Category AGA 2021   Show all

  • AGA Update: Ktunaxa Indigenous Business Certification

    What is a Ktunaxa Business?

    Watch introductory video HERE.

    For detailed information please visit: Ktunaxa Business Certification Website

    By Donald Sam,
    Interim Sector Director (Senior Manager)

    Indigenous Business Certification

    The Ktunaxa Economic and Investment Sector is currently working on a policy to implement an Indigenous Business Certification policy.

    This initiative results from requests from the community's Economic Development Officers and CEOs for more clarity and fairness in the award of contracts for Ktunaxa businesses, starting from a definition of “What is a Ktunaxa Business?”

    In order to do so, the sector plans to organize consultations with Ktunaxa businesses, communities and citizens to better understand their needs and how they answer the question “What is a Ktunaxa Business?”

    This project has been developed by Tanis Richmond and Jose R. Galdamez from the Economic Sector, and will be carried on by Alexis Martig who is replacing Tanis Richmond during her maternity leave.

    This project aims to:

    a) Ensure that the competition between Ktunaxa businesses is based on fairness, transparency and results in the improvement of the well-being of the Ktunaxa citizens, communities and Nation;

    b) Ensure that the definition of a Ktunaxa Business is coming from, and controlled by, the Ktunaxa Nation and not from external institutions as the B.C. government or even third parties such as industry.

    The objective is to implement this policy in 2021.

  • AGA Update: Micro-Lending

    By Donald Sam,
    Interim Sector Director (Senior Manager)

    The Ktunaxa Economic Investment Sector (KEIS) micro-lending program started back up in May, 2021 after being on a pause due to Covid-19.

    The micro-lending program is here to support those Ktunaxa citizens, entrepreneurs and businesses that require up to $10,000 to assist in starting or growing a business.

    We had a number of Ktunaxa businesses that reached out whilst the program was on pause.

    If you are interested in knowing more about this micro-loan please reach out to Janice Alpine or Shane Stewart, business development officers

    Janice: jalpine@kabda.org

    Shane: shane.stewart@ktunaxa.org

  • AGA Update: Ktunaxa Business Promotion

    By Donald Sam,
    Interim Sector Director (Senior Manager)

    We have been delivering many presentations on the Ktunaxa Ready Online Directory, presentations to all the industries such as Fortis BC, BC Hydro, Teck, Columbia Power, Steel River Solutions, Kicking Horse Canyon Constructors, TC Energy and many more.

    These presentations are to showcase the Ktunaxa businesses and entrepreneurs, showing these industries that the Ktunaxa are a large part of the local economy and do have the knowledge and capacity to undertake work on their projects.

    Working with TC Energy, we figured out a solution to an extremely sensitive project: Replacing all the old Trans Canada signage for the new TC Energy signs.

    TCE needed a project coordinator that could employ Indigenous people from each community that the signs needed to be replaced. A Ktunaxa business was awarded the delicate project.

    Projects upcoming in the next 12 months that we have been showcasing all the Ktunaxa Businesses to include:

    • Fortis BC - IGU -2020-2023
    • BC Hydro - 2021-2024 Natal substation
    • Steel River Solutions – 2020-2023 Fortis IGU
    • Kicking Horse Canyon Constructors –2021-2024- Kicking Horse road twinning
    • Canfor - Firewood opportunity for Ktunaxa entrepreneurs and possibly a trucking opportunity.

  • AGA Update: Ktunaxa Regional Branding Initiative

    By Donald Sam,
    Interim Sector Director (Senior Manager)

    With files from Janice Alpine,
    Business Development Officer / Tourism Engagement

    The Ktunaxa Nation Council has become a member of the following Chambers of Commerce through the Economic and Investment Sector to gain recognition in the business sector:

    • Cranbrook
    • Nelson
    • Trail
    • Castlegar
    • Creston
    • Fernie
    • Invermere
    • Kimberley
    • Golden

    The Ktunaxa Regional Branding Initiative (KRBI) has made monumental strides since its inception in 2017.

    The KRBI process includes the Ktunaxa in promoting the Kootenay region to the world.

    Partnerships have developed with tour operators, provincial and municipal parks, regional districts, Columbia River Treaty Heritage Project and destination marketing organizations to enhance the knowledge of the Ktunaxa through interpretive signage, website and visitors-guide methods.

    Marketing the Kootenay region has increased collaboration with regional business service providers, including Community Futures East Kootenay, Cranbrook Tourism, Kootenay Rockies Tourism and Destination BC.

    Working with the City of Cranbrook and regional business operators and organizations to partner in initiatives that support the Ktunaxa. One demonstration of collaboration is the City was the raising of the Ktunaxa flag on June 21, 2021, to acknowledge Indigenous Peoples Day and herald cooperation between the Nation and the City.


    Learn more about KNC and City of Cranbrook's government-to-government partnership by reading this feature story in Kootenay Business Magazine.

  • AGA Update: KABDA & Flexinet

    By Donald Sam,
    Interim Sector Director (Senior Manager)

    With files from Janice Alpine,
    Business Development Officer, Tourism Engagement, KRBI

    and Shane Stewart
    Business Development Officer, Ktunaxa Ready Manager

    At the beginning of 2020, the economy was faced with COVID-19 restrictions that affected it with a drastic requirement to halt business activities.

    This resulted in many businesses closing their doors and some who may never recover.

    KABDA has been instrumental in ensuring all announcements and bulletins from the Federal government were sent to the client data base as they rolled in.

