Inaugural First Nations economic development event held in Membertou – Cape Breton Post
September 17, 2014
‘We want to work within the speed of business’
MEMBERTOU — Delegates from First Nations communities left Cape Breton on Wednesday with a range of information to help them create and implement lands and economic development plans in their communities.
An estimated 200 people took in the first ever First Nations Lands and Economic Readiness Summit hosted by the Ulnooweg Development Group, an organization that provides loans and business services to aboriginal entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada.
“The summit really is to create learning opportunities to increase skills and capacity of delegates to support economic growth in the Atlantic First Nation communities through land management and economic development,” said Membertou Chief Terry Paul, after his community participated and facilitated the conference that began on Monday.
“What I hope that people come away with is that they understand financially that it is important to know where you stand. It helps you make better financial decisions for your community.”
Over the course of the summit, discussion surrounded creating economic development opportunities and included plenary sessions, keynote speakers, workshops, roundtables and presentations.
