Awards honor business success

Page 30

More than 300 people were in attendance to celebrate the winners of the 2002 Nishnawbe Aski Nation Business Awards held in Timmins, Ont. on Nov. 27. It was the 12th year for the awards ceremony that honors Aboriginal entrepreneurs, executives, businesses and organizations within the Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory.

In 1993, the annual awards banquet became a fund-raiser for the Dennis Franklin Cromarty Memorial fund, which provides education bursaries to Aboriginal students. The late grand chief Cromarty was president of Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund and was dedicated to achieving harmony amongst all people.

In addition to its fundraising efforts, the awards dinner is an effective way of networking and bridging gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal business people and leaders.

Winner of this year's Youth Entrepreneur of the Year award is Lorelei Martin, 24, of the Chapleau First Nation. Martin is president of Martin Contracting Inc. that has a gravel contract with Weyerhaeuser.

Winner of the Business Man of the Year is Ed Wesley of Wolf Tracks (Maxwear). Seven years ago, in partnership with his wife Maxine, he began making wool jackets, and then moved into polar fleece. Their business in Thunder Bay employs five full-time and two part-time staff.

Winner of the Business Woman of the Year is lawyer Patricia Faries of the Moose Cree First Nation. She is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Indigenous Bar Association, and the Lawyer's Professional Indemnity Company.

The Executive of the Year is Ed Chilton, the project co-ordinator and treasurer for Five Nations Energy Inc. Educated in civil engineering, he has more than 24 years of experience in construction project management. Formerly, he was responsible for the management of numerous multi-million dollar capital projects for the Mushegowuk communities.

The winner of the Partnership of the Year award is the Aatawchike Fire Services. Partner development advisor Bruce Visitor recognized the potential for market expansion if costs could be lowered and more crews were hired. A partnership called Aatawchike Fire Services was formed by several First Nations communities. In 2002, it brought in just under a million dollar in revenues and paid out more than $650,000 in wages hiring more than 160 Aboriginal people from northern Ontario.

The winner of the Development Corporation of the Year is Gawuhigaewin Community Development Corporation. This corporation was established to provide permanent employment for the members of the Mattagami First Nation.

The cornerstone of the development corporation is the Mattagami First Nation's logging operation, but it continues to explore opportunities in other areas beyond forestry. Unemployment in the community has been reduced to 35 per cent from 90 per cent.

The winner of the Building Communities Award 2002 is Terry Sutherland of the Moose Cree First Nation. He established his company, Blackwolf Woodwork and Construction, on the coast of James Bay. He has had to learn how to operate several types of heavy equipment and hopes to purchase additional machinery for his company in the future. He wants to be viewed as an example to youth in the community for what can be accomplished if the desire is there.