Over the past two days, the BC Natural Resource Forum and Economic Summit introduced audiences to innovative and downright jaw-dropping economic possibilities for a renewed resource-based economy in the north.
The Civic Centre was abuzz with excitement over opportunities spurred by the booming Asian market. The question asked was "Why not rush to take advantage of it?"
The answer to that is the elephant in the room.
A significant portion of the decision-making power is in the hands of the various First Nations inhabiting the lands or claiming the lands as traditional territory, and band leaders are not shy about using that power. Especially among corporations neglecting to involve them in a sincere way.
The good news is several aspects of the conference acknowledged the First Nations' legislated authority.
Band leaders were represented in a panel discussion entitled Business Partnerships with First Nations, involving the partners behind Mackenzie Fibre Paper Excellence and the partners behind the Toba/Montrose run-of-river hydroelectric project.
Success stories each - but will these examples become the template for future co-operation? Or will each new project continue to be a painstaking exercise in frustration and, potentially, loss of investment?
We're told much of that depends on the sincerity of resource-based companies. And agreement must also come organically - not delivered from one perspective, but arrived at through plenty of discussion with a variety of community sectors.
Gaining trust is a hard-fought battle at the best of times. In the case of the average First Nations member, it's near impossible.
And why should it be easy?
Even forgetting the sins committed against First Nations up to a few decades ago - how does the situation look today?
The archaic Indian Act tells those living off reserve they are not eligible for certain rights and privileges given those on reserve, which essentially ghettoizes many reserve residents left living in abject poverty.
And recent reports show some chiefs make more than the Prime Minister and travel in the lap of luxury - but who is holding them to account? Such questions are political quagmires most authorities flee from, abandoning band members and the rest of the taxpaying public.
Tapping into the richness of the lands surrounding First Nations reserves means including them in the decision-making process, so agreements enriching bands should enrich every member.
