Investment and Development

The strategic intent of this important initiative is to take forward a range of appropriate nation level ventures capable of stimulating equitable opportunity and returns to its member bands to help initiate and sustain nation and local level projects and programs.

As a separate legal vehicle the ONDC will enable business units to operate under the umbrella of a professional, business-minded, arms-length Corporation to effectively absorb, manage, and reinvest benefits generated through natural resource negotiations and corporate investments and projects.

To achieve progress on the many aspects of the Economic Development mandate, a comprehensive short-term approach has been approved by the Chiefs Executive Council (CEC) to progress parallel streams of Strategic and Operational development, aimed at growing corporate and process competencies, leading up to the launch of an ‘Okanagan Nation Development Corporation’ (ONDC), anticipated to be launched in 2005. The following illustration provides an overview of the twin-track approach:


The twin-track approach aims to strike an appropriate balance between:

  • responding to the demand from community leaders, stakeholders, and private sector partners for a comprehensive delivery vehicle for integrated economic development; and
  • the need to establish a clear and supportive context for Economic Development, at national and local levels, and to secure resources for development.

The EDO has concluded that for the successful delivery of the EC Dev function and proposed ONDC model– two sets of conditions need to be in place, covering policy and process requirements.

The policy requirements include:

  • a supportive operating environment, with clear endorsement from the Chiefs and Band Councils
  • methodology for integration with existing organizational departments
  • establishment of clear criterion to guide investment and project development, and redistribution of wealth
  • agreement on guiding principles and corresponding structure and governance
  • demonstrated support from national and regional agencies
  • hort term development fundings
  • private sector and community commitment

The process requirements include:

  • inclusive structures and a spirit of partnership
  • an agreed vision, strategy and business plan
  • clear understanding of roles and responsibilities
  • community ‘buy-in’; and
  • effective channels of communication between all interests.

The work to date recognizes the need to develop a strong and accountable infrastructure that will enhance credibility and competitiveness, which will build a highly functional and sustainable operational base. The ability to work collaboratively will be critical as the unit moves forward in assessing opportunities and facilitating agreements that comply with both policy and process requirements. The ONA has been initiating programs that foster collaborative working competencies both across the Nation and across cultures by focussing on three key elements in the immediate term: Relationship Building, Capacity Building, and Communications, critical to stimulate understanding and a shared perspective at both the leadership/policy (top down) and grass roots operational (bottom up/process) levels.

In the very short time since its inception, the Economic Development Unit has expended considerable effort on positioning the Nation to benefit from natural resource negotiations and in developing Community driven frameworks and criteria to underpin the development and transition of business under the ONDC umbrella. By initiating, partnering in, or delivering the following contemporary activities, a compelling rationale and context for the ongoing promotion of this unit has emerged:

     • Okanagan Partnership Cluster Strategy & First Nation Flagship (Click for explanation)

     • The Unity Principle Economic Development Series (Click for explanation)

     • Lands and Resources Task Force (Click for explanation)

     • ONA Quality Management Systems Project (Click for explanation)

     • ABSN REACH Site & Business Development Workshops; andCommunity Economic        Development Process (Click for explanation)

These are of course inter-related, but we deal with them in turn by providing a brief explanation of each below:


The Okanagan Partnership Cluster Strategy & First Nation Flagship

Across the Okanagan Valley an unprecedented commitment to collaborative working has been emerging with many business leaders, government heads, and regional representative agencies participating in a process to develop a regional (Okanagan) strategy for economic development. Many First Nation representatives and ONA staff participated in the Okanagan Partnership (OP) Cluster Strategy development process offering knowledge, insights and creative energy to generate a contemporary framework for effective collaboration that will help a range of interested parties harness and realize the Okanagan region’s full potential. Through this process the ONA has been recognized as a lead working partner, in its capacity as the corresponding regional body providing a collective point of entry for working with the First Nation community on regional initiatives.
The Chief’s Executive Council has likewise given its endorsement to the Economic Development unit for ongoing participation in and evaluation of the strategy’s potential concerning First Nation opportunities. It has been agreed that the ONA will provide the driving force behind the ‘First Nation Flagship’. As well, the ONA’s Economic Development Officer represents the Okanagan Nation as a Steward of the intitiative on their Board of Directors, and the ONA’s Chief Forester Co-Chairs the Okanagan Partnership’s Forestry Cluster Working Group (one of seven targeted regional economic development priorities).

