b'SEAFOOD EXPORTprocessing industry that has its ownIndian in the room. I didnt feel like Ion large-scale exportation initiatives as quota, Augustine says. was taken seriously.well, regardless of the sector. I am hopeful that we will continue to educate Inpractice,McGrawSeafoodandThe success of Elsipogtog and McGrawpeople and identify these kinds of oppor-Elsipogtog First Nation owners have theSeafood as leaders in the global export oftunities, he says. I am hopeful that means and methods for a guaranteedpremium snow crab has all but silencedthis will be kind of a natural byproduct quota of product every year, providingany lingering doubts about their businessof reconciliation that will allow for more a stable and reliable bedrock for theacumen. Augustine hopes it will helpcomfortable or welcoming environments company. This allows us to secure oursilence any future skepticism about otherfor Indigenous individuals and compa-supply every year, notes Augustine.Indigenous business entities embarkingnies looking to go further and succeed.RECONCILIATIONElsipogtog, with an investment from McGraw, recently purchased two addi-tional snow crab licences and two new vessels. McGraw regularly gives back to the community, ensuring a posi-tive feedback loop of economic pros-perity for the Nation. The company has contributed heavily to housing, building 16 houses in the community, and has also funded social projects in addition to offering employment opportunities and subsidies. Were able to address two major social issues in the communityhousing and employmentby having invested into the fishery. Were really seeing Elsipogtog becoming a leader, says Augustine.The economic benefit of Indigenous ownership of a global exporter like McGraw has been huge for Elsipogtog. The two million pounds of snow crab it sells to the company each year is worth between $10 and $15 million. To iden-tify a resource that is of so much value to a community, whether it be lobster or logging or whatever it may be [it]LICENSED TOBACCO MANUFACTURERshould be perfectly natural for commu-nities to be seeking economic devel-opment in those places, Augustine says on the need for more Indigenous involvement in the ownership of naturalThe Odjick Group will produce products resource companies.for the Canadian market, provide export Despite Elsipogtogs success, it wasproducts labelled EXPO or ALGONQUINneither easy to come by nor withoutand cigarette brands. Made in Canada its detractors. The legacy of colonial ways of thinking still linger in the coun- for Canada.trys commercial fishing industrysome-thing Augustine has personally experi-enced. There were a lot of naysayers in the industry. [They would say] theres no way that they can manage this enter-prise. It makes you question why thoseThe Odjick Group Inc.Proud prejudices are there in the first placeLinda Odjick-Phone: 819-306-0885 and where that might be a deterrent,Email: odjickinc@gmail.com members ofAugustine reflects. I remember when I first started here, I felt like the token Aboriginal BUSINESS REPORT35'