EABAMETOONG FIRST NATION — This regional First Nation is seeing big returns thanks to a partnership.
North Star Air presented a revenue share cheque for $1 million to Eabametoong First Nation during the community’s Treaty Day celebrations on Aug. 1.
Celebrations included a barbecue and presentation hosted by North Star Air.
Chief Solomon Atlookan spoke with Dougall Media at the event and said this is the first time Eabametoong has seen such a large return on an investment and partnership with a regional company.
“It’s something we really look at carefully – how we’re going to invest that money because we’re interested in partnering up with existing businesses. We have opportunities to do that now,” he said.
In terms of what Eabametoong has planned for the money they have received, Atlookan said he’s consulted with his peers about what makes the most sense.
“One of them told me it’s better we invest it rather than spread it out and give some money to the community members. This is the best way to move forward, I think, is to create business and partner with existing businesses and we’ll continue to build on that,” he said.
Jeff Stout, president and chief operating officer of North Star Air, presented the cheque to community leaders and helped barbecue some of the food.
Stout told Dougall Media this caps off around $10 million in overall return to First Nation communities from North Star Air since 2014.
The $1 million cheque presented to Eabametoong is one of the largest revenue shares to come out of First Nations’ partnerships with North Star Air.
“These funds go a long way. Every community treats the funds differently. There’s been examples like building housing, supporting youth-based and land-based activities,” he said.
“Ultimately, these funds power social and economic growth in the community that they otherwise wouldn’t potentially have access to . . . (There’s) a lot of gratitude on the North Star side, to have a partnership like this enables us to do what we love to do every day – which is fly – and it’s the least we can do to show our gratitude to the community.”