Last Updated: Monday, March 19, 2007 | 8:56 AM CT
Original Story: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2007/03/19/aboriginal-consulting.html
A Manitoba man living in Latin America hopes to convince local First Nations to become consultants to their southern counterparts on native land rights and resource issues.
Don Clarke, who works in Ecuador as an adviser to the mining committee of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, says local aboriginal communities could be making money selling their expertise from conflicts over native land rights.
Although some native groups’ fights with government and resource companies have involved bitter protests, they have succeeded in winning concessions, said Clarke, who used to work for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.
"A number of our communities have been able to work through those issues, and I think those experiences are worth something," he said.
First Nations serve as consultants to native people in Latin American countries where mining, forestry, hydroelectric or other resource-based companies want to set up shop.
"We’re seeing that a lot of these companies don’t have the understanding and the experience to understand the local communities and of course you’re seeing a lot of conflict," he said.
"We see a real business opportunity for our First Nations people to capitalize on the knowledge that we have and the experiences."
Hans Matthews, head of the Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association, thinks the idea has potential.
"Many aboriginal groups in Canada have moved further ahead in terms of how to benefit from resource development," he said. "I think these steps can be shared with aboriginal groups in Latin America."
Matthews did note, however, that Canadian First Nations don’t have experience with the sometimes volatile political systems in Latin America.
The Southern Chiefs Organization has considered Clarke’s proposal, but Grand Chief Chris Henderson said the group can’t afford to set up business so far away.
Officials at Manitoba Keewatinook Ininew Okimowin, which represents northern First Nations, are considering the idea, but they say the group won’t make a decision on the matter until April at the earliest.