Seabird Island Band

Seabird Island Band is located 4 km east of Agassiz, BC. The Band operates a restaurant, gas bar and convenience store which are located adjacent to Highway 7.  Other Band businesses include the hazelnut orchard (47 ha), sheep farm (243 ha, 36,000 sheep and lamb), cotton wood plantation (556 ha) and leasing of cultivated land (486 ha).

Seabird Island Band first requested Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO) Aboriginal Services assistance in 1995 for a feasibility study and business plan for a gas bar. The Band has participated in a CESO mentoring assignment, where the same Volunteer Adviser (VA) Dean Struble has been involved with the Band since 1998. The mentoring assignment has increased the continuity and acceptance of assistance on projects which has been mutually beneficial for the Band and CESO.   There have been ten volunteer advisers (VAs) who have assisted on Band projects over the past ten years.

As a lead VA, Dean has assisted in getting other VAs with specific expertise to participate on major issues for the Band.  The first was VA Bill Pringle, a forage and livestock specialist.  In 2000, Bill completed an overview of the sheep farm operations including animal husbandry, pasture forages, sheering and other related practices. The objective of the review was to offer additional recommendations to improve production and operating efficiencies to help make the business sustainable on the long-term.

VA Tom Coulson did an in depth review of the restaurant and convenience store facilities, which are both showing their age and require a considerable upgrading.  The convenience store is small and congested. The Band recognized the financial advantages that could be achieved by introducing changes in the food service and in downsizing the restaurant and banquet area while expanding the merchandizing area for convenience foods.  The staff could be cross trained to serve in both areas, which would be more efficient. Renovation of the facility would result in an appealing and functional new facade.

Currently there are five CESO volunteer advisers working at the Band. This includes on-going assistance on the gas bar, convenience store, restaurant, farming operations, and marketing of hazelnuts, wool products and gravel.  Work is also being done to assist with information technology and communication systems, forestry development issues and new business opportunities.

The Band followed the development of the Provincial Forest Revitalization Plan over the past three years.   In 2003, VA Sandy Segaran prepared a detailed Band agreement for the Revitalization Plan, which was signed September 24, 2004.  Sandy had forestry experience and he was familiar with requirement of the Provincial Plan.  Through this important economic initiative the Band will share forestry revenues and get access to timber from a designated area over the next five years.

Sandy continues to assist the Band with management of the cotton wood plantation.  This includes the introduction of cotton wood hybrids that mature in fewer years than the existing varieties in the plantation.

In January 2004 the Band gained approval for a five-year plan to remove a total of 1.2 million cubic meters of gravel from the river.  This is part of a water flow control program to prevent erosion of the Band’s river bank during periods of high water levels. The first gravel was removed in 2004.  This year, VA Garry Brooks, who operated his own gravel business for several years on Vancouver Island, has accepted an assignment to assist the Band.  The objectives will be to establish procedures for the most economic removal of the gravel and to develop suitable gravel products for local markets.

In 2004, VA Fred Holl who has expertise in telecommunication and information technology conducted an independent assessment of the Band’s two local area networks and stand-alone computers, which consisted of 120 computers.  He was to develop operational policies for the computer systems. The Band also had concerns regarding the telephone system, point of sale system for the convenience store and gas bar, the building surveillance alarms, and the inability for some Band residents to have access to high speed internet.

Fred did a complete network and systems review, which included a needs assessment and detailed cost analysis of the information technology and communication related systems. It was obvious that the cost effectiveness of all systems could be significantly improved and he reported that this was the most rewarding and challenging assignment he has ever done for CESO. This was also his first assignments with First Nations.

In conclusion, the prime objective of all the assignments has been to provide Seabird Island Band with the most cost effective, efficient and profitable solutions available to meet their needs for the foreseeable future.