A $16.45-million funding agreement with the province will help put the Tseshaht First Nation on the path to economic self-sufficiency, says its elected chief councillor.
The 1,300-member nation near Port Alberni already has development plans that include partnering on a new hotel in the city, rental housing projects and mapping out an access road for an upcoming business park.
An agreement signed this week between the nation and the province will see funding in four separate payments to support the nation’s economic development.
Part of the provincial funding comes from claims related to timber sales for wood harvested in the Nahmint Valley, said Wahmeesh Ken Watts, elected chief councillor for the nation.
Spread out over several years, the provincial funding will help provide equity “so that we can take care of our own community and we can create enough wealth in our community that we aren’t having to rely on government funding,” he said.
“That’s always been the long-term vision of our community — that we can be self-sufficient someday.”
The funding will go to projects both on and off the nation’s land, Watts said.
Tseshaht First Nation is planning to build a Microtel hotel in the Alberni Valley in partnership with the Huu-ay-aht First Nation, Hupacasath First Nation and MasterBUILT Hotels.
The planned access road to the business park will allow utilities to be installed and open up the area for light industrial and commercial use, plus possible market housing, he said.
The nation is also developing a joint venture with ROGA Contracting that will include road building, logging and excavation.
A new company called Maktlee Drone Services is also in the works.
The nation is looking at market rental projects as well as affordable housing development and says it hopes to make an announcement shortly.
Supplying housing will help attract nation members back home, said Watts, who wants to see the nation involved in a variety of small initiatives in a diverse economy providing well-paying jobs for members.
At first, much of the economic development will be done through partnerships so the nation can work with others with expertise, Watts said.
“Someday we’ll get a point where we can just do it ourselves.”
Watts said the goal is not just to provide housing for the nation’s members but to provide potential economic development through housing.
“Because there’s no reason why First Nations can’t be developers,” he said.
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