Natives operate Janvier business

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JANVIER - The Chipewyan Prairie Inn is a wholly-owned Native business, located just outside of the Janvier Reserve, and is a real success story for entrepreneur Ann Marie Doucette.

The $400,000 motel-restaurant-laundromat combination was constructed over

a period of six months and was partially financed through Native Venture Capital.

The motel offers five rooms and during the winter months it is often full, with oil field crews or contractors who are in (town) and working in and around the community.

This much-needed facility is the only restaurant or motel in Chard, Janvier or Conklin. It also features public showers and a community pay phone.

"The laundromat is especially good for the local people, because most of the women come in to do their washing here," says Ann Marie. The ambitious Ms. Doucette also employs local residents, who have proven to be a real help, especially during the busy winter months. Although known locally as a good fishing and hunting area, during the summer months the business is slow.

In the morning men come in and chat over coffee and in the afternoon the women come by to take advantage of one of the 10 washers and 10 dryers.

The two-storey wooden structure was constructed entirely from native lumber and also houses Ann Marie's small family in a suite over the restaurant.