Anishinabek Nation economic development forum features industry panelists

By Sam Laskaris

CHIPPEWAS OF RAMA FIRST NATION – A wide array of topics were discussed at this year’s Anishinabek Nation Economic Development Opportunities Forum.

The three-day event, which concluded on Oct. 23, was held at the Casino Rama Resort, located on the Chippewas of Rama First Nation.

Some of the sessions at the event included a Tourism Panel, Technology and Innovation Panel, and an Agricultural Panel.

The Tourism Panel included Jeff Monague, a member of Beausoleil First Nation who is the manager of Springwater Provincial Park. During his presentation, Monague, a former Chief and councillor of his First Nation, discussed the successful Magic of Lights experience at the park.

Monague said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, he had a chance encounter with a man walking his dog in the park. That individual told Monague he was involved in light displays that are set up across Canada and the United States during the Christmas season.

“People do this circle and observe Christmas light decorations in these places,” Monague said. “And they made a lot of money doing that.”

Monague asked if he would consider a similar display at Springwater Provincial Park, which is operated by Beausoleil First Nation. The park had its first Magic of Lights display in 2021.

“From that first year, from when we did a pilot project, it was very successful,” he said. “And we brought in people from around the area. The community did all the work. They paid all the advertising. They put everything in place, but we made sure they weren’t damaging the land.”

Now, others are looking to follow suit.

“Ontario Parks has observed what we were doing,” Monague said. “Now, they are our partners fully. They backed us and they’re actually talking about doing the same thing in other parks.”

Meanwhile, Kailey Ledrew, the manager of the Rama Community Farm, was one of the speakers on the Agricultural Panel. The Rama farm was launched in 2018.

“Its whole goal was to bring that fresh produce to people,” she said. “With that, we have increased food security. With that, we have increased food sovereignty. And Rama being so community-centred and focused, of course it was going to be an opportunity for the community to get involved.”

The farm is now a successful money-maker.

“The feedback that we get is amazing,” Ledrew said. “And it’s something that I’m very proud [of what] we’re doing and proud that Rama is backing us and supports this project and sees what the return on our investment really is.”

As for the Technology and Innovation Panel, it included Chad Solomon, a member of Henvey Inlet First Nation. Solomon launched Biskane, an Indigenous supply chain, a couple of years ago.

“Basically, what we do is we simply help, whether it be a small mom-and-pop company or an individual business, connect with diversifying and find their potential opportunities of revenue,” he said.

For example, Biskane is currently connecting Indigenous earring makers to help get their products into Winners stores across the country.

Winners’ parent business, TJX Companies, is also eager to get some licensed Indigenous art into some of their HomeSense stores across the country.

“The idea is we want to be able to create diversifiable income for community artists and businesses that have opportunities for people that are just not making those connections currently,” Solomon said. “So, that’s why we’re focusing on the supply chain.”