First Nations seek major role in post-pandemic economy
Leaders in B.C. are carefully balancing health of people with health of finances
The Fort Nelson Northern Lights Festival, 10 days of festivities with art, music, ice sculpting, sled dog rides and, of course, the stunning green of the aurora borealis, was expected to attract visitors from around the globe in March.
The event was important to the Fort Nelson First Nation’s economic diversification strategy. Organizers had worked hard to attract visitors from China and Hong Kong and 54 Texans were planning to visit — up from just two Texans the year before.
Then came the pandemic. Chief Sharleen Gale, chief of the Fort Nelson First Nation, immediately pulled the nation out of the festival.
“The WHO (World Health Organization) announced that this was a pandemic, and the festival was supposed to start the next day,” said Gale. “I sat down with my council and said I am not willing to put my youth, my members and my elders at risk.”
Now Gale and other First Nations leaders in B.C. are carefully balancing the health of their people with the health of their economies, and stepping up to be part of the strategic planning for the province’s economic recovery.
Fort Nelson First Nation was one of the first Indigenous communities to close the borders of their territory to outsiders.
Gale said strict protocols are still in place, and several important economic ventures are temporarily on pause, including a $100-million geothermal project in the Clark Lake area that could produce sustainable clean energy and produce energy to sell to B.C.
Hydro, and power 100 greenhouses, contributing to greater food security.
Workers have been laid off. “We don’t have a lot of money to be throwing around on extra costs on a project specially since we have to ensure we have money in our savings to look after our members if we have a second wave and something happens,” said Gale, who was recently appointed to the province’s Economic Recovery Task Force because she chairs the First Nations Major Projects Coalition.
Gale is not aware of any COVID-19 cases in her community — indeed there have been no reported clusters in the region.
But she said she believes the disruption to the economy may present new opportunities to address inequities.
“Prosperity will only be achieved for all when First Nations are included and active participants in the economy. I firmly believe that COVID presents a prime opportunity to reassess how we will get there,” said Gale.
“We are not asking for a handout, but what we are asking for is a hand up so that we can contribute to the overall economies of the regions in which we live.”
Access to capital for major products represents the biggest barrier for First Nations to enter the economic mainstream as owners and meaningful partnerships, said Gale. While progress has been made in Alberta and Ontario to provide First Nations with access to capital through the use of a loan guarantee backed by provincial governments, B.C. is falling behind, said Gale.
In April, the federal government earmarked $306 million in federal emergency aid and short-term interest-free loans for Indigenous businesses affected by the pandemic. In June, another $133 million was allocated to help Indigenous businesses, with $16 million of that for Indigenous tourism businesses.
“A lot of money is being spent, but I don’t think it’s being spent in the long term,” said Gale. Access to capital at competitive interest rates over the long term will keep community projects viable, and keep money generated in First Nations territories flowing into local economies.
The pandemic has highlighted long-standing infrastructure inequities in First Nations communities that stand in the way of community health and economic growth.
“The challenges for the remote communities is that they don’t have the technology they need to be in communication, let alone internet or running water. When COVID hit, a lot of communities were living in poverty,” said Gale.
“When you take away the opportunity to make a few dollar, some communities don’t have the ability to offset their budget through (surplus) nation funds, so they are feeling helpless. But if they were part of the economy and had infrastructure and projects with income to offset their budgets, they would be able to help their communities in emergency situations.”
Terry Teegee, regional chief of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, said it’s not just major projects that have been affected by the pandemic and the shutdowns that were necessary to protect First Nations communities.
“Tourism is very important to First Nations in a lot of remote areas, and many First Nations communities have stores and gas stations along the highways,” said Teegee.
“What’s really concerning for First Nations is that as federal and provincial governments move ahead with economic development initiatives under the pressure of overwhelming amount of debt from COVID-19, they would want to hit the ground running on all levels and, when that occurs, the promises around checks and balances to fully consult could go out the door.”
This week, virtual town hall meetings began, hosted by B.C. Assembly of First Nations to ask for input and feedback for the creation of a First Nations-led economic development strategy that addresses the impacts of COVID -19 and plans for recovery.
The assembly also has produced an economic development tool kit called the Black Books that explains best practices, different forms of agreements, historical and political landscapes and what consultation means.