Mikisew offers members chance at employment

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A new manufacturing facility called Mikisew Slings & Safety will provide employment for a number of Aboriginal people from the Mikisew Cree Nation of Northern Alberta.

The employees will manufacture web and round style synthetic slings capable of lifting 100 lbs to 100,000 lbs of weight, which will be used for strapping loads in transportation vehicles. The product will be distributed to various companies throughout western Canada's industrial market place.

The facility established off-reserve for urban employment of the Mikisew Cree of Fort Chipewyan is a 1,700 sq. ft. warehouse. Inside a row of sewing machines, a large table, and shelves stocked with sling material fill the building.

Celebrations at the grand opening on Sept. 26 included a ribbon cutting, contract signing, a tour of the facility, drummers, speeches and a luncheon. Chief Archie Waquan of the Mikisew Cree Nation was ecstatic about the new venture. He said it was just the beginning for this type of industrialization for the reserve.

"I would eventually like to see a manufacturing company like this in Fort Chipewyan," said Waquan.

Suncor has agreed to buy the slings, and Acklands-Grainger will be the major distributor. Allan Taschuk, president of Mikisew Slings & Safety, was impressed with the amount of support and the attendance at the opening.

"The fact that we had Shell, Syncrude and Suncor here as well as Grainger and other companies to support us on our opening, and the industry that we are trying to supply and provide to was something that I was very impressed with. It is not very often that a new company gets that type of support and commitment up front," said Taschuk.

The company is starting to send out catalogues and to fax customers to let them know that they are open for business.

"We've been getting a steady amount of orders as we speak. We are actually in negotiation with a number of other companies, as far as taking on our product and services. We feel that by the end of the month we should have an even stronger support and commitment," said Taschuk.

The facility will employ about 20 employees. Their goal is to hire and train Mikisew Cree First Nation members who live in Edmonton. According to Lorna Hanrahan, office manager of Mikisew Slings & Safety, Mikisew members often find it hard to obtain employment in Edmonton.

"We have a lot of applications from Mikisew members who live here. They said that, for whatever reason, they could not find work, so this gives them a chance. It is great. Actually it is going very well. The employees are really happy. It is almost like a community feeling working here," she said.