Economic Development – WOW!

I can't believe she is 32. Nic Brasseur, from Aachen, Germany, took her grade 11 year at Carlton and lived with us in 1995. Now she teaches at the University of Dusseldorf. Over the years since, she, her family and Husband and I have travelled back and forth between Canada and Germany. This year, Uschi and Manfred, Nic's parents, who had never been to Canada, spent three weeks with us.

Hang in there. I am getting to the point.

We four parents hit it off the first time we met. We could talk for three weeks, or, we could drive west and show them some of the extraordinary beauty of this part of Canada.

Here comes the point.

We ended our journey in Osoyoos, BC. If you visited Osoyoos 10 years ago, you would have seen a pretty little town on the edge of Canada's only true desert and the shores of Okanagan Lake. You should see it now! It is a thriving, much larger resort town than it was 10 years ago.

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On a hill overlooking Osoyoos is Spirit Ridge, a fabulous resort built by the Osoyoos band of the Okanagan First Nation. It is incredible with its very modern, very luxurious villas and condominium style accommodations, a pool, spa, cultural centre, golf course, vineyards, winery, wine cellar and several gourmet restaurants serving Canadian food. We ate at one of the restaurants at sunset. The tables were set out on a patio with a vineyard, the lake and the lights of Osoyoos spread out below. The food was excellent.

The multimillion dollar resort is only part of the economic developments the band has brought out of the desert. Chief Clarence Louie has been saying for years, across the country, that the only important key to First Nations self-reliance is economic development. The band has 15 very profitable and exciting businesses under the name OIBDC – the Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation. Chief Clarence Louie is the CEO. The chief and band council are all business people. The band of 475 members employs 700 – 1000 people.

The band has succeeded through strategic partnerships and strong leadership. The latest project is the development of a community of luxury residences in Oliver, in partnership with Bellstar

Development. Already 12 of the 17 homes completed have been sold. Phase one of the Canyon Desert Resort is planned to have 81 homes with golf course, trails, community centre etc “It will do for Oliver what Spirit Ridge resort, winery etc has done for Osoyoos,” Louie said.

Jason Warwick, in September 13 Star Phoenix, says the latest job figures say that there is an overall decrease in aboriginal employment in Saskatchewan.

We don't see the reserve projects, in the works, or finished, around Prince Albert, but they are here e.g. the Casino. Lac La Ronge, Onion Lake, Meadow Lake, and Whitecap are some of the First Nations bands in this area that own and operate – or soon will – some very big businesses.

I have met Indians who remember easily, the days when Indians were not allowed off the reserve without permission from the Indian agent. Their crops rotted in some cases because an agent might well be a car salesman appointed by the government. Cars they knew. Hay they might. Or not.

In the 50s, a nearby Indian farmer was hung because he put an injured cow out of its misery. Killing stock was forbidden. Now, that same man could own a stock yard and an abattoir if he pleased.

Those bands with the ambition to be free, and some resources such as lumber, tourist sites or any of a wide choice at hand, are on their way to economic success. More than you think.