Partnerships about more than business: community needs at forefront of industry collaboration.

• Author: Ketonen, Kris
• Position: ABORIGINAL BUSINESS

Partnerships between Indigenous communities and the private sector should incorporate both business and community development aspects if they're going to be successful, said an executive with Fort William First Nation.

Ian Bannon, director of property and lands management with Fort William First Nation (FWFN), told the Aboriginal Partnership Exchange conference in Thunder Bay in June that any partnership talks should start with a simple question: what's needed?

"It's putting the needs of the community on the table, and the struggles of the community on the table, as well, and asking those partnerships,'How can you help us?'" Bannon said during a panel discussion titled Partnerships Between First Nations and Industry Best Practices.

Bannon was joined by Adam Rose, engineering manager with True Grit Consulting, and Craig Batten, regional human resources manager with Resolute Forest Products, for the hour-long talk.

"We don't come to the table experienced, educated and with all of those required skills," Bannon said. "We don't--let's face it. We learn because we're working with our partners."

Bannon said for FWFN, any partnerships must benefit the community's members.

"We must be able to provide opportunities for our communities to become sustainable and self-sufficient," he said. "We must be able to ensure that employment opportunities are generated and provided to our members. We must ensure appropriate training is provided, along with job-readiness programs." Bannon offered Oshki-Aki LP, a partnership between Thunder Bay-based True Grit Consulting and FWFN, as a case study.

Oshki-Aki was formed in 2011, and has allowed FWFN to undertake a number of large, capacity-building projects in the community, including the design and construction of new powwow grounds, drainage improvements, the construction of a new office complex, and the complete rehabilitation of Mission Road, one of FWFN's main roadways.

Further, with technical and administrative support from True Grit, FWFN has been able to move into a project management role and bid on large government, mining and energy projects in Ontario, Bannon said.

"The partnership arrangement has allowed Fort William First Nation to think big," Bannon said.

But there's more to Oshki-Aki than the physical projects themselves. The partnership has also created opportunities for FWFN members.

"We've had surveyors, lab technicians, environmental monitors, and co-op students integrated from Fort William First...