Northern leaders and Cameco share success in Ottawa
- EFN Staff | May 30, 2015
Aboriginal people in Canada were once considered a hindrance to development. Communities were ignored and people didn’t get jobs while all around them resource companies and non-Aboriginal businesses became very rich off of their traditional lands. In recent years, though, industry has shifted their perspective on First Nation and Métis communities to being seen as an integral part of their business strategy.
This has led to a new era of partnerships that are being defined through collaboration, impact or benefit agreements. Several of these agreements have been signed between Cameco and northern communities and they are beginning to transform the north. Since 2004, more than $3 billion dollars of business for northerners has been created through these agreements, and there has also been millions invested in community development and education and training. Unemployment rates have improved and communities are finding hope.
In early May, Cameco arranged for several northern political and business leaders to go to Ottawa to meet federal ministers and bureaucrats where they could share their success stories and also strategically ask for investments in education and training and infrastructure.
Chief Marie Black from the English River First Nation was there representing her community of 1500 people and their business arm Des Nedhe Development. She found the meetings with the Ministers invaluable.
"I gained knowledge on how the government administers their programs. And we got to tell them we are northerners. We are from here and here are the successes we have had," said Chief Black. "They don’t know who we are. Society always marginalized Aboriginal people. We are lazy and whatever they think of us. By coming here and sharing our stories with a variety of ministers they were telling us to come back every year and tell us what we are doing. It opened their eyes. Some don’t even know where northern Saskatchewan is."
Chief Black had lots to share with the Ottawa crew. English River signed a new collaboration agreement with Cameco in 2012 and their economic development arm, Des Nedhe Development owns Tron Power, Minettec and Mudjatik Thyssen Mining as well as real estate, three gas bars and a general store and generates over a hundred million dollars in revenue and hundreds of jobs.
"The partnership with industry has given us a lot of hope. Things that we couldn’t do at a community level because of federal funding. Our goal is creating wealth for generations to come," added Chief Black.
She says that the partnership agreement with Cameco has allowed them to grow their business and get people jobs and training that just weren’t available before.
"I see a change in our youth. It gives them hope for the future and after four years they can be journeymen and get their red seal and work anywhere. We have pipefitters, welders and now some are becoming millwrights. They can work anywhere in Canada, but with Tron Power, at least they can fall back."
Cameco knows that they benefit greatly from the partnerships they have forged over the years. Engaging the Aboriginal community has opened new doors to a stable and available labour pool, local suppliers, improved environmental stewardship and it has enhanced their social licence to operate on First Nation and Métis traditional territory.
"We can’t operate up there without support of the local communities. If they disapproved, it would be a battle every day and we know that," said Cameco President and CEO Tim Gitzel. "We see our involvement with the northern communities and leaders as an absolute competitive advantage for us. In Saskatchewan over the last 5-7 years, we have had unemployment rates south of 3 or 4%. That’s not unemployment that means you can’t find people. At Cameco, we don’t have a problem. We find them in the north. If you give them some education and training I tell you that’s the best employee you can get."
Gitzel has been involved with the industry since 1979.
"In the early 70’s, there was no local employment or Aboriginal involvement. It think it was at one percent," said Gitzel. "But today we are at 50 plus percent and the largest industrial employer of Aboriginal people in Canada. Something we are likely the most proud of. We have made inroads that there are jobs now. I saw Pinehouse 20 years ago when the documentary was made on them. It was horrible. To see the pride now in that community is heartwarming. I was up there skating with them in their new rink and to see those kids out playing hockey is what life is always about."
Cameco signed a Collaboration Agreement with the Northern Village of Pinehouse in 2013. A community once rife in poverty and alcohol abuse, involvement with industry has led to a remarkable change. Mike Natomagan is the Mayor of Pinehouse and he says the agreement is a living document that has brought community investment dollars but the ultimate benefit is the business development through their company Pinehouse Business North.
"We want to make our own dollar and we want our people to work and get employed and have a good opportunity to build their families," said Natomagan. "Hope is the biggest outcome of this. Our young people used to be hiding, nowhere to be found. Now as you walk into the village office every morning and you see 50-60 people waiting around to do their training or getting ready to go to work it brings us hope and we can look forward to the next day and have better outcomes in our education."
Federal Ministers took notice of the message as the leaders had a chance to bend the ear of Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt as well as Natural Resource Minister Greg Rickford.
"Cameco and the First Nations and Métis communities of northern Saskatchewan have figured out a template for others to follow. This is about partnership and about training, skills development but it’s also about respecting our environment. When they are committed to work together as partners, look at the result," said Minister Valcourt. "This is about working together as partners and the duty to consult remains. Cameco has decided to do more than just consult. When you enter as partners, you ensure success."
Natural Resources Minister Rickford was also complimentary of the model. Rickford represents several northern communities in his riding and was also a nurse in northern Saskatchewan.
"I've never met a First Nation leader, community or family that didn’t want the same things we want. Jobs, growth and economic prosperity and they want to do it in a responsible way," said Rickford. "I don’t believe that the federal government and or the provincial government can afford down the road to be involved in legacy projects where First Nations communities aren’t connected to them when and where possible. They want in. This is an opportunity, they want in, and Cameco and First Nation communities in Saskatchewan are doing it better than anyone else and we should all pay attention to that."
The work continues on the agreements and negotiations are ongoing with five other northern communities but Tim Gitzel knows they still have more to do but they can’t do it alone.
"We have good news to tell. We have been working together for 25 years at least. We are not perfect but we try really hard on both sides to work with the communities where we are located. They know that working together we will be stronger by providing the jobs, the business opportunities and education and keeping the cultural aspects. We know we can’t operate where we do if we don’t have the support of the communities so we try hard," added Gitzel. "This idea of coming to Ottawa to rally support is that it’s not just the companies and the communities doing this. If we are going to make inroads in the north everybody has to be at the table including the federal and provincial governments. There are issues that come up that we have to deal with but I think we have built up some trust with the communities and can stand shoulder to shoulder in Ottawa, which is unprecedented, to pass our message along."
Chief Marie Black agrees.
"We just encouraged them to create partnerships and allies. Now that we have success we want to tell them what they can do for us to succeed together. This was a very worthwhile trip gaining the trust from ministers saying, 'We didn’t know that. We are happy that you came.' Our partner Cameco enabled us to come here and share with Ministers or the Liberals or the Saskatchewan Caucus. They were in awe of what we have done. We gained a lot of momentum and hope and met lots of people," added Chief Black. "Our people envisioned that we educate our people in trades and professions so they can forge ahead and prepare for those to come. And they can be role models. We have signed this collaboration agreement and now we are moving forward instead of relying on government handouts. I’m happy I got the opportunity to come here and showcase the success of my reserve from 25 years ago to now."
Check out our coverage of Saskatchewan Mining Week:
- Whitecap Industrial Services: a partnership of resource service providers
- Companies expect suppliers to have Aboriginal strategy
- Opinion: Developing the road to Aboriginal prosperity
- Mining careers: not just moving (or mining) rocks
- Opinion: How the mining lobby can influence Aboriginal affairs
- Room at Saskatoon's Ronald McDonald House named after late northern man
- Saskatchewan Mining Week: celebrating 50 years
- Event celebrated students in mining readiness course
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