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CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014
statement from Blood Tribe and NARP.
The most important aspect of this part-
nership has been that it enhances the
commercial oil and gas expertise of
the two groups, and is based upon a
capital commitment of $100 million.
“
We have had new contracts in oil and
gas over the past couple of years that
have greatly improved our economic
growth. We are looking at further part-
nerships with large industry players in
order to allow us new opportunities,”
Crow says.
“
If we engage industry, we want
them to know Blood Tribe has the ca-
pacity to meet their needs for skills—
and this is something we want to work
further on. Our doors are open, and
our human resources are our most im-
portant resources,” Chief Weasel Head
adds.
FUTURE PLANS
One of the newer projects Blood
Tribe has been investigating is land
development. “We’ve built some land
areas independently and we’re work-
ing on further land designation for
commercial development,” Crow com-
ments. “We’ve very excited about this,
it opens up many new prospects for
business development and will attract
outside investment.
Blood Tribe hopes to expand their
business directory as well, as small
business development is very impor-
tant to the future success of communi-
ties. “We have a directory with over
100
small businesses, and we want to
help members start new businesses
with some guidance and grants to get
going. We provide different types of
grants, and have provided about 20
new start-ups per year with the funds
they need,” Crow notes. “Entrepre-
neurial initiatives: that’s what the
economy is built on.”
Education will also play a key
role for economic development,
through Red Crow College and train-
ing in business skills. The Blood Tribe
even has a program through which
students are given the opportunity to
start small businesses with seed capi-
tal from the Blood Tribe, and many of
these student-run businesses turn into
careers for community members.
When it comes to economic suc-
cess, the Blood Tribe has many dif-
ferent facets to its vision, and diverse
range of initiatives to ensure growth
for many years to come. “Ultimately,
we want to create a better quality of
life and alleviate poverty,” Chief Wea-
sel Head comments. But if there is one
key message the Blood Tribe wants
to send to Canadians, and industry,
it’s that they are ready and willing
partners to industry and community
groups, in Alberta and beyond. For
more information on Blood Tribe, visit
