Lillooet-T'it'q'et Business Plan - Aboriginal Studies

...

T’it’q’et

DEMOGRAPHICS

The current population in the community of T’it’q’et is 383 people4, although only a total of 198 males and females are living on the reserve. The median age of the population is 34 years old with 34% between the ages of 0-19. Around 30% of the population does not have an education and 18% of the population has either an apprenticeship certification or a university certification. Half of the population that is over the age of 15 is married. The employment rate is just under 50% and the main occupations are in the fields of: health, education, manufacturing, construction and agriculture.

GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE

The structure of the T’it’q’et community is much like the municipality of Lillooet; the chief and council run the city. The chief and councilors are elected through the Indian Act election system, a custom system or under a self-governed agreement. The chief and council are responsible for overseeing program services and committees within the community, reviewing and approving the fiscal year budget; all matters to do with reserve lands as well as managing the government-to-government relationship. The chief and council have the power to develop policies and procedures. [pic 9]

ECONOMIC INITIATIVES

One of the largest economic initiatives for the T’it’q’et tribe is the Clean Energy Project7 that it is recently involved in. T’it’q’et’s participation in the project allows them to have a share of the revenue from the Jamie Creek Hydroelectric Project, which amounts to $60,000 per year over the lifetime of the project10 (http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca). The community is also launching an Online Entrepreneurial and Web Design Training for those with a disability to create their own business from the comforts of their own home11 (www.titqet.org).

[pic 10]

REVENUE SOURCES

The information on revenue sources is scarce for the T’it’q’et community. The most accessible information on revenues is from the Clean Energy Project and the Forest & Range Consultation and Revenue Sharing Agreement12 (www2.gov.bc.ca). The Forest & Range revenue agreement states that the T’it’q’et community will allow the BC government to harvest timber on their traditional lands for a portion of the revenues. An additional source of “revenue”, but more so funding, is from the Federal Government (see appendix B).

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES

There is no prominent relationship that exists between Lillooet and the T’it’q’et community. That being said, it can be seen that there are no co-existence problems between the two communities. Most of the external projects and contracts that exist in T’it’q’et are with either the BC or Federal Government.

KEY SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES[pic 11]

Lillooet- T’it’q’et Similarities and Differences Chart

Similarities

Differences

Government structure

- Both are run by a “head” and a board

- Have their own policies and can enforce own regulations to a degree

- Mayor is elected strictly with the electoral system whereas T’it’q’et has the option of a self-governed agreement

Decision Making

- Head and council oversee all matters

- Lillooet governance has bylaws to issues regarding business licensing, zoning, and taxes

- T’it’q’et governance has less steps to creating and enforcing regulations

Employment & Education

- The education levels for both communities are on par, with university level education being around 18%

- More than half of the population in Lillooet is employed; Less than half of the population is employed in T’it’q’et

Economic Initiatives

- Both communities are looking for new projects in order to stimulate their economy

- T’it’q’et’s main economic initiative is partnered with the government of BC

[pic 12]

CONCLUSION

The municipality of Lillooet and the T’it’q’et First Nations are both communities looking to expand and stimulate their economies. This report outlines the governing structure, economic potential, and business development possibilities in both communities – using this information, Future Development Inc. will be able to make a sound business investment decision.

CITATIONS

1 Mayor & Council. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2014, from http://lillooetbc.ca/Municipal-Government/Mayor-Council.aspx

2 Community Demographics & Infrastructure. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2014, from http://lillooetbc.ca/Business-Investment/Community-Demographics-Infrastructure.aspx

3 Chief and Council. (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2014, from http://www.titqet.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73&Itemid=79

4 Common menu bar links. (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2014, from http://pse5-esd5.ainc-inac.gc.ca/FNP/Main/Search/FNRegPopulation.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=593&lang=eng

5 Forest Tenure Opportunity Agreement. (n.d.). Retrieved September 18, 2014, from http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/haa/Direct Award Uploads/T'it'q'et FTOA signed Jan17_2012.pdf

6 Fishin Laws. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2014, from http://www.titqet.org/forms/fishinlaws.pdf

7 Clean energy revenues flow to three First Nations. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2014, from http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2013-2017/2014arr0026-001239.htm

8 Lillooet - District municipality, British Columbia, Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2014, from http://www.city-data.com/canada/Lillooet-Municipality.html

9 CivicWeb: