The provincial
government supports economic development opportunities for First Nations. Funding is provided to improve access to
training, expand business skills and knowledge, and stimulate economic development
by encouraging First Nation entrepreneurship, enterprise and participation in
the B.C. economy.
A total of $26
million has been allocated to 124 projects that promote First Nations
participation in shellfish aquaculture, tourism, forestry, and oil and gas
sectors, as well as the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Treaty
Negotiations Office administers the funding and manages the implementation of
these projects to assist First Nations to develop the skills and expertise to
actively and effectively participate in the provincial economy. Projects
encourage:
· Partnerships
between aboriginal communities and industry or local government;
· Increased First
Nations access to resource tenures;
· Measures that
address specific land and resource issues, including First Nations involvement
in strategic land-use planning; and
- Measures that increase First Nations capacity to engage in the
economy.
First Nations economic development projects are part of the
government’s New Era
commitments to:
- Revitalize
the economy;
- Increase
access to Crown lands and resources;
- Expedite
interim measures with First Nations; and
- Materially
improve the lives of aboriginal people.
Recently announced economic development projects include:
- $241,000
to the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group for two shellfish aquaculture projects
that will create up to 150 jobs in their traditional territory.
- $400,000
to the Squamish, Mt. Currie and Musqueam First Nations to support the new
First Nations Tourism Management Cooperative Diploma program at Capilano
College.
- $600,000
for the Cowichan Tribes for a forest training initiative to train Cowichan
members in forest technology.
- $40,000
for the Sliammon Treaty Society to conduct a tourism market study that
identified the region’s potential as a marine and backcountry destination.
- $30,000
for the Comox Indian Band to pay for a feasibility study that supports
aboriginal tourism development on four reserves in the Comox Valley.
- $300,000
to promote a mining partnership between Yale First Nation and Qualark
Resources Inc.
- $175,000
to the Doig River First Nation to support a local aboriginal workforce in
the oil and gas sector.
- $100,000
for the Osoyoos Indian Band for site restoration and expansion of
interpretive programs at the Nk’Mip Desert Heritage Centre.
- $586,000
for the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Tribal Council for two projects: a forestry and
land-use planning accord and coalbed methane development.
- $600,000
for the Shuswap First Nation to support a water reservoir and
infrastructure project.
- $3
million for the Squamish and Lil’wat
First Nations Cultural Centre in Whistler.
- $303,000
for the Upper Similkameen Indian Band to
support development of 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.
- $900,000
for the Aboriginal Employment Partnership Initiative, to develop
partnerships with the private sector to enhance aboriginal employment
opportunities.
- $339,400
for the Esketemc First Nation to support forestry initiatives.
- $1.9 million
for the Treaty 8 First Nations for 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.
- $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.
- $257,850
for the Ditidaht and Pacheedaht First Nations to establish a forest
training program and pursue economic opportunities for a timber licence.
- $230,000
for the Mount Currie and Douglas First Nations, involving independent
power projects.
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