THUNDER BAY – BUSINESS – Wisk Air Helicopters has joined CreeWest GP Inc. in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and joint venture to provide rotary services to northern First Nations, including CreeWest’s four ownership First Nation communities along the James Bay and Hudson’s Bay Coast.
“It is a pleasure to join this group and we look forward to bringing rotary services to the north,” says Mark Wiskemann, President, Wisk Air.
CreeWest is owned by four First Nation shareholders: Attawapiskat, Kashechewan, Fort Albany and Weenusk. In 2008, the Chiefs passed a resolution authorizing CreeWest to invest in the aviation industry.
“We’ve entered into the MOU with Wisk Air because of their expertise and longevity in their field of work. We feel there’s a lot of merit and added benefit to our communities and our Regional Organization as well as other First Nations to have rotary aircraft services in addition to our fixed wing services and over-all operations,” says Ron Basaraba, CEO, CreeWest GP Inc.
“Getting into a joint venture MOU with a company as well seasoned, established and with a good track record like Wisk Air is a perfect fit to our aviation endeavours,” Basaraba says.
“This partnership will once again foster engagement, respect, and transparency while supplying services to these First Nations,” Wiskemann says. “We strive to deliver respectful, transparent services to First Nations, and realize they are a vital component to the management and development of all projects in their region.”
Wisk Air is also pleased to have agreements with numerous First Nations communities in the Ring of Fire and Lake Nipigon area.
“We seek to engage and support these First Nations in order to bring prosperity to these communities,” Wiskemann says.
