Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation celebrates acquisition of three new businesses

“It means a lot. We’re trying to do everything we can in all aspects of economic development. So we’re creating wealth for generations, but in those generations we’re also creating employment and training those youth so whether they stay on reserve or leave reserve, they will be trained and ready to go wherever they are.”

The two convenience stores are both located off the reserve on two major highways, and that’s an important reason why Ahtahkakoop wanted to acquire them. Operations Manager for the Riverbend Store Tammy Skilliter said that during their three month shutdown to get the store ready, they saw just how many people come through on a daily basis.

“All the community area here, there’s a huge clientele since we’ve been closed for three months. Literally one day we had 100 people stop, so it’s a very busy highway. We have a lot of lake people, a lot of commuters, a lot of surrounding people, especially that we have our alcohol store, and then also they’re very interested in the restaurant, what we’re going to do with it.”

Isbister added, “When you’re driving by here, we want people to see the Ahtahkakoop flags and see that Ahtahkakoop is open for business.”

Members of Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation raise their flags at the Riverbend Store to celebrate its opening. (Nick Nielsen/paNOW Staff)

Each of the three businesses that are opening are also going to be selling clothing and other similar items made by the people of Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation. Between the jobs created with these three businesses and the ability to sell their own merchandise out of those stores, Isbister believes it should provide a welcome boost to the local economy.

“Mont Nebo, we have five people employed, and here (Riverbend Store) we’re going to have seven people employed right away, and once we open the restaurant we’ll probably have four more. Not only that with the artisans that we have on reserve, our Ahtahkakoop membership, they’re a very creative, intelligent group and we are going to be selling their goods out of all of our stores.”

In the newly opened Riverbend Store, there is still some space from the old restaurant that currently isn’t being used. It was there however where members of the First Nation gathered to celebrate the new businesses opening, and they are planning to use that space as some form of gathering place in the future.

“Gathering is always important to a First Nation. We’re not utilizing it until spring for sure, but it will be utilized.”

The third business, the car wash, laundromat, and restaurant, is not set to open until sometime next week. The restaurant when it opens is planning to offer things like bannock, wild meat, neck bones, and other similar Indigenous dishes.

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Nick.Nielsen@pattisonmedia.com

by Nick Nielsen

Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation celebrates acquisition of three new businesses

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