What's a dream if it isn't big?

Page 10

The wind rustles the aspen leaves, creating a sound much like water gently tumbling over rocks in a stream.

All around, the aspens speak their watery talk here at the Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band reserve, located a 45-minute drive north of Kamloops along Westsyde Road. On one side, the land comes to a sudden stop at the banks of the North Thompson River. On the other, large wooded hills dwarf everything below them. If ever there's a serene postcard paradise, this is it.

The band, led by Chief Richard LeBourdais, has a vision that will ultimately bring thousands of visitors to this tranquil property and will also help move the band closer to self-sufficiency through the creation of jobs and improved self-esteem.

What does Chief LeBourdais see? He sees a multi-use recreation centre with everything from rodeo events and motor sports to ball tournaments, a nine-hole golf course, walking trails, canoe tours and, eventually, a hotel and maybe a casino. Members would be employed in all areas from maintenance to administration.

It's a big dream for a band that has a little more than 100 members registered as of this July. Of that, about 50 members live on the Whispering Pines reserve. Chief LeBourdais does not deny it will take years to reach the hotel stage, but he's confident that day will come. Why? Because already some of the dream has been realized.

Rodeo events have been staged during the past 10 years and motocross races, thanks to a recent partnership with Greater Kamloops Motorcycle Association (GKMA), have been held. The partnership gave GMKA a location to build a permanent track, one that is gaining recognition as one of the better sites in British Columbia. There is speculation a national motocross race or, even a final, may come to the track.

To commemorate what has been a busy summer of rodeo and motocross events, Whispering Pines has tentatively scheduled a grand opening for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 that will feature activities and political figures.

"We hope to make that time one that people will remember and it's an opportunity for people to see what we're doing," said Chief LeBourdais.

In a day when unemployment on reserves is high and the population of those under the age of 24 is as much as 75 per cent, it has fallen to band councils to come up with creative measures to get money into the hands of their members. Developments such as the Whispering Pines vision, are ways to move away from government dependence. Going after private investment, Chief LeBourdais said, is something the band is considering.

Kamloops Indian Band and a fellow Secwepemc Nation member, has leased land at its Mount Paul Industrial Park for 30 years and has enjoyed a steady stream of income from that. A few years ago the band entered into a partnership that would allow a resort-style development to be built. Sun Rivers will have nearly 2,000 homes, an 18-hole championship golf course, a hotel, and a light retail district. In the Savona area, a 30-minute drive from Kamloops, Skeetchestn Indian Band partnered with Chai-Na-Ta, the world's largest supplier of North American ginseng, to lease land for production of the medicinal root.

Across the province more and more bands are forging these kinds of relationships.

Councillor Edward LeBourdais has been put in charge of overseeing the recreation centre and like his chief, he envisions a place where thousands will visit and return more than once.

"It's our long-term goal right now to have one of the best and be the best recreation place in B.C. or Canada," said Councillor LeBourdais.

"When we look at our rodeo centre, we're looking at it more than just a rodeo centre; we're looking at stables and as a centre for people who don't have a place for their horses. . . Well, we have a rodeo centre with a track-a racetrack-which needs to be utilized. This is going to create employment not only for our band members, but also for off-reserve. It's not only going to help us in the long rn, but also will help non-Native people."

A retired bull rider, the young councillor is a good fit to oversee the centre. Having attended hundreds of rodeos as either a competitor or as a spectator, he knows how much planning goes into putting on a quality show.

Standing in the motocross announcer's booth about 15 feet off the ground, Councillor LeBourdais surveys the property and points to where various events will go. Over there will be a ball diamond, there an ice skating surface, along here a nine-hole golf course and there, eventually, a hotel.

He is asked: " Can you see it?" He firmly answers, "Yes."

Of course, he admits, it's a big dream, but what's a dream if you can't dream big? He promises he is going to do his darndest to make it happen. In the meantime, the band continues to pursue partnerships, such as the one with GKMA. Talks are ongoing with a stock car group and if an agreement can be struck, car racing, mud bogging and demolition derbies could join rodeo and motocross in becoming regular events at Whispering Pines.

"It takes time, but we're slowly turning this place into a viable and all-rounded place to come and visit," said Councillor LeBourdais. "That's what we're shooting for."

September 2 and 3 should be a busy two days for Whispering Pines with a bull rider chute out, motocross and a motocross super jump all on the event card. There may also be a ball tournament, said Councillor LeBourdais. The chute out will be limited to 30 riders, while the moto events may attract up to 300 riders. As many as 3,000 spectators are expected.