Arrangement sees CEOs work with First Nations

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"Let's be very honest. This relationship is different because it says despite our cultural differences we are working together for our collective future," said Robert Merasty, executive director of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Corporate Circle.

In April of 1999 the Corporate Circle was officially launched to form a new partnership with Saskatchewan First Nations and 34 of the province's most powerful companies.

"In 1995 the FSIN Economic Development Commission received reports that said we have to try to do something serious about getting our First Nations people more involved with the economy," he said. "To play a more active role in Saskatchewan's economy, otherwise Saskatchewan is going to take a turn for the worse, needless to say, because our people's population is growing at five times the rate of non First Nations. So without us having an active role in the future economy of Saskatchewan, then Saskatchewan will not be economically viable. The demographic reports have basically initiated the Corporate Circle."

In taking those statistics seriously, the FSIN invited 100 of Saskatchewan's top companies to come and sit down with the First Nations to discuss business and employment strategies.

"We received responses from 34 of the 100 who said, 'Yes we will be founding members of the Corporate Circle," said Merasty.

To date, the Corporate Circle has had three gatherings. The first meeting in Saskatoon launched the circle and addressed objectives, mandates and informal business relations. The second gathering in Prince Albert analyzed success models of various First Nation and corporate companies. Achieved success of those companies in terms of employment and business were studied. The recent meeting in March was presented within two forums, a business dialogue forum and an information forum.

"In the business forum we did a preliminary document of all our corporate members and all our First Nation businesses and we tried to get some sense of who wanted to meet with who in the sense of common business interests," said Merasty. "At the gathering we put them in a room where they talked about possibly getting into a joint venture or a partnership of some sort."

The information and dialogue forum was an educational process in teaching and learning about cultural differences. The CEOs and presidents of companies were educated about the First Nation treaties and the Treaty Land Entitlement processes in Canada.

"I think, in the interests of progressing with the Corporate Circle mandate, we have to educate each other about our very different issues. I think we took the attitude that it is a great opportunity to be able to talk to the presidents and CEOs about the treaties and Treaty Land Entitlement processes and pointing out the tax considerations that our First Nation businesses are involved in," said Merasty. "It's a unique opportunity to share our perspective and to teach them. By the same token, we presented topics on how to do business with big companies for First Nations, so there is no intimidation there. It's a reciprocal learning process for everybody involved."

In the spirit of bridging cultural differences the First Nations introduced traditional protocol to the companies which was well received.

"I'm very encouraged by the responses of the CEOs because we had a pipe ceremony in the morning and an honor song, with all our cultural protocol," said Merasty. "They were very accepting of our culture, and they were passing the pipe around in the circle and it was their very first opportunity to witness First Nation culture. Some of them come from small towns where they did have a lot of dealings with First Nations but nothing really where they had actually sat in or participated in a round dance or other traditions."

A one page evaluation of the gathering was passed around at the conclusion of the gathering to receive a response and assess future goals for the circle.

"We are alway trying to go back to our corporates and get a sense of what these gatherings are doing and to get a sense of what they are thinking and what we should be doing," said Merasty. "The responses we got were incredible, they were saying that the dialogue and information forum were of such a high and professional level that it was just exciting and that we should maintain that kind of dialogue. Even in the interest of trying to stimulate economic activity in a business form we had people with common business interests meeting through out the day."

The only concern and the main focus of the circle over the next few months will be to educate the public and First Nations about opportunities that are available through the Corporate Circle, explained Merasty.

"One of the concerns of the CEOs was that we don't have enough of the First Nations actively involved, we should have more chiefs and economic development officers present," said Merasty. "We are focusing on getting that participation there, and I think the CEOs' response is overwhelming. With 43 corporate members and when you have 43 CEOs sitting in a room that is a lot of economic clout. So I think that we really want to get to our tribal councils and say, 'Look, these guys are here to try to work with us.' They are very sincere, I mean these are CEOs of companies who have taken time out of their day to be with us for the whole day and they want to achieve something."

The circle is currently working on the First Nations Employment Network throughout the province. In the First Nations urban employment centres the present labor supply and demand are brought together.

"I think that it is an excellent initial step if we can have our corporate members provide all their employment and training opportunities through the employment network," said Merasty.

Merasty feels it is a win/win situation in that the First Nations acquire access to education and employment, as the corporations gain a knowledge of the customer base o form joint ventures in creating new opportunities in Saskatchewan.

"I think the big difference is the concept behind this thing. We have been presented with the realities that we have got to do something about our futures and that if we continue to be divided it spells long term economic disaster,"he said. "If we work together we are going to have a healthy future for all of Saskatchewan and I think that it delivers a message to the rest of the country that maybe you guys should be looking at this type of relationship also."