The Cook’s Ferry Indian Band will build a First Nations interpretive centre and conduct an economic feasibility study, thanks to investments by the Government of Canada, through Western Economic Diversification Canada.

Federal funding of $350,000 was announced today by the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources. Funding is provided under the Community Economic Diversification Initiative (CEDI), a component of the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program.

"This will enable the Cook’s Ferry Indian Band to examine regional trade opportunities and showcase local First Nations heritage," said Minister Strahl. "These projects will help support the diversification of the local economy here in Spence’s Bridge."

"The projects announced today are examples of how the Government of Canada is addressing the needs of communities affected by the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation," said Minister Lunn. "Through this support, our Government is helping impacted communities turn challenges into economic opportunities."

Funding of $200,000 will help the Cook’s Ferry Indian Band construct an open-air structure based on the traditional pit-house of the Nlaka’pamux people, to serve as a regional First Nations cultural interpretive centre. Once built, the centre will be a tourism attraction drawing additional visitors to the region.

An additional $150,000 will fund research to explore the feasibility of developing certified wood products and non-timber forest products—such as jams, soaps and teas—made with resources harvested from the forest. The project will examine the potential to create regional certification for trade items and develop strategies to maximize First Nations’ trade and marketing opportunities.

"Today's funding for our tourism attraction and trade route projects will benefit our community and the area as a whole," said Chief David Walkem, Cook's Ferry Indian Band. "These projects help us honour our past while ensuring that we can strengthen our economies for the future.  When First Nations succeed, everyone succeeds.”

Managed by Western Economic Diversification Canada, CEDI will invest more than $33 million over two years towards projects in communities most at risk from the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation. The program supports a wide range of projects that further economic growth, job creation and future community sustainability.

The CEDI program is part of the Government of Canada’s $200 million comprehensive response to mitigate the short- and long-term effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation on B.C.’s forestry sector. This federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program is led by Natural Resources Canada, in collaboration with Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and Transport Canada.

Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy and to represent the interests of the West in national decision-making.

For more information on the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program, please visit: http://mpb.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/

For additional information, contact:

Pierre Floréa
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification
Telephone: (613) 943-1838

Chief David Walkem
Cook’s Ferry Indian Band
Tel: (250) 458-2224