By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com

sa国际传媒婽he Ntityix Development Corporation has been publicly recognized with a national award.

Officials with the corporate division of Westbank First Nation, located in the Okanagan region of British Columbia, were presented with the Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation Award.

The recognition occurred during the Business Recovery Forum, staged online by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) on Sept. 16.

Besides two shopping centre partnerships and a retail gift store, Ntityixsa国际传媒檚 other ventures include managing 59,000 hectares of forest tenure and a construction division for the First Nation, responsible for most of the residential housing needs and buildings in the community.

The Ntityix Development Corporation was previously called the Westbank Indian Band Development Company when it was established in 1973.

It has undergone a name change since then as has the First Nation it is managed by, formerly Westbank Indian Bank.

In the Okanagan language Ntityix translates into spring salmon.

In a video shared with forum delegates, Christopher Derickson, chief of Westbank First Nation, explained spring salmon must persevere through different currents and waters, avoid predators, grow and venture back up the river to give life to the next generation.

sa国际传媒淲e felt that was the perfect architype for what we need to be doing financially and economically for our people,sa国际传媒� Derickson said. sa国际传媒淲e need to be following the cycles of the economy, we need to persevere through challenges, up and downs, so we can provide for future generations.sa国际传媒�

Westbank was originally part of the Okanagan Indian Band but separated to become an independent band in 1963. But it wasnsa国际传媒檛 until 2005, that Westbank First Nation officially became self-governing.

sa国际传媒淕rowth has been absolutely exponential,sa国际传媒� said Ryan Malcolm, the CEO of the Ntityix Development Corporation. sa国际传媒淲estbank is now seen as a very viable family community.sa国际传媒�

Malcolm said it was a huge honour to be singled out for a national award.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 tremendous to be recognized by the CCAB,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚 think it really ratifies all the blood, sweat and tears that generations before us did to make the corporation the success that it is today.sa国际传媒�

Derickson echoed the sentiment that success was not achieved overnight.

sa国际传媒淚 think the greatest lesson from Westbank First Nation is that there really is everything you need to move forward found within your community,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭his has been the result of 50 or more years of community discussions and visioning and planning to get to where we are today.sa国际传媒�

All Aboriginal economic development corporations in Canada are eligible for the annual award.

These corporations are the economic and development arms of First Nations, Metis or Inuit government and vital economic boosters for Indigenous communities across the country.

While one-time achievements are considered, organizers of the award, sponsored by Sodexo, place more emphasis on recognizing sustained efforts of a corporation.

Also considered is the size of the projects a corporation has developed as well as how innovative those projects are.

Another factor which is taken into consideration when selecting a winner is whether the corporation has increased both employment and business opportunities for its members.

CCABsa国际传媒檚 president and CEO Tabatha Bull said the winning corporation was indeed a worthy recipient of this yearsa国际传媒檚 award.

sa国际传媒淣tityix demonstrates that when we align hard work with our values and a clear vision for the future, we can have a major impact on our communities for generations,sa国际传媒� she said.

Nelson Derickson is currently working as the business development officer for Ntityix Development Corporation, which includes Ntityix Resouces, its forest management company.

sa国际传媒淭hat company goes beyond the provincial requirements for things like reforestation, streams management and environmental protection,sa国际传媒� he said.

Chief Derickson added his thoughts on why the forest management company is noteworthy.

sa国际传媒淲e harvest and manage our timber in a way that it preserves the natural environment for certain species and also preserves the natural environment to protect certain significant sites or sensitive areas,sa国际传媒� he said.

The corporation also includes WIBCO Construction, the community-owned construction division.

sa国际传媒淲IBCOsa国际传媒檚 priorities are to build assets that are required for community members, whether thatsa国际传媒檚 housing, the school, the youth centre, the government building, our office or industrial,sa国际传媒� said Nelson Derickson.

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