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Business decisions for first nations are complex Considering a proposal becomes a major, collective, community affair Cheryl Ziola Special to the Sun Monday, August 08, 2005 http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=ea6a19ff-61cf-4a03-8f47-796c5ebdcdff CREDIT: Ward Perrin, Vancouver Sun files Sustainability takes on a bigger meaning for first nations, for whom opportunity often involves natural resources. First nations in British Columbia face an enormous education challenge as they move towards new forms of community autonomy. A new generation of decision-makers needs to be groomed to participate in community decisions leading to sustainable economic development. Sustainability has a more comprehensive meaning in first nation communities than the narrow "keep it green" definition commonly used in non-native society. The aboriginal definition embraces heritage, culture and community values as well as the environment. Therefore, when a first nations community collectively assesses the attractiveness of a business opportunity, the community needs to determine whether cultural and environmental values will be sustained if the business is developed. An assurance of economic sustainability is also required, because a short-term business venture, particularly one that loses money, can leave a legacy of disappointment. Young people in first nations communities today will, as adults, be faced with the responsibility of making unprecedented business decisions that have economic, environmental and cultural ramifications for their communities. Anything that can be done to prepare them for this emerging role will benefit the entire province in the future. This is what led our association, FORED BC, to enter into a partnership program intended to help prepare this new generation of native youth for the emerging challenges of economic self-determination. FORED is a non-profit association engaged in helping citizens to participate in making informed community choices on sustainability. Since the economic options for many first nations communities will involve natural resources, we were fortunate in creating a partnership with the Aboriginal Forest Industries Council, or AFIC. This first nations business association has a mission to "spearhead the development of first nations forestry based on traditional values." The partnership will involve a combination of information resources and mentorship. The information resources will simulate the types of community evaluations that need to be made when a new natural resource business is being considered. Resource materials will address a list of "need to know" categories to help a community reach consensus. These will include questions such as, "How to determine environmental impacts? Does this business fit with community heritage? Will the jobs be short-term?" The mentor component will provide leadership for the simulation process. All of this may sound unusual to an urban dweller who is seldom consulted or involved in decisions regarding economic development in the city. With the exception of high-profile developments like a new Wal-Mart, most decisions are made by unknown bureaucrats in planning departments. Not so in the aboriginal culture. The average first nations community in B.C. numbers 600 people; many are much smaller. Understandably, the introduction of a new business of any size has a significant impact. If that business also has the potential to threaten environmental or cultural values, the impact is even greater. If it is on shaky economic ground and creates false hopes that are soon dashed, recovery can take years. So a new business can become a major, collective community decision. Aboriginal communities need the tools to participate knowledgeably in such decisions. As they advance towards greater community autonomy, more decisions will be made with even higher stakes. That is the basis for the partnership between FORED and AFIC. We often hear the term "need for certainty" from the business community in B.C. when discussing aboriginal relations. Some might see the resolution of treaties as the end point in this quest for "certainty". But if we define certainty as satisfaction, it is doubtful we will have certainty as long as unemployment in the 80 per cent range prevails in many first nations communities. If we start today to give communities the skill sets, research and confidence to make sustainable economic decisions, we will make significant progress towards that goal of true certainty. The partnership between FORED and AFIC is a small step along that path. Cheryl Ziola is the president of FORED BC. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Native News North List info{all lists}: http://nativenewsonline.org/natnews.htm Yahoo! 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