Speaking Notes For Chief Terrance Paul

Elders, Minister Nault, Honored Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen today is a proud day in the history of Membertou. Today, we all take a step closer to our ultimate goal of self-sufficiency and self-determination.

I am pleased to announce the government of Membertou and its corporate division are now formally registered with the International Organization for Standardization, as ISO 9001:2000 compliant. Achieving ISO registration was the next logical step towards ensuring accountability, transparency, and openness, and it is these principles of democracy that ensure our ultimate goal of self determination. I want to thank the Minister of Indian Affairs, the Honorable Robert Nault, and the President and CEO of the Business Development Bank of Canada, Michel Vennat, for being here today and for their contributions and support towards the ISO process.

As we move towards the future, we must remember the past. We must remember that it was not too long ago when our finances were in a deficit situation. Our management and administrative structures were weak. In fact our operating budgets will increase tremendously once we realize more benefits of our fishing operation, new gaming facilities, offshore catering services and financial management services. It is expected that in the next 2 years the government of Membertou will be contributing over 100 million dollars to the economy. That is a far cry from 12 and a half million dollars just 6 years ago. It even becomes more amazing when we recall our contribution to the economy was only three hundred thousand in the 1970's.

The community of Membertou is enjoying the benefits of operating a good government with good business sense. With the assistance of my fellow councilors and very capable staff, we decided, not to long ago to say enough is enough. We do not want to continue living in a manner that diminishes who we are as a Mi'kmaq community. We want to be recognized and remembered the way the Mi'kmaq Nation once was. Strong, powerful, prosperous and most importantly, good to its people.

In order to make this become a reality, we had to find the best our community had to offer. We knew that many of our talented young people were leaving the community to find work and go to school. We knew that these individuals had the ability to guide us into the future. We asked them to join us from the senior positions most were enjoying in government departments such as Fisheries and Oceans, Revenue Canada, Health Canada and our own political organizations such as the Union of Nova Scotia Indians. We asked those who were enjoying careers at Lang Michener, Grant Thorton, Sable Offshore Energy and Nestlé Canada to name a few, to join us as well.

As we were increasing our human capacity we were at the same time strengthening practices that most successful governments have used over time. We also ensured that a new business mindset was set in motion in order to generate our indigenous economy. These practices resulted in strong programs and services for the residents of Membertou but at the same time, an increase in business interest in the community.

Membertou's road to self-determination and self sufficiency was further realized when it began the difficult task of complying with standards set out by the International Organization for Standardization. Membertou's ultimate compliance occurred without any hitches, well, that's what they tell me anyway.

We are however, keenly aware that even though we have met the standards, and have become the first Indigenous Government in Canada, and likely the world, to achieve ISO compliance, we know that the most difficult task will be to maintain these most widely known standards.

Membertou is also aware that its corporate partners such as Sodexho Canada, Georgia Pacific, SNC Lavalin, and Clearwater Fine Foods will not let us rest on our laurels. In fact these prestigious firms will demand that we continue to run our operations as efficient and smooth as they do themselves. Membertou is now embarking on other ventures that will create more relationships, including institutions as the BDC, Royal Bank, CIBC, Grant Thorton, and TAL Institutional Investment. With regard to the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia we hope to maintain and possibly forge new ways of cooperating, government to government.

As a result of the international recognition with ISO 9001:2000 we will actively seek business opportunities with our corporate partners, we will reaffirm age-old trading networks and develop strategic alliances with neighboring First Nations in Canada, the US, and the world. Membertou will also be turning to such institutions as the World Bank and the Inter-Americas Bank, we will take a serious look at the opportunities available pursuant to the North America Free Trade Agreement and other inter-continental or international documents, so that we may forge new paths towards our goal of self determination.

You can probably tell that this is an extremely dynamic time in our history, a history that recalls the fact that the Mi'kmaq Nation never ceded or surrendered their rights to these lands. We are a strong and proud people and today we stand ever proud. I venture to say that the community of Membertou is an exciting place to be, to live and to work. With our ISO designation we extend out our hands and say to Canada and the world, Membertou is open for business, come and join us.

Thank you.