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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
HEDLEY – Government is providing $303,000 to help the Upper Similkameen Indian Band develop a major tourist attraction at the historic Mascot Mine site at Hedley, construct an industrial park and determine the viability of establishing an electrical cogeneration facility near Princeton.
Stan Hagen, Minister of Sustainable Resource Management, and Geoff Plant, Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations, toured the mine site to see the ongoing work undertaken by the band. An Economic Measures Fund agreement with the Upper Similkameen provides $178,000 to improve access to the site of what was once the most successful gold mine in Canada.
“These projects promote economic growth throughout the province by bringing greater certainty to the land base and building partnerships between First Nations, local business and B.C. communities,” Hagen said. “Our government said in the throne speech it was determined to provide a new level of economic opportunity for First Nations communities and people. We’re doing that through innovative economic measures like these all across the province.”
The $178,000 is helping to pay for the first feasibility study and safety stabilization of the Mascot Mine site and work at a related site in Hedley. The band wants to open this historic mine site and some of its structures to visitors to showcase the history of mining in B.C.
“I commend Chief Rick Holmes and his Upper Similkameen band for the vision they are showing in pursuing these ventures,” Plant said. “Economic measures are part of government’s New Era commitment to work to materially improve the quality of lives of aboriginal people. These projects will not only provide long-term economic benefit for the First Nation, but will attract tourism and jobs to the heartlands region.”
Yale-Lillooet MLA Dave Chutter and Chief Rick Holmes of the Upper Similkameen band were also on hand to view the work in progress.
“Step by step, we are determined to bring prosperity back to the Similkameen,” Chief Holmes said.
Another $80,000 Economic Measures Agreement supports the development of core infrastructure at the Upper Similkameen Band’s value-added industrial park three miles south of Princeton. This industrial park, which will support local forestry activities, will eventually house value-added producers, a log sort and a wood chipping operation.
An additional $45,000 agreement is being used to determine the feasibility of a wood-chipping and cogeneration facility. It would use wood waste from the planned value-added activities and other wood-processing activities at the industrial park to generate power.
The $40-million Economic Measures Fund, which is managed by the provincial government’s Treaty Negotiations Office, was announced in April 2002 and expanded in February 2003. It creates new opportunities for First Nations’ participation in the economy, including activities related to oil and gas, tourism, forestry and the 2010 Olympic bid, for B.C. First Nations inside and outside the treaty process. To date, 113 projects worth a total of $25 million have been approved.
Recently announced Economic Measures include:
· $300,000 per year for three years to support the province’s aboriginal employment partnership initiative, which provides training and employment opportunities for First Nations. · $339,400 for the Esketemc First Nation to create new opportunities within the forest sector. · Almost $1.9 million to assist the Treaty 8 First Nations in the development of B.C.’s northeastern oil-and-gas sector. · $539,000 for the Skeetchestn Indian Band to conduct forestry research to determine the social and economic viability of alternative timber harvesting. · $100,000 for the Campbell River Band to do a design and engineering study for a cruise-ship-dock upgrade. · $530,000 for the Huu-ay-aht First Nation to revitalize the abalone shellfish aquaculture industry in Bamfield. · $375,000 for the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council to develop skills to launch a new shellfish operation.
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