By IAN ROSS
The Anishinabek Nation has unveiled a bold economic plan to eradicate poverty among its 42 Ontario communities over the next two decades.
The late April release of the 100-page outline called "Our Economic Blueprint" is regarded by Grand Council Chief John Beaucage as an "historic occasion."
It's hoped to be the first step in an Ontario-wide strategic plan to establish independent regional and local economies that eventually pave the way to Native self-government.
The Anishinabek Nation (Union of Ontario Indians) covers a broad geographical area stretching from Thunder Bay to the Ottawa Valley and into southwestern Ontario. And there's some wide ranging economic disparities and opportunities between the north and south.
"One of the challenges we face is how do we reconcile the geographic differences and the opportunities available to First Nations in these areas," says Beaucage.
The "blueprint" provides a model for each individual community to take inventory of its own strengths and weaknesses and to address issues of securing capital, identifying local expertise and skills, transportation links and what is needed to create self-sufficient local and regional economies. Interns from business schools will assist in these critical reviews.
Beaucage says access to capital has always been a major hurdle for Native business start-ups because of the collateral aspect in offering security for loans.
That's why partnerships with entrepreneurs and non-Native corporations has played a huge role in some Aboriginal success stories.
For instance, Moose Deer Point First Nation, south of Parry Sound, has a joint venture agreement with Husky Injection Mouldings and CEO Robert Schad that has built and trained a workforce for a large and expanding plastics manufacturing system.
Garden River First Nation, near Sault Ste. Marie, operates a truss manufacturing plant and is building a golf course.
Outside Sarnia, Aamjiwnaang First Nation has a thriving industrial park.
"There are numerous other communities that are just starting to scratch the surface," says Beaucage. "This blueprint will help them determine what they've got, what are their potentials and how do they get beyond where they're at right now, which is virtually nothing."
The document came out of two inspirational think-tanks in Vancouver staged by the Anishinabek Nation where Canada's best and brightest Native entrepreneurs were gathered for discussions.
Beaucage says there's plenty of natural resource-based opportunities in tourism, timber and mining but there's also Native-geared tax benefits and training opportunities in manufacturing partnership opportunities.
"Our communities are just tapping the idea of competitive advantages and where we can take it."
Anishinabek Nation leaders will discuss the next steps to put the document into action when they meet at their June Annual General Assembly at Whitefish River First Nation near Espanola.
