Economic Investment Sector

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:

• Ashfire Wear
• Rain Cycle Irrigation, Systems and Solutions

• ʔAq̓am Trading Gas Bar

• Ainsworth Hot Spring Resort

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.

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.

Download the full report HERE.

1. Building Community Business Development Capacity Initiative:

• ʔaq̓am Community Enterprises hired Ryan Phillips Clement as a Business Development Assistant;
• Yaqa·n Nuʔkiy hired David Mutch as Agriculture Business Coordinator;
• Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡiʾit supports Ka·kin Resource Corporation to represent the community;
• Nupqu hired Kevin Wilson as Business Development Manager;
• ʔakisq̓nuk FN, the Economic Sector disbursed the Sector’s portion to the community for year 1 to assist in economic development and planning.

2. Ktunaxa Economic Summit:

• The Sector is undertaking this project to:
• Reaffirm and continue to grow relationships with communities and citizens;
• Summit information will guide the Sector’s strategic goals and Nation wide initiatives;
• Information sharing as to what the Sector does for the Nation, including citizens, businesses and communities;
• Continue to develop best practices and governance policies that are supported by Nation leadership;
• Community/business interests that can be incorporated into the Sector’s work planning activities;
• To create a platform for engagement with Nation members, communities and Ktunaxa businesses;

3. Ktunaxa / Teck Impact Management and Benefits Agreement (IMBA):

• Please download full report HERE.

4. Kicking Horse Canyon Highway 1 Phase IV Construction:

The Economic Sector is working with the Ministry’s preferred vendor, Kicking Horse Canyon Constructors, to provide contracting opportunities to Ktunaxa business. The project began in the spring of 2021 with a handful of Ktunaxa businesses already providing products and services to the project. Full benefits are not yet being realized due to COVID restrictions and delays in engagement with the contractor.