Kevin Eshkawkogan [windspeaker confidential]

Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Kevin Eshkawkogan: Truthfulness. If someone really cares about you, they’ll tell you the truth about a situation; sometimes even if you didn’t ask for it.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?
K.E.: Our First Nations’ dependency on the Canadian government and the excuses by our own people as to why this is an OK situation. We need to stop making excuses and just do things for ourselves and quit relying on all levels of government. I’m not saying let governments off the hook, but we need to continue to shift our focus to economic development as our solution for our dependency.

W: When are you at your happiest?
K.E.: When I’m watching my children developing. There’s nothing cooler than seeing your four-year-old scoring his first goal and learning to skate backwards or seeing your daughter win an award for her dedication to dance or catching the largest fish on a camping trip. Being around family definitely makes me the happiest.

W: What one word best describes you when you are at your worst?
K.E.: Grouchy. When I’m hungry and tired, I’m at my worst and I turn into ‘Oscar’.

W: What one person do you most admire and why?
K.E.: There are several, but to choose one, I have to choose my wife Melissa. She supports me and keeps me in check all at the same time.

W: What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever had to do?
K.E.: Come to terms with the fact that I was sexually abused. Just writing this brings me to tears and is still very painful. I’ve come to terms with the people who did what they did (because they) simply weren’t well and have their own issues. When fasting and in ceremony this was and still is a very sensitive issue.

W: What is your greatest accomplishment?
K.E.: So far… there’s several professional accomplishments I’m proud of, such as the work I’ve done with the Great Spirit Circle Trail, MChigeeng chief and council, and building the new Manitoulin Hotel & Conference Centre, a project owned by six First Nations. Coordinating the needs and wants of them is a difficult challenge not taken on by many. Not to mention my own two small businesses… but I think my greatest accomplishment, so far, is providing my wife and children with a safe, caring home and environment that is allowing them to succeed in life.

W: What one goal remains out of reach?
K.E.: I set a goal for myself as elected councilor in MChigeeng to have MChigeeng become self-sustainable as a nation by the year 2020. The ‘2020 Vision – Putting MChigeeng’s Economic Future into Focus’ concept I proposed to the other leadership is starting to take root with our Comprehensive Community Planning process beginning. This goal is in its infancy and will take time to develop.

My other main goal is to have a clear employment opportunity for all First Nation’s people on Manitoulin Island. Being from Manitoulin and my father being from Wikwemikong, my mother from Aundeck Omni Kaning, and my stepfather from MChigeeng, and family right across the Island, my home is Manitoulin.

With that being said, my family had to move from our home 25 years ago to take up employment in the logging town of Chapleau because they were tired of the lack of employment opportunities on Manitoulin and within the First Nations. Now being back home and creating close to 70 jobs through my work at the Great Spirit Circle Trail, I want to do more and provide our people at the least the opportunity for a decent job that will allow them to come back to the Island after getting their educations if they choose to. With five First Nations on Manitoulin, there are still unemployment rates higher than the national average. I’d like to create another 200 to 300 jobs here and reduce the unemployment rates to a rate lower than that of national average.

W: If you couldn’t do what you’re doing today, what would you be doing?
K.E.: I love sports and would love to be working in the professional sports industry in some way, preferably in the NHL. I didn’t have the hockey skills to even come close to playing anywhere very competitive, but I’d love to work in some capacity with hockey… maybe with a great program like ‘Right to Play’.

W: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
K.E.: I’ve received a lot of good advice over the years and depending on the situation the best advice is usually the advice you receive when it’s needed. One that is universal that I often pass on and refer to in my daily life is “Put yourself in the other person’s moccasins’. This one is so applicable in so many ways. It has helped me relate to others in a way that really does help me maneuver through a lot of scenarios.

W: Did you take it?
K.E.: I take a lot of advice and look at it from all angles.

W: How do you hope to be remembered?
As someone who made a difference, was kind, had integrity, and was genuine.

Kevin Eshkawkogan (Anishnabek) is from Manitoulin Island, Ont. When he was young his family was forced to leave Manitoulin Island to find work, as did many other First Nations people on the Island. That move away created a drive in Eshkawkogan to return to the Island to live and work.

In order to have gainful employment, he knew he needed to create a healthy economic environment.

Originally Eshkawkogan was heading for law school. He says of his decision not to: “ I’ve always been surrounded by good working and entrepreneurial family members and being involved in and understanding business and the ‘politics’ surrounding First Nations was always an interest of mine.” So it was off to university to study Economic Development and Business Accounting.

Eshkawkogan is presently the Chief Executive Officer of the Great Spirit Circle Trail Inc. and Great Spirit Circle Trail Touring Company.  He has been a key player in developing the European markets on their behalf. Since 2003, he has taken part in several trade missions, trade shows, and dance performances in various international venues.

Eshkawkogan also operates KSK Business Solutions which opened Spirit Island Adventures in 2012, with his partner Melissa. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and a grass dancer on the powwow circuit who enjoys participating in traditional powwows throughout Manitoulin Island. He believes strongly that economic and business developments are the solution to the many issues that face Aboriginal people today.

In his four years of work with Waubetek Aboriginal Business Development Corporation, he helped assist with the investment of over $3 million in more than 100 Aboriginal businesses to help with expansion or to become operational. It is said that he was “instrumental in assisting with several major community development projects.”

When asked what he plans for the near future and his long-term goals, Eshkawkogan tells us, “Professionally, my plans for the near future include establishing Aboriginal Tourism Ontario, ensuring the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre is operating well as a start-up, growing the Great Spirit Circle Trail a bit more and establishing another revenue generating business or two under the Great Spirit Circle Trail corporate entity. Communally, I plan on letting my name stand for council again in M’Chigeeng to continue my work and vision there for another term. Generally, I plan on living a balanced family and professional life.”