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New contract could provide more permanent jobs at Peigan Crafts

Article Origin

Author

Shari Narine , Sweetgrass Writer, BROCKET

Volume

5

Issue

8

Year

1999

Page 12

An eight week contract with an Okotoks company could lead to expansion and year round employment at Peigan Craft Limited, in Brocket located in southern Alberta.

The Peigan craft company is a Peigan band operated business which is well known for its moccasins and mukluks. Peigan is hoping that eight weeks of manufacturing webbed halters for Burwash Brand Horse Gear will lead to further business with the company.

"It's an eight week trial period. It takes at least six weeks to get up to speed. With the experience they have, it'll probably take less time," said owner Robin Burwash.

For the past 23 years, Peigan Craft has produced more than 25,000 pairs of footwear annually. When the plant shuts down from April to June, it forces the layoff of seven full-time production staff and leaves its 30 to 40 contract beading people out of work.

"We've been looking at something so the plant won't close and affect families financially," said Peigan Craft manager Cathy Bastien. "Our main goal is to have continued employment during plant shut down."

Peigan Crafts was looking for contract work to supplement its business, while Burwash Brand was looking for contract workers to keep up with the growing demand for its webbed horse products.

Treaty 7 economic development officer Lori Beaver approached Burwash to suggest he visit Peigan Crafts so he could meet the First Nation manufacturer and wholesaler. In mid-May, Burwash paid a visit to the Brocket manufacturing plant.

"I was very pleased with the quality and workmanship they do with their own stuff," said Burwash. "We have so much in common. It was very enlightened for me."

As well, Peigan Craft's plant shut down time corresponded with Burwash Brand's busiest time.

Burwash Brand, a four-year- old company, employs two and a half full time sewers and contracts work to six others. The company has seen its business grow as more people are attracted to the webbed product, which costs half the price of its leather counterparts and requires low maintenance for care.

The two businesses have also agreed to do some cross marketing. Piegan Craft has its main market in Alberta and British Columbia, with some product shipped to Germany and Japan. Burwash Brand, which is strictly a wholesaler, has a client list of 400 stores across western Canada and nine or 10 states in the United States.

"I'm very excited about it and see a lot of potential for it to grow and expand," said Burwash. "We're a fast growing company and it's nice to know we have a place to expand. And it's nice to be able to expand into one spot."