tendering stage, we need input right through the whole process," not as now, "when all the planning is done up, then they come to ask us for approval."