THUNDER BAY –From Tuesday through Thursday at Chippawa Park, the Grey Wolf Teaching Lodge is presenting “Voices from the Past, for Tomorrow” which is a traditional Youth and Elders Gathering.
The event offers the opportunity for youth, young adults and Elders to participate in a traditional and cultural gathering. Organizer Cindy Crowe says, “We provide this opportunity for our youth, young parents and our Elders to gather in a sacred way, a loving way where we can learn and teach each other yesterday and today.”
As well, on Tuesday evening, at Lakehead University, Chief Clarence Louie takes the podium at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 21 [in ATAC 2001 (Thunder Bay) with overflow/videoconferencing to ATAC 2021 (Thunder Bay) and HP 0004 (Orillia)]. He will deliver a message that focuses on working hard and staying in school in order to prepare students and community members to benefit from the opportunities that current and planned developments around the city and region may bring.
In the Windsor, Blutcher and Picton Street area, there will be a bus leaving from the 31@ Junot Centre for Lakehead University at 6PM and returning afterward to the for the talk on Tuesday night. Cost is free.
To get a taste of what Chief Louie is all about, here are his words:
Aboriginal communities of Canada suffer from generations of high unemployment and the Osoyoos Indian Band was no exception. So in 2000 the Osoyoos Indian Band of British Columbia embarked upon a strategy to attain economic self-sufficiency by the year 2005.
Through an aggressive strategy of research, planning, investment, business development and training – our community has now largely achieved this goal. We make money and we created jobs – on the “Rez”.
The Osoyoos Indian Band now has more businesses per capita than any First Nation in Canada. Our 430 member Band is recognized throughout North America for achieving successful economic development in a sustainable manner.
With 10 businesses, 500+permanent jobs, partnerships and joint ventures, I would like to share our business journey with other Aboriginal communities, governments and corporations.
Using our Band’s real life experience we will provide an exceptional and unique opportunity to share our reality in what it has taken to create business. The journey of the Osoyoos Indian Band exemplifies what can be achieved when leadership, governance and business principles are applied to the Rez context.
As a community we recognize the social and financial benefits that can be realized through good planning, sound investment and working cooperatively with our neighbors.
Nation building in today’s world must have a sustainable economic development foundation based on creating real jobs and making profit.
This is my invitation to join our team in sharing the Osoyoos Indian Band experience in creating “independence” – rather than “dependence” on the Rez.
Chief Clarence Louie