First Nations Voice

MAY 2014 • PAGE 9 ARTSSTORE | IN-STOREBAKERY | RESTAURANT Pricesin effect May1- May7, 2014 * WILD RICE * SMOKED GOLDEYE FISH * MEAT SPECIALS B B I I S S O O N N pricesstart:$8 28 LB STEAK*ROAST Stewing meat * hamburger W ILD BLUEBERRIES $5.99/LB 925G Maxwell House Coffee $6.99 Kraft Dinner 89 ¢ * 2L Pop 99 ¢ Quaker Granola Bars $2.00 500G Bacon $1.99* 1LKetchup $3.99 Bring in this advert and get FREE gift on your next grocery purchase over $25 BANNOCK PIZZA, COOKIES, HOME MADE BREADS & MORE! $4.45 BREAKFAST SPECIALS $8.95 LUNCH SPECIALS TACO TUESDAYS * BISON BURGERS SUNDAY BRUNCH 10AM - 2PM SupermarketHours:Mon-Sat9am-8pm~Sundays10am-5pm Restaurant&Catering:Mon-Sat7:30am-6pm * Sundays:10am-5pm Opens10:30am-6pm*Sundayscloses5pm USED VEHICLES 2014 F150 4x4 PAYMENTS PAYMENTS AS LOW AS AS LOW AS $ $ 99/BW 2 UP TO UP TO $ $ 10 10 , , 000 000 CASH BACK CASH BACK OAC $ $ 500 OFF YOUR PURCHASE! WHEN YOU SHOW YOUR STATUS CARD TO SAM! WHEN YOU SHOW YOUR STATUS CARD TO SAM! $ $ 7 7 , , 000 000 Starting at Starting at $ $ 24 24 , , 000 000 Starting at Starting at 0% 0% INTEREST INTEREST OAC OAC EASY EASY 5 MINUTE 5 MINUTE APPROVAL PROCESS APPROVAL PROCESS ALL LEVELS ALL LEVELS OF CREDIT! OF CREDIT! 1717 Waverly 204-296-0079 | sam.melquist@midtown-ford.com midtown- midtown- ford.dealerconnection.com ford.dealerconnection.com 296 0079 | sam melqu 296 0079 | sam melqu Sam Melquist Sam Melquist An historic opportunity has arisen for Aboriginal communities across Canada to assert more influence over their respective economies. As a result, Aboriginal peoples – which have not historically shared in the wealth evident in the Canadian landscape – are starting to experience a new era of prosperity. For instance, arrangements are being made between governments or companies and Aboriginal communities regarding activities taking place on native territory, like the extraction of natural resources. Not long ago, this notion of a "duty to consult" was completely absent – today, it is an obligation. There are great examples across Canada where Aboriginal communities have negotiated agreements with resource developers, in areas such as mining, forestry and power generation. These agreements result in revenue sharing and jobs, both of which have a tremendous impact on the local economy. On-going revenue streams may be spent, but in our experience, significant dollars are often set aside for future generations – a wise and generous practice. Combined with the direct financial benefits that flow from land claim agreements, Aboriginal people are gaining access to unprecedented financial resources that flow from land claim settlements. This means Aboriginal communities are better positioned than ever before to improve their services and infrastructure. Now that these financial resources are available to Aboriginal communities, ensuring they are invested to the best effect is key. One important way for achieving this can be found in the establishment of Trusts. Trusts provide Aboriginal communities with a way to secure and protect wealth acquired from land settlements and resource sharing agreements for the benefit of the community today and for generations to come. To show how this can work, we can look at the example of the Cote Nation in central Saskatchewan. BMO Trust Company ("BMO Trust") is the Corporate Trustee for two separate Trusts for this First Nation, with over $130 million in its custody. Cote Nation, working with BMO Trust in conjunction with partners from the bank's Aboriginal Banking and Corporate Finance groups, has successfully leveraged both Trust's income and cash flow to finance loans for the Nation, thereby providing immediate access to larger pools of capital. These loans have provided fund payments to members of the community. The capital in these trusts is preserved – ensuring the funds continue to provide long term benefits – and cash flow is also available for those who need it. Loans have also been established to make capital available to the community for projects to improve quality of life and to purchase capital investments for the community. The funds have been used to purchase lands to add to the Reserve, bring in low pressure water systems, renovate on-reserve homes, invest in oil wells, and make capital improvements to a resort property on their lands. The ability to access capital without encroaching on the Trust has been significant to the members of Cote Nation. The capital has allowed them to achieve benefits that would have otherwise have taken years. It has also cemented the relationship of BMO as their financial institution of choice. The examples of infrastructure development we see in the Cote Nation are being replicated across the country; the importance of this trend cannot be underestimated. BMO's Chief Economist, Doug Porter, has noted that spending on infrastructure can not only provide short-term support for economicactivity,butcanalsohelpaneconomyperformmore efficiently over the longer haul – by alleviating bottlenecks, and ensuring the smooth flow of people, goods and even information. That applies to Aboriginal communities as much as it does to any other jurisdiction. At BMO, it is our experience that Aboriginal communities that benefit from the cash flow created by Trusts have received funding for various projects that have made a real difference to their members. These run the gamut from the construction of generating stations, gymnasiums, schools and police stations to the financing of infrastructure projects like sewers, water and natural gas. Such projects have improved the lives of the people who live in those communities, both through the jobs they created and the services that were built. Banks like BMO have growing aboriginal banking units to provide assistance on these matters for communities across Canada. With more partnerships being established every year, the future for aboriginal communities and their relationships with banks is bright. Jamie Catterall, Director, Aboriginal Banking, Prairies, Central Canada Division, BMO Bank of Montreal ABORIGINAL OP-ED RE TRUSTS

• Cover