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College thanked

by Gregg Halfyard ©

There was a presentation at
Northwest Corimunity College on
July 25. The parties involved were
the Bums Lake Native Develop-
ment Corporation (BLNDC) and
Northwest Community College.
The purpose for the ceremony was
the BLNDC’s sincere appreciation
of the support that it received from
NWCC almost 20 years ago. -

Gary Kijowski, general manager
and representing the board of
directors of the BLNDC, presented
NWCC president Don Anderson
with a beautiful painting entitled
"The Spirit of the Great Eagle".
But not before explaining the
history of the BLNDC, its growth

_ and successes, and the vital sup-
port of the college.

"We are thanking the college for
their work in our inception almost
20 years ago," Kijowski stated. He
added that it was very difficult to
get the skills and business training
hecessary, for a native-focused
economic venture back in the mid-
70s. Requests and suggestions for
business management and educa-
tional training fell upon deaf cars
— except at NWCC. "The only

: ‘Where To Find If

college that responded was
NWCC," he said.- Kijowski
explained that in the past there was
an “ethnocentric philosophy" on
the part of educational institutions’
attempts to integrate the native
culture into non-native communi-
ties. Not only did the college
respond in a more progressive
manner, “it utilized many of the
resources of. the community to
deliver the programs provided,” he
continued,

_ The history of BLNDC began 17
years ago when it was incorporated

‘through seed capital and a loan

from the Ministry of Native
Affairs. It was based on a "collec-
tive vision of a socio-economic
community" that has evolved into
a privately owned and operated
debt/equity financing corporation.
According to Kijowski the prelude
to the inception of the corporation
saw a fluctuating economy in
transition.

"In the late 60s and carly 70s,
the lumber industry was in turmoil.
There were hundreds of small
sawmills in the Lakes District that
were not cutting it. More high-tech
knowledge was needed. Native
people were iaid off and out of

work with very little skills or
education."

An industrial consortium was
called at that time, creating Babine
Forest Products, Kijowski added.
As a result, a joint business ven-
ture was formed with Weldwood
of Canada, Eurocan and West
Fraser, creating a two to three
percent share for BLNDC.

"Outsiders said, This consortium
will not make it’." uO

BLNDC did make it indeed.
Today it is a multi-million corpor-
ation. BLNDC owns 20 percent of
Babine Forest Products, as well as
Burns Lake Specialty Wood Mill,
owns real estate, and does eco-
nomic. development for the Bands
that own the corporation. The

secondary manufacturing plant has

been producing furniture, housing

components and window framing .

for the Japanese and European
markets. "This is our value-added
sector, consuming less timber for
greater value," Kijowski stated.
There are 280 employees in total,
with almost 35 percent natives.
The impact of native employment
is seen "right through the hier-
archical structure, from labour

right through to management,” -

Terrace Review — Wednesday, August 14, 1991 B9

Kijowski proudly added.
Northwest Community College
has clearly done itself and its
community proud with its initiative
and support of the BLNDC 17
years ago. The business training
and management skills needed

for aid to native enterprise

were provided for a group that had
"a vision of a socio-economic
community", After 17 years, the
BLNDC has returned to thank the
college — "the blueprint was

founded by NWCC back in those _

days".

SKS

SNA

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