The future of the Songhees First Nation鈥檚 economic development strategy and the suite of businesses the nation has established will now be under the direction of the Songhees Nation Economic Development Corporation.
The Songhees announced the new entity Thursday, noting former executive director of the Songhees, Christina Clarke, would step in as its first chief executive.
Clarke said it鈥檚 both exciting news and a daunting task as the newly minted corporation already has a lot on its plate as it presides over 10 businesses, commercial properties and development land.
Clarke said they created the body in order to put business interests and development at arms length from the administration and governance of the First Nation.
鈥淲e have so many opportunities in front of us,鈥� she said.
Chief Ron Sam said the new corporation, which will operate out of the Innovation Centre at the Songhees Wellness Centre, has been a decade in the making.
鈥淭he Nation鈥檚 economic development initiatives have now reached a level of complexity and sustained activity that warrants a standalone development corporation,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his vision was first seeded by my uncle, our late Chief Robert Sam, and for me personally, realizing this goal is a testament to our Nation鈥檚 deep determination to be recognized and to prosper.鈥�
Top of the agenda for the new entity will be strengthening the existing companies by improving their structure and giving them whatever resources they require to grow.
Beyond that, Clarke said they will continue to pursue partnerships to determine the best use of the land the nation has along the harbour and throughout the region.
鈥淏ut first I hope this will accelerate business development and create and expand on our revenue stream to support the goals and objectives of the Nation,鈥� she said. 鈥淒eveloping the revenue stream is key. We don鈥檛 want to be reliant on federal transfer payments.鈥�
The current Songhees business portfolio of more than 10 companies and partnerships includes Salish Sea Industrial Services, Skwin鈥檃ng鈥檈th Se鈥檒as Development Corporation, Songhees Events and Catering, Songhees Tours and the Songhees Nation Investment Corporation.
Clarke said they also hope their work will translate into increased employment both for the Songhees First Nation and the other nations on the south Island.
鈥淭o be honest, our unemployment numbers are actually quite low,鈥� she said, noting those among the 600 Songhees looking for work generally have found it.
鈥淏ut our people are sometimes underemployed and their pay can鈥檛 support a family. So we want to improve the kinds of employment available.鈥�
The current Songhees businesses all strive to hire Indigenous workers and profit is either invested back into the company to allow it to grow or is filtered back to the nation to be used to fund new programs.
鈥淪ome of them are considered social enterprises,鈥� Clarke said. 鈥淚n those cases, training and employment are just as important as profit.鈥�
Clarke said far from changing the nation鈥檚 relationship with other business and development bodies such as the Chamber of Commerce, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority and the South Island Prosperity Partnership, this new addition should lead to stronger economic ties and increased opportunity around the region. And she hopes this will also lead to strong ties and co-operation among the Island First Nations.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of generosity among those Indigenous business communities,鈥� she said.
鈥淎nd we are proud to have been a leader. Songhees has been a very progressive community, rooted in tradition but there is an entrepreneurial spirit to the community and that is a reason for a lot of its success.
鈥淚t comes naturally to the council, they are creative, innovative and willing to take risks.鈥�
Taking over from Clarke as executive director of the Nation will be Rosa Horne, who has served as the director of health for the Songhees over the past six years.
