Chief Clarence Louie

Osoyoos Indian Band

According to Chief Clarence Louie, there is one and only one priority for spending in First Nations communities: economic development, or, more simply put, wealth generation.

Louie has been Chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band since 1985, and is well known throughout BC and Canada for his progressive views on creating wealth in First Nations communities.  He firmly believes that, without the economic means to support themselves, First Nations will continue to remain culturally, socially and economically impoverished. “Where there is no economic development, that’s where you have third world conditions “ says Louie. 

Building on his own belief system, Louie has accomplished much for the Osoyoos Band in the past 20+ years.  The Band now owns and manages eight successful businesses, including a winery and golf course, and employs hundreds of First Nations people, both from Osoyoos as well as from 13 other Nations spread over four provinces. In this way, Louie points out, economic development in one community will benefit other bands as well.

Developing a strong economic base will allow Nations to support programs such as language and culture revival, youth services, health care and even self-governance, according to Louie, and he urges First Nations to start thinking in those terms. “Don’t use the word support,” he says. “Say money.  Language, culture, pow wows… I don’t care what, they all cost money.  Every idea costs money.”

Louie is passionate about the need for First Nations to get off what he calls the “grant mentality,” whereby Bands are consistently asking for government handouts.  He points to the disproportionate amount of money that has been spent to date on social programs – 92% in the past eight years, compared to just 8% for economic development for First Nations communities .  “We need no strings attached by government,” advises Louie. “In the 1800’s, the government took away the Natives’ economic development [capabilities] by removing their ability to support themselves.  Native people, over the years, have fed into that system.”

When asked about funding priorities for the Trust, he has this to say: “the $100 million should not go toward social spending,” says Louie.  “It’s gotta be used for wealth creation. I’m talking about real jobs for real people; not government [grant] funded jobs.”

To get started, Louie suggests Bands study the economies of their own regions. “If there is forestry, then get into forestry.  The Osoyoos Indian Band was not [traditionally] into wineries; we got into it because there was a market here.” Further, he suggests: “look at how the white people are making money in your region. Do your research.”

Asked if the money should be spent on or off reserve, or perhaps a combination of both, his answer is again definitive.  “The money has to be spent on the reserve.” He explains that under the current system, reserves are losing their best and brightest people to the cities because there are no on-reserve opportunities for them.  This continually weakens both the reserve and the Nation. Further, Louie cautions that the biggest employer shouldn’t be the Band office, but that the Band should create real business opportunities.

One current focus of opportunity for Louie is the gaming industry.  He cites success models in other Provinces and in the US, where large-scale casinos like Casinorama (in Ontario) have provided considerable wealth to First Nations communities.  “If it was up to me, all this money would be invested in one major casino [for the province],” says Louie.  “In the States, they have a term: BC and AC. That’s Before Casino and After Casino. It’s like the return of the Buffalo down there.” 

Whatever the investment, Louie believes that funding applications should be assessed according to proven business models.  “You don’t throw good money at bad projects,” he says. A casino, for example, would not work for every community – but should only be cited where there is a good market.  “”Failed projects equal dollars wasted, and then we’ll just be back to depending on grants.” He is also in favour of investing the trust money in projects that will generate more money, and opposed to spending all of the trust fund at once.  “Native people need to get their minds around making that $100 million make money. In business, you don’t spend your whole budget.”

Chief Clarence Louie has a strong opinion and he is well aware that his message of wealth creation may not be for everyone, but that doesn’t bother him. “There is no consensus in Indian Country,” he says. “Business opportunities do not wait for consensus.” Whether you agree with him or not, Louie has a compelling message for First Nations – and many are listening.