Ootsa Lake Bible Camp began in 1956 and its main purpose is to give children and youth an opportunity to make new friends, learn life skills and to become acquainted with their Creator. One of the purposes behind the new, expanded lodge is that more programs can be added for special needs groups such as seniors, families and people with disabilities. In addition, the camp is available to any local community group for retreats, training and entertainment. It is a focal part of the rural Ootsa community. The goal of its board of Directors is to have the new 10-bedroom lodge completed in 2002. The new lodge is to have washroom facilities on all floors, recreation / meeting room in the basement, a large meeting/dining room on the main floor and a full kitchen. It will be wheel-chair accessible and useable year-round. Application was made to the NKDFS for participation in part of the construction costs.

The Nechako Watershed Council has been working since 1998 to resolve some of the watershed issues created by the Kenney Dam. One of the initiatives they are taking the lead on is the Cold Water Release Facility. The NWC recognized the complex environmental and economic assessments required for such a project and asked the NKDF and the Northern Development Commission to share the costs of the first step: getting expert advice on what assessment methodology should be used. Economist, Gary Holman, was contracted and completed the report. The resulting product is being used to define the methodology of the next step, which is: to do a systematic 'Assessment and Evaluation of the Benefits of Cold Water Release.' That ?AEB? document will be used in turn to raise $50 million of the estimated $100 million project costs ($50 million has already been committed by Alcan).

Many of BC?s Coastal communities are exploring how they can enter the lucrative shellfish farming industry. In order to do so, the area waters must be tested for biotoxins and other contaminants to make sure the water quality is acceptable. NKDF directors approved this funding for a two-year water-testing program near Kitamaat Village that could attract private investment in shellfish aquaculture. The Society with the required expertise to design this project is based in Prince Rupert but they sub-contract the work to a Kitamaat-based crew and project manager.

This is the first project the NKDF has funded in the Nee Tahi Buhn community. The activities focus on the business consulting, legal advice and training the community requires to enter the forestry business. The goal was to enable band members to work in as many aspects of the industry as possible, starting with Silviculture, driving trucks and operating heavy equipment. The matching funds came from the Burns Lake Native Development Corporation.

This is an innovative project that sprang from the applicant?s participation in a social enterprise workshop in Vancouver in September. They brought the lessons learned there into the northern service area, by means of a symposium and a 5-day workshop for the 12 most successful participants in the symposium. The goal of the symposium was to lead to a ?co-operative business venture? operated by Aboriginal youth (ages 19 to 29).

The BC Forage Council is a non-profit society funded by memberships and is the lead agency in BC for testing improved forage crops. This project will test forage varieties for with the intention of increasing crop yield and profitability for Nechako and Francois Lake area farmers and ranchers. Other funding partners include the Cattle Industry Development Council, the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC and partnerships with private industry, such as seed companies.

The proponent established a local radio station in Kitamaat Village, with the help of the Northern Native Broadcasting network. The purpose of the project was to create a communication vehicle that would pass on community news and notices, serve as an interactive vehicle for band members to communicate with public decision-makers, and allow cultural heritage programming with the objective of maintaining and revitalizing Haisla identity. NKDF provided funding for capital costs and Kitamaat Village Council provided the remainder of funding for the project.

This project involves completing construction of a new lodge at Ootsa Lake Bible Camp, approximately 50 km south of Burns Lake. The goals of the project included: increasing the capacity of the camp, improving access for seniors and handicapped groups, increasing the range of winter activities, and making the camp available for winter use by community groups. The only camp of its type in the area, the project is expects to increase visits and spending in the Southside communities. As well as the NKDF contribution, the remainder of the project will be funded primarily through the Society?s private fundraising efforts and in-kind contributions. The Society completed the project by August 25, 2005 in time to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

A number of BC?s Coastal communities are exploring how they can enter the lucrative shellfish farming industry. In order to do so, the area waters must be tested for biotoxins and other contaminants to make sure the water quality is acceptable. NCWQBPS has successfully completed a two-year water-testing program near Kitamaat Village that could attract private investment in shellfish aquaculture. The purpose of this project was to continue the testing for one more year, but also to double the number of testing stations. NCWQBPS, the Society with the necessary expertise to design this project, is based in Prince Rupert but they sub-contract the work to a Kitamaat-based crew. This project is a step toward removing a barrier to advancing shellfish development in the Haisla territory.

This funding approval did not progress to the agreement stage and no funding was drawn, due to a subsequent decision by the NKDFS Board.

North Pacific Music Festival Society is a newly society formed to house the Music & Friends festival. After successful festivals during each of the previous two years the Society members organized the one-day Music and Friends Festival 2006. The festival was successfully staged on July 22, 2006. The festival organizers are motivated to showcase the community as a summer tourism destination, and to grow the event year after year, bringing social, cultural and economic benefits to Kitamaat Village and area in the future. The event organization and implementation is done by volunteers, with a priority of contributing funds toward construction of Haisla Elder Care Facility.

The purpose of this project was to host a film festival during what is typically the non-tourist season for Vanderhoof, while showcasing the Nechako Valley recreational opportunities. After successfully showcasing films from the Toronto International Film Festival over a three-year period, The Sterling Sturgeon Film Festival was held over three days in February 2007. The economic benefits arise mainly from expenditures by visitors to the area and over the long term, and through the increased awareness of what Vanderhoof has to offer.

Kitamaat Village Council plans to start a band-owned construction business to serve clients in Kitamaat Village and the greater Kitimat area. The purpose of the business is to: a) create meaningful employment opportunity for Haisla band members, and b) provide surpluses to KVC to use for sustainable capacity development, and c) serve as a demonstration project to model a business success for the community. The business will provide the following services: renovation and construction of earth-based structures, basements, drain tile and septic systems, retaining walls, driveways and ditching, culverts, and general site remediation. NKDF funding is to assist with the purchase of the needed equipment for the project. A key to this approval was the proponents commitment to invest any surpluses back into capacity building for Haisla Band members.

During the winter of 2006-2007 the Lakes communities experienced record breaking snowfalls, the weight of the snow collapsing buildings, downing power lines and trees from Houston through to Fort Fraser. As a result, there is a need to clean up massive amounts of woody debris on rights of ways, yards, roads and hay meadows. With the help of NKDFS funding assistance, Cheslatta Carrier First Nation will purchase a large capacity wood chipper and contract clean up jobs throughout the area. Once established, the operation will expand to include other types of work, such as tree trimming, pruning and brush clean-up. The proponent will begin training workers as early as late May 2007 and to begin working in the field in late June 2007.

The BC Forage Council is a non-profit society funded by memberships and is the lead agency in BC for testing improved forage crops. This project will test forage varieties between 2008 and 2011 for with the intention of increasing crop yield and profitability for Nechako area farmers and ranchers. Other funding partners include Nechako Area Livestock Producers and Fort Fraser Livestock (Horn) Fund.

Kitamaat Village Council plans to build a tourism business using strategic assets and strengths - traditional territory, Kowesas Lodge and cabins, and the Haisla Nation boat. The goals of this project are: to prepare the Haisla Nation to transport tourism traffic, make improvements to Kowesas Lodge, interest Haisla band members in working in the tourism industry, develop training and coaching packages for workers, to test different tourism packages, to fine-tune the tourism offering and, after a suitable period of testing, to implement the business plan.