"Real" Economic Opportunities - Part 3

Did you know that Tourism is BC's second most important sector and that approximately 15 million people visit the province each year? In fact, the area within this sector with the largest growth potential is adventure tourism...cruise ship related amenities is a very distant second. Tourism and recreation is one of the most quickly developing and lucrative economic opportunities on the planet...and being in BC and an Aboriginal community certainly does not hurt!

While running the Homalco Wildlife Tours for the Homalco Indian Band I increased sales almost 100% each year for 3 consecutive years. We provided land based Grizzly Bear tours at Orford River - the most unique and exciting adventure tour in BC. People from every corner of the world visited our tour - we were even featured on Japanese and Australian TV! In 2008 over 1500 people were booked in advance for our 12 week tour-operations window last fall. When I first took the job the Tour had been operating for 3 years and had less than 150 people booked! In 3 short years we transformed the business, won 2 conservation awards, and were fast becoming the global "go-to-place" for adventure Grizzly Bear Tours!

At the end of the season in 2008 - after a change in Chief & Council me and all my senior staff were fired. No reason was given, in fact the new leadership never even took the time to meet with me or my staff. We were just fired - this is the core problem with modern First Nation communities...a total lack or absence of:

• Vision and Clarity about the Role of Governance and Leadership.
• Appreciation for the Need for the Separation of Business and Politics.
• Trust and Respect for Previous Leaders and Economic Development.

Who knows where Homalco will end up next season? How the program will be affected and it's reputation impacted with the Chief's unprepared and inexperienced niece or nephew or daughter managing the program? I truly wish them well...but history tells us that they just took 12 steps back after taking 6 steps forward. This is why it always seems like as First Nations communities and governments we are never quite where we should be, and it's always the other guys fault!

Enough I say. Let's get on with it.

Over the next decade, in particular with 2010, tourism and recreation will be significant opportunities for our community. We are almost there with Tsa Kwa Luten Resort and Camp Ground (both well managed by the way) and there is so much more that can be done. Business in this century is about partnerships and developing business relationships that lead to growth and investment...notice I did not say advertising, but it is marketing. Let me explain.

In year zero (when I started) the advertising budget was over $20K - yikes! For the 2008 season it was less than $4k - yet we had such huge growth year to year? The strategy lies in developing strategic relationships with your clients and competitors - yes competitors. Quite simply we partnered with resorts who were interested in using our services - every time they advertised or marketed their business they also advertised ours. We invited our competitors to assume those parts of our business that we were less efficient at - and over time got rid of those parts of our business totally. Our competitors, now our business partners, did them for us!

Remember - it all has to be pretty strategic and well thought out. We are talking business here...but if done right the benefits and bottom line is huge. In the Homalco instance we actually reduced overall expenses each year, increased revenue and employment and profits! The point is with 2010 and the development of the cruise ship facility in CR - where are these strategic relationships? Who's working on them? Whose telling you about them? No one - because they do not exist.

The other kicker...success draws interest and other opportunities. Homalco Wildlife Tours entered the world stage and soon international resorts and Investors were looking at Homalco. As of October 2008 my team had negotiated an MOU and Joint Venture Partnership Agreement (an behalf of Homalco with the support and direction of the previous Chief & Council) a $100 Million Resort Development initiative at Orford River. I am not sure where that's at now?

Nonetheless, these points have been made:

• Hire Good Qualified People to do a Job - AND LET THEM DO IT.
• Keep Politics out of Business - OUR RISK LOSING IT ALL.
• Plan, Plan, Plan - NOTHING BEATS A SOLID, SMART, STRATEGIC PLAN.

I am running for Chief because I believe we have every resource and opportunity before us and we should take them...because we owe to our children and grandchildren to respect the tools, training and opportunities left to us by all those who passed before us...because anything less would be shameful and disrespectful to our People.

Respectfully submitted,
Lawrence Lewis for Chief