Community Development through Community Initiatives:

The Aroland First Nation Experience

By: Mark Bell B.A GeogEconomic Development Officer

Introduction

Who am I? Where is Aroland? What are the economic development

opportunities for the local community? How can Aroland best benefit from these

opportunities? What can we do in the future? What can you take from our experience?

Who am I?

I didn’t grow up in Aroland I was born and raised in Thunder Bay, ON While growing up I spent every bit of free time I had

with my grandparents in Aroland I would hunt, fish, gather and help with my grandfather’s

tourist camps.

I finally finished High School and went on to college and then to University After a college diploma, university degree, 2 university

extra circular certificates and becoming a Master Candidate in a European University I finally started working for my community

Where is Aroland?

010

2030

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5060

70

8090

1stQtr

2ndQtr

3rdQtr

4thQtr

EastWestNorth

Roughly about 4 hours north of Thunder Bay

1 hour North of Geraldton

20 mins drive from Nakina, On

Information about Aroland

Roughly about 600 Band Members 400 resident living on-reserve 200 off-reserve members

Community representation made up of 1 Chief and 5 Band Councilors

Front line staff includes: Economic Development Officer, Welfare

Administrator, Mining Coordinator, Lands and Resources, Health Services and Crisis Coordination.

Information about Aroland Cont.

Aroland Industrial LP Made up of 4 Board Members and 2 officers

Aroland Economic Development Corporation Made up of 6 Board Members

What are the Economic Development Opportunities for

Aroland We had to identify our Ec/Dev opportunities

which could be utilized by our community. Some were obvious and others are still in

development. The opportunities are as follows:

Renewable Natural Resources (Forestry) Seasonal Natural Resources (community garden and

blueberry patches in our traditional lands Non-Renewable Natural Resources ( Mining)

How did Aroland First Nation Benefit from Ec/Dev

Starting with the Natural Resources our community looked to see what we can start to benefit from and blueberries were identified. We developed a plan working with other stakeholders

(Lakehead University) in developing a program to buy and sell berries within our local and regional towns.

Our community located a basket supplier and ordered a bunch and handed them out to community members.

They were then bought back for a price then transported to Thunder Bay, Hearst, Kapuskasing and areas down south where there wasn’t much berries available.

Community Garden

This opportunity is now in its 3rd year. It started with a program set up by NAN and is

now going on strong with steady growth for our community.

I have seen many other communities are also taking advantage of this program

Why is a Community Garden an Opportunity for Aroland

Location Depending on how you look at it?

Too Far North to send products to the South but… Sending Products North may be a great opportunity. Products such as potatoes, onions, carrots, peas, radish, lettuce,

kale and spinach are all vegetables we have had great success in growing locally.

We have a large area where we can start to grow these vegetables. We are in the process of looking into the viability of an

opportunity like this. There is no harm in looking because you never really know until

you have a detailed look at what can be accomplished.

How did Aroland First Nation Benefit from Ec/Dev

All benefits stayed within the business of purchasing and in the end all profits would go to a community initiative of choice (last year the youth groups benefited)

Other Natural Resources

We also identified forestry and mining as other opportunities we could benefit from Aroland already had a project management business but

it was fraught with mismanagement and had major debt.

Aroland had to address these past problems which are still making doing business difficult. This fueled the creation of Aroland Industrial LP.

Aroland Industrial LP

Aroland created Aroland Industrial LP to aggressively go after forestry and mining contracts made available by the resurgence of the forestry industry and also the Ring of Fire Development in which Aroland sits at the gateway of this development. Aroland Industrial not only creates employment and

revenues but also allows us to develop our social capital as well through training initiatives

Aroland Industrial LP

January 28th, 2011 was our 1 year anniversary. In that year we have had ups and down but we

are determined to succeed for the good of our community.

Land Use Planning

Industry development has created the need for Land Use Planning as tool for identifying, benefiting and protecting our communities natural resources.

LUP must be developed before major resource development can occur.

Creates opportunities for creating projects, development of training opportunities and development of employment which will directly benefit the community.

In What Ways can Aroland Benefit for the Future

Keep identifying opportunities when they arise by being proactive and not reactive.

Don’t just wait for opportunities. Make things happen!

Try to think out of the box in all business development opportunities.

Work at the development of our communities’ social capital not only to benefit industry but also to look at future developments in our regions.

Future Benefits Cont.

Look for opportunities in partnerships with other communities (Purchasing Agreements).

Develop partnerships with existing business (contractors, value added products) for our natural resource products.

How do we do succeed

Try to work with like minded, hard working, honest, and dedicated community members.

Present them a clear vision to work towards with clear aims and a plan to achieve those aims If there is no follow up plan to achieve the goals set out

they lose momentum very fast.

Be transparent! If there is no transparency community members will

just right you off as just another wrong doer.

Succeeding Cont.

Development of Social Capital in the community. Do a community needs assessment to identify the gaps

in employable positions Do assessments for Aroland Industrial and Regional

Business Development Opportunities.

A result of these assessments will identify the positions which will need to be filled and or created.

It can also identify training needed.

Succeeding Cont.

Business must be run without favoritism, nepotism, and with honesty. Your team should be made up of the most qualified

community members you have available, not you cousin or uncle (Unless he/she is the most qualified).

Do not set yourself up for failure! Qualifications and references must be checked up on as Machinery jobs make a bulk of the revenues which come into resource development contractors.

Machines must be run properly with proper maintenance as you will fail if you have to repair your machines due to an unqualified workforce.

Training Initiatives

Identifying the needs for our community and industry identified a need for Training in Heavy Equipment ASAP. AI and the Ring of Fire will need an influx of operators

to build both the infrastructure needed to build the proposed roads, bridges and Rail Line to Mineral deposit.

Development of all corridors to resource development. Fill gaps left by industry down turn (forestry just

started running after 2 year layoff). Many operators have retired or machinery has left to go and work elsewhere.

Training cont.

Land Use Planning will develop new positions and skill sets which can be utilized by the community.

What can you take from Aroland First Nation’s Experience?

All communities are different. Develop a strong team of staff and

community members who can help your business/community achieve its aims/goals.

Develop a clear and concise mission statement so that there is no confusion on what the community goals are.

What can you take from Aroland's experience?

It is a good practice to Brainstorm about the opportunities Be open to all suggestions no matter how different

they may be because they may just spur new ideas (Thinking out of the box).

Hold sessions like this once a week in order to keep people focused.

Keeping an open mind and positive attitude There are many ups and down as Aroland found out

but we had to work with the situation handed to us. Aroland had to remain positive!

What can you take from Aroland's Experience?

Work hard to identify all of the opportunities which your community can benefit from. Needs assessments or SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) for all identified opportunities.

Take all opportunities to develop training initiatives for your community as well as your staff as there is always a chance for self-improvement especially if your community will benefit from it.

What can you take from Aroland's Experience?

Be aware of you and your staff’s limitations. Do not be afraid to bring in outside help. It may cost in the beginning but if it is not done it

WILL WILL cost you more in the long run.

Do things right the first time. The more times you do something the more cost you will incur.

Conclusion I hope that some of what I presented you can assist

you in your community’s economic development. Don’t get discouraged when things don’t go right. Be proactive and not reactive, If you let things

happen they are usually negative but when you make them happen they are more than likely positive as you control your own destiny!

Keep an open mind and positive work ethic and you can succeed as your community depends on it.

Thank You,

Brainstorming Activity Break into 2-4 groups (5-10 people depending

on group size). Take 10 mins to do a needs assessment or

SWOT analysis for a community or business opportunity of your choice.

Pick a representative to present your groups choice and analysis (2-3 mins per group).