Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek
Economic Development
Jordan Hatton works efficiently and conscientiously for economic development initiatives and projects both on and off-reserve for BNA. Chief and council work to create opportunities that will lead to the employment of BNA members, and generate revenue in order to continue to build our reserve lands. BNA has, and participates on, several internal and external economic development corporations which also manage large development projects in the works. These include:
- Papasay Management Corporation
- Value-Added Sawmill
- Lake Nipigon Forest Management Incorporated (LNFMI)
- Aggregates
- Papasay Bee-Clean Partnership
- Wawasum Group Limited Partnership (WGL) for BNA’s 50/50 partnership with AZA on the proposed pellet plant project
- Waaskiinaysay Ziibi Incorporated (WZI) Transmission Development
- Lake Nipigon Forest Management Inc., along with AZA, BZA and RRIB, to manage the Lake Nipigon Forest
- Namewaminikan Hydroelectric Project
- Mining
- Education Anishinabek Training & Employment Services (AETS)
BNA also works with the Nokiiwin Tribal Council on joint initiatives with its member communities in order to ensure members have the training supports that they require.
Papasay Sawmill
Papasay Value-Added Wood Products is the new company that will run our new small volume, value-added Sawmill to be located on ‘Lot A’ in BNA’s new industrial park.
The Cedar Value-added Sawmill has been a dream of the Bingwi Neyaashi’s for over a decade. As a priority project for BNA, the Cedar Sawmill is moving from a mere plan and concept to an on the ground reality. Firstly, with significant financial investment of its own in the project, and a cedar allocation of 13,450 cubic meters, the community successfully leveraged funding from the provincial and federal government to survey the BNA industrial park, and clear Lot A for the Sawmill. In 2013, BNA successfully held a Land Designation vote in favor of the facility, and designated Papasay, the communities Economic Development Corporation, as the facility’s operator. Following the successful ratification vote, the remaining funding was released to erect the facility. Papasay has since purchased two portable Woodmizer saws, an edger, re-vamped its business plan, trained several community members to work in the facility, and has successfully applied for a kiln and new value-added pieces of equipment.
BNA and Papasay Management Corporation have identified the development of a value-added Sawmill as a manageable and feasible opportunity that will bring about the following benefits to its membership:
- Provide long term sustainable employment opportunities for BNA members and workers from around the region
- Provide industry specific training and marketable employment skills to the membership
- Provide short and long term spin off benefits to local and regional businesses
- Encourage and foster business partnerships
- Utilize the rich natural resources within the region to their full potential
- Generate revenue for the development of the community
The overall feasibility of the BNA Cedar Sawmill is supported by a majority of its members and has garnished the support of neighbouring First Nations and forest harvesting companies in the region.
Lake Nipigon Forest Management Inc.
Lake Nipigon Forest Management Inc. (LNFMI) has the only First Nation-run Sustainable Forestry License (SFL) in the province, and we manage almost one million hectares of forestlands in the Lake Nipigon forest region. LNFMI is owned by four First Nation communities;: Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek, Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek, Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek and the Red Rock Indian Band. LNFMI is responsible for planning, reporting and implementing all forestry operations on the SFL.
Through the management of the Lake Nipigon forest, we are able to bring about the following benefits:
- Integrate First Nation culture into all forest management activities
- Provide long-term sustainable employment in both seasonal and full time positions in areas such as compliance inspectors, forest operations technicians and silviculture technicians
- Work with First Nation community members in order to address issues of concern, including alternatives to aerial herbicide spraying
- Develop and maintain a positive working relationships with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
- Develop partnerships with neighbouring facilities in order to ensure that the movement of fiber economically benefits the First Nation
- Investigate the opportunity to establish a First Nation-owned harvesting company.
With ongoing leadership from the four First Nations, LNFMI is conducting forest management in a culturally sensitive manner as per the values and teachings of Elders. Through the First Nation-led management of the forest, BNA and its neighbours are able to generate economic and social development opportunities which it would have otherwise been unable to obtain.
Papasay
BNA has had an economic development corporation, Papasay, since 2009. It has a Board of Directors made up of BNA community members and outside professionals. Papasay has been aggressively seeking out strategic partnerships with companies in a wide array of sectors. The goal of this is to ensure that BNA and Papasay are prepared for any potential work that comes to our region.
Source: http://www.bnafn.ca/article/economic-development-1223.asp
Truck Driver
S&K Enterprise Ltd. now hiring for wood-haul truck drivers.
Principal Advisor, Community Planning
Reporting to the Director, Environment and Community Relation, the Principal Advisor, Community Planning will be responsible for implementing all aspects of GGM’s Indigenous relations portfolio.
Operations/ Planning Forester, Operations/ Roads Superintendent, GIS Specialist, Silvicultural Forester
Lake Nipigon Forest Management Inc. is currently recruiting for:
• Operations/ Planning Forester
• Operations/ Roads Superintendent
• GIS Specialist
• Silvicultural Forester