(reference link to www.okanaganpartnership.ca)

'The Unity Principle' Economic Development Series

The first Symposium in the series was held July 8 th, 2004 as an important strategic initiative intended to initiate and foster collaborative working competencies both across the Nation, and across cultures by bringing focus to some of the most current and successful models for working together for shared and sustainable prosperity.

Over 70 Okanagan Nation representatives inclusive of all seven member bands attended the First Nation capacity building session, and a gathering of 160, including key representatives from business, industry, and government, attended a networking and dinner gala to explore next steps in ‘Working Together – ‘A Vision for Change’. Respondents to the Symposium Exit Survey gave top priority to ongoing work to establish an Okanagan Nation-wide forestry agreement, and requested future symposiums on Tourism, Development & Investment, Education & Training, and Community Visioning. Approximately 15 individuals from across the Nation have put their names forward for inclusion on an Economic Development Working Group to continue the progressive strategic momentum from this event. A dozen well placed representatives from mainstream business, industry, government and education bodies have also identified themselves as participants on a cross-cultural advisory. Both of these working groups provide tentacles into the community, disseminating and gathering information as part of the important communications network that is critical to the collaborative working agenda.

Dates:

Nation Building through Economic Development and Working Together
A Vision for Change ( July 8, 2004 )

Aboriginal Tourism & Cultural Product Development Conference
(January 24 & 25, 2005)

See 'News and Events' for more information

The Unity Principle: Nation Building Through Economic Development, July 8, 2004

Lands and Resources Task Force

A Lands and Resources Task Force has also been established at the Nation level. This Task Force consists of 1 representative from each of our 7 member Bands. The group was established via Band Council Resolutions, supported by the ONA, to engage in negotiations with the Province pertaining to Forest and Range Agreements as well as the Okanagan Innovative Forestry Practices Agreement (IFPA). The Task Force consists of 4 Chiefs, 2 councillors, and 1 Band Manager. Two ONA support staff (Chief Forester and the Land Stewardship Manager) are tasked with co-ordinating the negotiation process. The establishment of a forestry business unit will provide a strong foundation for the Okanagan Nation Development Corporation. This business unit will provide significant seed money and leveraging power for the development of additional business ventures. There is provincial recognition that interior Bands are having difficulties in engaging in Forest and Range opportunities and internal meetings within the Ministry of Forests are planned to look ‘outside the box’ in creating win-win economic opportunities for First Nations.

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ONA Quality Management System

The ONA is pursuing a systematic approach to ensure its ability to adapt to change (the integration of the Economic Development Unit and the launch of the ONDC) to embrace and manage new opportunities through strong and transparent business processes. Our management system approach is being tailor-made with the assistance of the BDC Consulting group and complements our commitment to ground-breaking regional and local capacity building and community economic development. The focus is on being proactive in generating benefits for our clients with their active involvement to move forward with a clear mandate and agreed responsibilities, rather than on undertaking remedial action at a later date. This will help us to ensure consistency and quality in our ability to manage the business ventures under the ONDC umbrella and build credibility for subsequent business and investment units.

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ABSN REACH Site, Business Development Workshops
~and~ Community Economic Development Process

T he Economic Development Unit has successfully sought and received approval from the Aboriginal Business Service Network to host an Aboriginal REACH Site to provide the Okanagan Nation’s existing and potential entrepreneurs with access to and use of business resource materials, internet facilities and training support to undertake business development research. A strategy to integrate access and training content, under the wider umbrella of Community Economic Development is currently under development. It is anticipated that an Aboriginal Business Development Liaison will be in place in Spring 2005 to take the service into the seven member communities on an ‘Outreach’ basis, and that this position will also support the undertaking of a Community Economic Development process to help identify business opportunities and the education and training programmes needed to bring these to fruition. The Liaison will help to build relationships with and between both groups, so that we may begin to effectively arrest and reverse the corresponding long-standing opportunity costs to the Okanagan. In positioning an Aboriginal Business Development Liaison, the ONA would be enabled to develop the capacity needed to underpin economic growth at the individual (entrepreneurial); community (band); Nation; and Okanagan region levels, and create more meaningful linkages between the communities and affiliate economic development agencies.

The following version of the twin track model illustrates how the work to date supports the strategic intent of the approach:



The Twin-Track Framework is a tandem process for the development of the ONDC. It recognizes that sustainable Economic Development requires an organization to develop strategic alliances, partnerships and to ensure that the Board of Directors participates in the development of the ONDC model. At the same time there is a need to operationalize the process. There is a need to outreach to communities and raise awareness of the Economic Development opportunities for individual members. The success of this initiative requires a tandem process with a mechanism for communications and feedback both internally and externally.

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