The Northern Urban Reserves and Economic Development Forum is being held in Thompson on April 9th and the 10th. The forum is being hosted by Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak and Look North and it will be held at the Thompson Regional Community Centre.
Look North Steering Committee Member and Chief of Opaskwayak Cree Nation Christian Sinclair spoke to Arctic Radio News and said that MKO is taking the steps based on the economic impact study that was done in relation to first nations and their contribution to the GDP of Manitoba and it was found that 9.3 Billion dollars from the 2016 census is what first nations contributed to the provincial economy.
With this information available economic strategies can now be created that will allow first nations to create business plans and incorporate themselves into the economy and the forum will focus on building relationships and partnerships with indigenous communities, business communities and municipalities here in the north.
Sinclair added that because First Nations are 77 percent of the population of Northern Manitoba, first nation’s peoples should be 77 percent of the economy but they aren’t so it’s time to inform leaders and people in general that there are huge opportunities to participate in the economy on a grand scale.
If you would like to participate in the forum you are asked to RSVP by March 31st Call 204-677-1600 for more information or to sign up.
Photo Courtesy of Facebook
