More and more businesses are flocking to First Nation communities to work with them on various business ventures. TD Economics recently looked at the purchasing power out of First Nation communities. and found growth among Aboriginal based businesses.
Alderville First Nation is an example of one of those ventures. It is constructing a five megawatt solar farm over 50 acres.
It is the first 100 per cent First Nation owned solar farm in Ontario. James Marsden, who has been Chief of the community for 10 years says it was a golden opportunity for them.
Over the length of the contract, Marsden said, the community could make upwards of $59 million.
Alderville has a population of just over 1100 people. There are more than 70 new members under the Bill C-3 legislation.
“The government said we’re not going to be funding any new members that come,” Marsden says, “But you know you have to treat everyone equal so we have to find different sources of own source revenue.”
The small First Nation is located 120 kilometres northeast of Toronto and operates services such as a health centre, daycare and community centres on the reserve.
Angela Gillies, who is Band Administrator says this project is a big deal for the community.
“We’re probably looking at about anywhere between $300-500 thousand a year that is going to be injected back into the first nation.”
A total of 3000 mega watts of renewable energy will be plugged into the grid in 2013. The Minister of Energy Bob Chiarelli says between 10 and 15 per cent of those contracts are with First Nation communities.
“When they’re part of a renewable energy project they have sustainable revenue stream for a period of 20 years and its very critical for economic development and jobs for First Nation communities.”
More than 20 temporary construction jobs were created for the Alderville project as a part of the project.
Silfab Ontario, a company that manufactures solar panels, is one of the partners and its CEO, Paolo Maccarao, says while the work on the farm is temporary, the skills learned there will benefit people in the long term.
“The employees have to be trained here, to be able to go out and get good jobs installing solar panels, operating and maintaining those farms is still something that I think will prevail”
That sustainability means a brighter future. And that is important for Marsden, who is also a Grandfather of four.
Davis with TD Bank says this is an exciting time for Aboriginal communities and the future looks even better.
“The aboriginal community is seen as an untapped resource. We have the youngest population across canada, we’re a growing population, almost 50% of the population is under the age of 25,” he said. “Clearly having aborignal people skilled, trained and working within your company is going to lead to enhanced productivity down the road.”
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