We Are All Treaty People

Economic reconciliation in action in Saskatoon

  • Published - 03/02/2016
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  • Posted By - OTC
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In an example of economic partnership and reconciliation, English River First Nation and the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation announced their ground-breaking partnership with JNE Welding on Jan. 29. Each First Nation acquired a 30 per cent ownership interest in JNE Welding, with the current owners retaining the remaining share and continuing to operate the business.

“Economic reconciliation is in part about finding partnership for mutual benefit,” said Treaty Commissioner George E. Lafond. “And economic reconciliation is one of the more important types of reconciliation, because it creates jobs for the people of Saskatchewan.

“This deal is an example of the strength and the potential for mutual benefit of the Treaty relationship in Saskatchewan. We congratulate JNE Welding, English River First Nation and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation for their commitment to partnership and economic reconciliation.”

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner called for socio-economic reconciliation as part of the 2007 report, Treaty Implementation: Fulfilling the Covenant. The concept of economic reconciliation is also seen in the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, where Call #92 reads, “we call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources … including … Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects.”

JNS Welding is a full-service fabricator that serves various industries across North America, including those in mining, construction, oil and gas, and power generation. They have about 140 employees who will continue in their trades with this merger.

The scope and economic impact of the partnership will make a significant contribution to the province’s growing economy, said the release. The estimate for the consolidated top line revenue of the three companies is $296 million and together the three account for over 1,013 jobs with a combined payroll of $54 million.