Idea gets thumbs up from town and elder

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The Valleyview Economic Development Board planted the idea for a chopstick factory in Sturgeon Lake and now it's up to the band to cultivate the plan, according to the board's vice-president Al MacGregor.

"You could say we were instrumental in coming up with idea...going from base one. The Sturgeon Lake band took it from there. They've done a bit of work on it."

MacGregor says the chopstick idea developed during a trip he took to Prince George, B.C. Two years ago when he discovered a Korean-owned operation production chopsticks.

The potential for such a market in northern Alberta became evident at that time and Sturgeon Lake became the best candidate for development, he says.

"I took it (idea) back to the board and they thought it was a good one." The Sturgeon Lake band was then approached the plan "and they were all for it. We helped them with a

business plan. Now it's up to them to make it work."

In light of Valleyview's involvement in the project, he feels the band has been responsive and committed to the project.

"I don't want to take any of the credit away from the band. The band has done 90 per cent of the work to get the thing on the road. There has been a lot of ups and downs."

The Sturgeon Lake band organized Cree Valley Industries Ltd. (CVI) to run the operation. CVI general manger Steve Shang says Native involvement in the project has been a 100 per cent effort.

"We don't have anything to do with the people in Valleyview," he said.

Sturgeon Lake Chief Ronald Sunshine says he doesn't recall Valleyview making any effort to get involved. "If they were it was before I became chief" in 1987. Before than, he says, the Sturgeon Lake band may have communicated with the Valleyview board about the chopstick deal. "But we've only worked with Steve (Shang)."

Valleyview mayor Peter Gilchrist says regardless of who came up with the idea, he is optimistic about the band's business future because of what it went through to get the factory built.

"They've had a lot of obstacles but they didn't let that stop them. They were determined to do it and they went ahead."

Gilchrist says he sees the factory as an excellent stimulus for employment and growth for both the Valleyview and Native communities.

Sturgeon Lake elder Dan MacLean says he thought the chopstick factory was a ludicrous idea when first hearing about it.

"I had to laugh. I thought it was a joke. But now I think it will turn out to be a pretty good thing."