Representatives from all regions of the NWT were in Vancouver last week to attend B.C.SA国际影视传媒檚 annual mining conference, putting them in touch with industry reps and each other to talk about resource development in the territory.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have a lot of key people here from each of the regions, aboriginal components, and some of the groups that are working with these diamond mines,SA国际影视传媒� said Joseph Kochon, band manager for the Behdzi Ahda First Nation and president of its economic development wing. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e having some good insights from them. Just meeting with other regions SA国际影视传媒� thatSA国际影视传媒檚 very interesting.SA国际影视传媒�

Kochon said he and his colleagues in the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 delegation have been immersed in discussions about where the industry is going around the world, its modern ways of doing business and its new technologies. These insights and conversations, he said, are worth the cost of the trip.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou know, with the environment, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a more cleaner way of doing work versus the old way,SA国际影视传媒� said Kochon. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 so many insights that itSA国际影视传媒檚 worth looking at. Sitting at home, you really canSA国际影视传媒檛 get those insights. You have to spend money to make money and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no going around that.SA国际影视传媒�

Kochon says thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no real industry activity right now in his home region, around Colville Lake, but many of his fellow band members are employed by the diamond mines. A big piece of the puzzle the NWT needs to build on, he said, is in training.

SA国际影视传媒淭here is a way to recruit aboriginal people,SA国际影视传媒� said Kochon, SA国际影视传媒渋tSA国际影视传媒檚 just training and everything that needs to play a big part in getting into how a mine works and everything SA国际影视传媒� you canSA国际影视传媒檛 just walk in the door, just like that.SA国际影视传媒�

During a luncheon for the aboriginal delegation, Premier Bob McLeod brought in B.C. MLA Ellis Ross, a former cabinet minister now in the Liberal opposition to the provinceSA国际影视传媒檚 NDP government.

Ross is a former chief councilor for the Haisla Nation in B.C., and grew up on reserve. HeSA国际影视传媒檚 made his name recently by being pro-development, which has led to him being called a SA国际影视传媒渟ell-outSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒渁ssimilated,SA国际影视传媒� he told the audience. But he says itSA国际影视传媒檚 worth it.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not about getting rich. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 about stopping poverty and all the issues associated with it,SA国际影视传媒� he told his audience.

In an interview after the luncheon, Ross says he was approached by many after his speech, saying he touched on the issues NWT communities were going through.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e talking about poverty, alcoholism, drug abuse, violence, and theySA国际影视传媒檙e just trying to find a way out of it,SA国际影视传媒� said Ross.

SA国际影视传媒淲hat it boils down to is putting aboriginals in a position where they can help themselves because thereSA国际影视传媒檚 too much of the idea that government can help, that people outside of the community can help.SA国际影视传媒�

Kochon said the idea of self-reliance in the speech resonated with him SA国际影视传媒� ensuring that there is money in the pockets of our young people.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淏uilding up your own workforce is very key and having the training and the ability to participate in any type of project is a very beneficial thing,SA国际影视传媒� said Kochon.

He said his band has built up its own resources over time.

SA国际影视传媒淣ow we invest and make more money here and there,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲herever the money goes, we follow it. Whereas you donSA国际影视传媒檛 really have to be sitting on your [butt] doing nothing and waiting for something to come to you, which is not really going to happen unless you go out and participate.SA国际影视传媒�

News/North attempted to reach Tlicho Grand Chief George Mackenzie and GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal Council President and Grand Chief Bobbi Jo Greenland, who were also in attendance, but couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 connect with them by press time.