A strong message from a B.C. chief to members of Grand Council Treaty 3.
During an Economic Development forum on the Rat Portage First Nation Wednesday, Chief Clarence Louie stated community members need to end their dependency on the band office.
Louie says the first step to being independent is finding economic opportunities.
He notes more and more people are now talking about economic development, creating jobs and making money.
Louie stresses native people need to be part of the economy and notes thousands of jobs and millions of dollars are now benefiting several regions in other Canadian provinces.
He says this can all be done by maintaining beliefs, culture and heritage.
Apart from the guest speakers a handful of area employers and educational organizations were in attendance.
Mining and forestry were two big economic sectors featured at the forum.
