Tseshaht First Nations played host to federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt March 19 who came to the territory with a commitment of $1.469 million for a 3.3 km sewer expansion project on the reserve ending at Tseshaht Market. The sewer expansion will link to the Santu housing development as well.
It was an exciting announcement for Tseshaht to hear, said Chief Councillor Hugh Braker. The sewer extension, which will be helped at hook-up by the City of Port Alberni, will open the doors of job creation and business opportunity, not only for the first nation but for all of the Alberni Valley, said Braker.
Also contributing capital dollars is the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, which announced a commitment of $629,000 to the initiative.
“Tseshaht is making an important step towards expanding economic development for the future,” said NTC President Debra Foxcroft, “and it’s a significant opportunity, not only to housing which is critically needed in most communities within Nuu-chah-nulth territory… but also opportunities for jobs for the community members.”
Valcourt said federal support for the project is about building strong and healthy communities because they are the foundation of economic development, growth and long-term prosperity. Speaking from the Great Room of the Tseshaht Administration Building, Valcourt said the federal government remains committed to investing in such infrastructure projects to ensure that First Nations have the same access to safe water and wastewater facilities as all Canadians.
“I would like to congratulate chief and council and the members of the community for their planning and dedication to this project…. I note that together, as partners, we have pooled our efforts and our resources to make this important project a reality.” He said it was his sincere hope that the project will provide the necessary impetus for growth and development that will benefit the Tseshaht community for many years to come.
Braker said his community is excited about the opportunities that will be created by the expansion.
“For Tseshaht, this is a very important day. This is a day that is going to benefit the future of the Tseshaht people and I believe the future of everyone in the Alberni Valley. The economic spinoff from the development to this sewer line will benefit all of the regional district.”
The chief engineering firm for the project is located in the City of Port Alberni and the jobs from the project will come from that engineering firm, said Braker. While some subcontractors and contractors hired will be Tseshaht, some will not.
“The benefits to the community are going to be far reaching and very, very positive,” Braker said.
Port Alberni Mayor John Douglas was on hand for the announcement. It’s very important to have these types of facilities, he said, and the potential is not just for the growth of the population, but also the economic growth that is set to occur in the region over the next century.
“The City of Port Alberni has been fortunate to work hand-in-hand with the federal government in terms of expanding our infrastructure to accommodate future growth, and I was very, very happy to hear now we have the opportunity, because of this financial assistance, to work with our neighbors, our community partners, to do the same thing in terms of expanding the infrastructure” to Tseshaht Market.
“For Tseshaht, this opens a whole new door for us,” said Braker. “The Tseshaht Market where the sewer line will end currently employs over 30 people. It contributes over 30 jobs to the economy in the Alberni Valley. We believe that the sewer extension is going to expand that and that more jobs are going to be created in what is becoming a business area for this First Nation.
“We are excited by it, we are thankful for it and we can only look forward to the future of Tseshaht,” Braker said.
The minister and Tseshaht and tribal council representatives traveled to Tseshaht Market and the Santu housing development to look at what the funding will benefit. The minister was very impressed with the market and the community overall, he told Ha-Shilth-Sa. He’s looking forward to a return visit.