    Much of the work has been done in a Remote Working Environment via virtual meetings and mindful if in-person meetings were to helping it was done abiding by social distancing requirements.

    Shane Stewart joined the team as a Business Development Officer with excellent momentum, as the pandemic struck the economy was uncertain and entrepreneurs began self-preservation mode and the Business Development officers began the road to supporting closures, downsizing and offering communication on Canada’s COVID-19 relief funding and support businesses to pivot into a new business model.


    WHAT DOES KABDA DO?

    KABDA assists and mentors Ktunaxa entrepreneurs and businesses who request help.


    We help with:

    • capacity growth,
    • funding for additional equipment,
    • website and marketing,
    • business planning and cash-flow forecasting,
    • one-on-one training and
    • new start-up businesses and feasibility studies.
    • We receive high levels of communication from entrepreneurs that just want to ‘bounce’ ideas off us, we are here to help with anything business related.

    By the end of 2020 KABDA was able to work in a collaborated effort and draw on the Economic and Investment Staff to offer support in a more complete and balanced approach that included expertise in; Industry Engagement, Procurement and Business Analysis, Economics, Business Development, and Tourism.

    Intake of overall Indigenous clients increased by 50.4% from last fiscal.

    KABDA News Link

    Other Facebook Video Links:

    FLEXINET

    Since December 2020 we have been meeting regularly with CBT/CBBC focusing on the wholesale internet that FlexiNet purchases from CBBC and sells on to its clients.


    We are working on creating pricing models for the communities and Ktunaxa citizens that will eventually allow FlexiNet to be competitive with speeds and pricing.


    It hasn’t been easy for FlexiNet over they years, with the high cost of internet and maintenance expenditures, FlexiNet has struggled to turn a profit. We are working closely with David Monson (General Manager) on business development, structure, pricing, customer support, customer retention, upgrading infrastructure through federal and regional grants and supporting the Ktunaxa people with fast, reliable and affordable connectivity.

    The grants total almost $3mil (via 4 x individual grants). These funds will be used to upgrade and replace some of the Ktunaxa Nation Network (KNN), strengthen the tower to tower connectivity, to bring faster more reliable and competitive priced internet to the FlexiNet users. This is all part of the business development Plan with FlexiNet.


    Akisqnuk is one of the locations a portion of the grant funds are being allocated. This will be a Fibre to the Home (FTTH) project and Phase 1 started in June 2021.


    Phase 2 will be completed in 2022, this will allow the option of fibre speed internet at lower prices for all the Akisqnuk citizens. Phase 1 is being funded by 2 grants and the KNC then Phase 2 will be funded by the remaining 2 grants. The RDEK is in full support of the upgrade projects as they are very keen to see faster speeds in the Valley.



  • AGA Update: Industry Engagement and Success Story

    By Donald Sam,
    Interim Sector Director (Senior Manager)

    With files from Marion Eunson,
    Industry Engagement Officer

    This has definitely been an interesting year to reflect upon.

    The global Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) continued to challenge everyone in advancing our steps in bringing collaborative conversations together and finding ways to getting ideas pop from the screens and into real life.

    The internal KNC Director re-assignment was a bit of a curve to navigate at the start, back in September; our team was challenged to identify if/how the work we are involved in affects the quality of life for the Ktunaxa Citizens.

    Communication and meaningful engagement are two areas I feel have been hardest hit (due to COVID-19) this past year; much of the work I am involved in are sharing ideas, getting your feedback and better ideas and bringing your messages back to the industries and organizations I work with.

    INTERNAL STRATEGIC PLANNING

    Much of the work I am involved in supports internal strategic planning – involving many of the sector teams within the Ktunaxa Nation Council.

    I also connect with many of the industries active within ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa who are involved in the Ktunaxa economy.

    What this looks like:

    Internal and external networking, collaborating and helping chart pathways to understand what we/they do; respectfully creating space and processes to have difficult conversations and find ways for decision-making, resolutions and solutions.

    Linking & leveraging people and opportunities: Big or small, one or many; with & within the Ktunaxa Nation Council (inter-sectoral); with & within the Ktunaxa communities and with & within external partners.

    Support Ktunaxa Citizens, communities and organizations in finding ways to help develop and expand Ktunaxa presence, influence, participation and at the decision-making table within the region, communities and beyond.

    Eight external industry engagements include:

    1. BC Hydro
    2. Canfor
    3. Columbia Power Corporation
    4. Fortis BC
    5. Ministry Transportation Infrastructure (MOTI)
    6. Paper Excellence
    7. TC Energy (TransCanada)
    8. Teck Resources

    Let’s look at one example of how we work together to increase Ktunaxa presence & participation within the Ktunaxa economy:

    - > ProActive Safety and First Aid

    Frontline action: TC Energy, Fortis BC and Teck have all played a role in creating space (within & around their projects TCE: Westpath; Fortis BC: IGU; Teck: Castle) and building capacity (process knowledge & networks) of a Ktunaxa entrepreneur who is now operating a successful Ktunaxa business!

    Behind the scenes: Industry, KNC and Citizen Engagement; research and business planning; KNC Economic Sector program resources, KABDA, Ktunaxa Ready, on-going business development support; Nupqu and KNC Education & Employment teams have also played roles as have many others – including family and friends!

    This example can be interpreted as positively affecting the quality of life for one Ktunaxa family.

    Are you aware of other examples?

    There are many more... and we will keep moving ahead to create space and build capacity toward a robust Ktunaxa economy.