BUILDING BUSINESSES AND PROVIDING
A FERTILE GROUND FOR ENTREPRENEURS

What is First Nation Business Development Corp?

The Economic and Community Development Secretariat has been directed to create a Wholesale Company that would benefit First Nations of Saskatchewan. The company will be a First Nations controlled entity that would aggregate and leverage First Nations demand for groceries, gasoline, tobacco, dry goods, household goods, and clothing (to name a few) on behalf of First Nations business, organizations and government.

The company is incorporated under the name:
First Nations Business Development Corp.

Current Status

On January 21, 2005, a First Nations Wholesale Buying Group (FNWBG) Steering Committee meeting was convened to move forward the formalization and legal structuring of the group. The Steering Committee was asked to choose an interim Board of Directors that the group could then designate to act on their behalf.

Chief Roy Cheecham – Chair
Chief Henry Lewis
Vice – Chief Guy Lonechild
Mr. William Lavalee
Mr. Terry Keewatin
Mr. Ron Ahenakew
Chief Austin Bear

Mr. Bob Behari will form a company with which the Buying Group would enter into an agreement with. The preferred arrangement being struck with Mr. Behari’s group is a limited partnership arrangement between the FNWBG and Mr. Behari’s company. The limited partnership would be based on reserve and be for profit.

In terms of ownership and profit sharing the breakdown is as follows:

First Nations – 60%
Reserve Fund – 15%
Bob Behari – 20%
FSIN – 5%
Total: 100%

Strength for the First Nations Business Development Corp. comes from its united members.

The members of the First Nations Business Development Corp. are the 75 Bands across Saskatchewan, retail outlets, Tribal Councils, and other First Nation agencies, instiutions, and organizations.

The only way FNBD is going to be successful is if it is supported by each of its members. This will not happen in a week or month, however it will happen each time a member makes a decision to purchase a FNBD product, item or service.

Never have we had the opportunity to purchase from ourselves and see a return to our people. Money has flowed out and with it a majority of jobs, opportunities and in return created road blocks for entrepreneurs, roadblocks for new and existing business owners.

To provide more opportunities FNBD will provide that link. FNBD will seed the business climate for entrepreneurs and provide a fertile ground for business to prosper and grow. Generating opportunities for FN to be involved with.

Example:

Wholesale/grocerey items......every item bought with the FNBD insignia, money returned to the community with money returned, more items/products bought, and more products brought in, more people needed to service those products, more training for merchandizing those products.

Business are created and bought to supply the demand for products sold in the stores, which in turn creates jobs, wealth and successes.

Everyone has to make the decision should they want to be a entrepreneur....however we can provide the ground work for success. We can make fertile, the business climate and provide the infrastructure and opportunities so that people can see success, get involved with success and work successfully.