Fort St. John

Voices from Northeastern BC.

A well-attended meeting in Fort St. John was dominated by discussions about the need to enhance economic development opportunities in the North, particularly through revenue sharing and investment.  In addition to economic development, priorities identified at the meeting included training and job creation, health, youth services, land management, and counseling. The topic of environmental management and the need to protect local lands and waters for future generations was also discussed.

Organizations represented in Fort St. John included the local Treaty 8 office and its member Bands, the Fort St. John Friendship Society, Metis Society, school district, youth centre, local media (Alaska Highway News) and the North East Native Advancement Society. 

A good part of the discussion at the meeting revolved around the need for local First Nations to get involved in revenue-sharing opportunities, especially from the region’s booming oil and gas sector. Participants acknowledged that their region has a lot of potential for wealth generation from its abundant oil and gas reserves.  Many present also admitted, however, that First Nations groups often miss out on opportunities because they don’t have the available resources to invest at the right time. Several attendees believed that what is needed most are cash resources to take advantage of investment opportunities. In addition, some participants felt that opportunities were missed due to the lack of knowledgeable personnel.

Training and education was also identified as a priority in Fort St. John. Many local people are barely making it through high school, and need additional support to get the training and education they need to take advantage of local employment opportunities. One participant suggested community members need to be taught to fish and hunt again, in order to support themselves and sustain a way of life.

The Fort St. John group saw a large benefit to working cooperatively to make the use of funds most effective.  The idea of using some of the funds to support more unity amongst all BC First Nations was supported, as were suggestions to provide regional services such as training.  There were a number of Metis representatives present, and some participants spoke to concerns that the fund should unite, not divide, the Aboriginal community at large.

As in most of the previous meeting, one of the top concerns raised by this group was about getting adequate representation on the NRT Board of Directors.  The Fort St. John participants were particularly concerned because their Nations are already ‘treatied’ and therefore do not feel adequately represented by either the Union of BC Indian Chiefs or the First Nations Summit. 

Regarding the question of allocating funds, most of the discussion revolved around the need for wealth creation. The group was quick to understand that $100 million, in context, is not very much money, and will not go far if divided amongst all of BC 200 First Nations over the short term. A fair amount of discussion ensued about maximizing the return on investment, to grow the fund.  One participant went so far as to suggest all $100 million be invested for five years before any of the money was disbursed.

A few participants raised concerns that the fund be managed responsibly. Participants wanted to be assured that the administrative costs would be kept to a minimum so that the money would be available for its intended use.

Another concern that was voiced was the ongoing strings-attached system related to support programs involving government. Some present saw the need to move toward more direct revenue sharing in order to benefit from local resources, instead of having to depend on grant structures or handouts from government.

A local youth counselor who attended the meeting spoke up about the need to address the underlying issues of emotional pain, and the need to balance the distribution of funds so that social / emotional needs were met, along with economic ones.

All-in-all, the Fort St. John meeting heard from a focused and determined group of people, intent of creating a healthier and more prosperous future through increased participation in and control over their own region – its people and resources.