About Us
Learn More About How We Help
What We Do
North West Communities WPL is a respected regional corporation taking a leadership role to generate employment and wealth using accountable governance.
How We Do It
North West Communities will:
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Create a safe and considerate working environment.
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Encourage originality, innovation and promote enthusiasm in meeting the requirements of our Board.
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Endeavour to cultivate profit growth through efficient production methods and procedures.
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Create a distinctive and progressive culture.
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Make positive contributions to the community in which we operate and strive to become a model corporate citizen.
Our Origin
In 2012, a funding agreement was signed between North West Communities Wood Products Ltd. and the Provincial Government based on the principles of:
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Mutual respect;
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Maximization of the socio-economic benefits associated with resource development;
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The use of traditional and modern resource stewardship principles to guide the management of the resources;
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Recognizing and respecting the relationship of the Northern resources to the Northern economy; and
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The parties working together to develop opportunities for the people of northwest Saskatchewan to participate fully in resource industries.
The joint initiative is a fifteen-year long-term funding agreement worth $365,000 annually for the purpose of promoting education and training programs and pursuing employment and business development opportunities in the resource sectors.
This has resulted in the establishment of the following group of companies.
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North West Communities Management Company (2016)
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NWC Wild Rice Company Ltd. (2019)
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NWC Environmental Services Company Ltd. (2021)
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Rivers Drilling Ltd. (2021)
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Westside Indigenous Experiences Inc. (2021)
2012 - North West Communities Wood Products Ltd.
North West Communities Wood Products Ltd. was formed in 1999 to promote the inclusion and engagement of five (5)northern Métis communities in the forestry industry throughout their traditional territory. Several years later, the ownership structure of NWC was expanded to include two (2) additional communities.
The seven (7) communities that are presently shareholders in NWC include:
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Northern Village of La Loche
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Northern Village of Buffalo Narrows
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Northern Village of Ile a la Crosse
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Northern Village of Pinehouse
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Northern Hamlet of Patuanak
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Northern Village of Beauval
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Northern Village of Green Lake
Under NWC’s governing structure, each of the seven shareholder communities appoints a board member to the organization's Board of Directors.
The Board oversees the strategic direction of NWC’s business activities and is responsible for hiring a CEO who oversees the day-to-day business activities.
2016 - North West Communities Management Company (NWC MC)
The North West Communities Management Company (NWC MC), incorporated in 2016, is a for-profit corporation wholly owned by North West Communities Wood Products Ltd.
NWC MC was formed to advance progress in a wide range of potential
local and regional economic development, business interests, and
training in Northwest Saskatchewan.
NWC MC assists in shaping policy and the foundations for successful economic and business development for the primarily Métis region.
NWC MC participates in the renewable and non-renewable resources sectors.
These sectors may include areas such tourism, wild rice, commercial fishing,
non-timber forest products, amongst others.
2019 - NWC Wild Rice Co.
For many decades, Indigenous people in the region have participated in the wild rice industry primarily as producers and harvesters. Their involvement seldom extended further along the value chain into areas such as seed purchasing, processing, or marketing.
North West Community Wild Rice Company was established to expand and strengthen Indigenous participation in all aspects of the industry. Its purpose is to support Indigenous ownership and control beyond harvesting alone, secure better prices for harvesters, encourage innovation and mechanization in harvesting equipment, improve processing efficiency through appropriate technologies, and lead marketing initiatives that respond to evolving consumer demand.
Incorporated in 2019, the 100% Métis-owned and operated NWC Wild Rice Co.
brings wild rice directly to consumers and in doing so helps harvesters care for their families, lands, and water. It means they get a fair price for their harvest,
and a share of the profits.
The NWC Wild Rice Company has been in the industry for over five years and has established itself in the industry within northwest Saskatchewan as an integral buyer steadily increasing its share of the buying market.
Having established a foundation for securing higher inventory levels, the NWC Wild Rice Co. is now positioned to implement a growth focused marketing and distribution strategy.
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2021 - NWC Environmental Services Company Ltd.
NWC incorporated the NWC Environmental Services Company Ltd in 2021, with a vision and goal to create an environmental services company through which northern Indigenous people can culturally and economically participate in concerns surrounding our environment.
The creation of NWC Environmental means people being trained have a place to dedicate their skills, and to offering Indigenous ways and methods in environmental services.
This company will develop and take innovations forward to support the work – information technology (IT), artificial intelligence (AI), and other ways of supporting Indigenous knowledge gathering, interpreting and sharing. Creating an ethical space between Indigenous people, land experts, community members, Elders, knowledge keepers, and the resource-based companies, workers, managers, and policymakers.
2021 - RIVERS Drilling
The NWC incorporated Rivers Drilling Ltd. in 2021. NWC saw an opportunity to form a quality drilling company in part because there were few indigenous owned drilling business entities.
There is a considerable level of potential success in resource development in Northern Saskatchewan.
NWC partnered with a trusted and proven company, Hy-Tech Drilling based out of Smithers, BC with an established branch in Saskatoon, SK. The objective is to empower our communities to continue to realize a well-deserved economic return
2021 - Westside Indigenous Experiences Inc.
The NWC incorporated Westside Indigenous Experiences in 2021.
A 5-year tourism strategy for Westside Indigenous Experiences Inc.
(WSIE) has been built on decades of work and is designed to attract people who
will visit our lands in a good way.
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Our Vision: To build a thriving and respectful tourism industry in the Westside that provides opportunities for our communities and sustains our culture and values.
To achieve this vision and our goals, the work will be done by two entities
under Westside Indigenous Experiences:
1. Destination Westside: the regional tourism association.
2. Westside Tours: sells tourism experiences.
This strategy is designed to kickstart tourism through building capacity and activating strong regional governance and marketing foundations.
Westside Indigenous Experiences will also focus on driving Indigenous-focused tourism growth by inspiring new experiences, products, and partnerships that showcase local culture, land, and stories.
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It will play a key advocacy role for the regional tourism industry, ensuring Indigenous perspectives, rights, and priorities are reflected in policies, planning, and investment decisions.
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It will provide practical supports such as capacity building, networking, and mentorship to help Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities start, strengthen, and scale tourism businesses in line with growing market demand.
Corporate Information
North West Communities Management Company Ltd. (NWCMCo.)
The North West Communities Management Company is a for-profit corporation wholly owned by North West Communties Wood Products Ltd. NWCMCo. Ltd. was formed to advance progress in a wide range of potential local and regional economic development, business interests, and training in north west Saskatchewan.
NWCMCo. will assist in shaping policy and the foundations for successful economic and business development for the primary indigenous region.
NWCMCo. will participate in the renewable and non-renewable resources sectors. These sectors may include areas such tourism, wild rice, commercial fishing, non-timber forest products, amongst others.
Our Staff
Celine Favreau
CEO
Val Durocher
Administrative
Our Board Members
Joe Daigneault
Chairman
Northern Village of Beauval
Kevin Janvier
Vice-Chairman
Northern Village of La Loche
Darwin Lafond
Director
Northern Village of Green Lake
Mike Natomagan
Director
Northern Village of Pinehouse
Darcy Lariviere
Director
Northern Hamlet of Patuanak
Jansen Corrigal
Director
Northern Village of Ile A La Crosse
Kevin Hansen
Director
Northern Village of Buffalo Narrows