Mal-U professor helps First Nations groups enhance business operations

Marketing professor Duane Weaver is making an impact well beyond the classroom.

Like many Malaspina University-College faculty members, Weaver shares his research expertise with the wider community - in this case First Nations groups on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Nuu-chah-nulth Nation, their supporting body of hereditary chiefs and Uu-a-thluk (NTC) Fisheries contracted Malaspina's Centre for Continuing Studies (CCS) in Nanaimo to assess the viability of their shellfish acquaculture businesses. Weaver, with technical support from Malaspina's Centre for Shellfish Research, conducted assessments of shellfish farms in three nations: Huu-ay-aht (near Bamfield), Toquaht (near Ucluelet) and Kyuquot on the north western coast of the Island.

“Oyster and clam farms have been operating in these remote communities for about four years," said Weaver. "A lot of money and time have been poured into them, but some are not successful or only partially successful. The First Nations groups were looking for ideas on how to improve their operations.”

Weaver examined four pillars of business management, and interviewed chiefs (hereditary and elected), community members, site operators and fisheries managers.
“We reviewed financial statements, and processes and methodologies for marketing and management," he explained. "We took photos of existing business operations, went out to shellfish rafts and clam beaches, and looked closely at facilities including boats, docks and floathouses.

"Each of the three communities is unique but the basic challenges are the same," said Weaver. “However, they can merge their specialties and find ways to collaborate."

Weaver’s immediate and long-term recommendations “were welcomed with open arms” by the First Nations groups, and plans and strategies are now being developed to implement them.

Three recommendations currently being worked on relate to: governance, to assist the shellfish aquaculture businesses to operate as a business; management, to fill identified business management capacity gaps; and youth awareness, to encourage young community members to reconnect with the water to ensure adequate members benefit from careers in the seafood industry.

Randy Fred, a representative of Uu-a-thluk, said, “there is good potential in shellfish aquaculture and if our operations can focus on profit instead of job creation, there is much more chance of success. Job creation will fall into place as the businesses succeed and grow.”

Fred said there is general agreement throughout the Nuu-chah-nulth territory that business must be separated from politics. To assist this process, training modules are being developed in communications, governance, and business acumen. Carol Keane, a Mohawk facilitator whose uncle was the first aboriginal Senator in Canada, will deliver a pilot session called Respectful Communications at the next Council of Ha’wiih (hereditary chiefs) meeting in January. It is hoped this communications module will be delivered to as many Nuu-chah-nulth people and workers as possible, added Fred.

Two business advisors who own and operate their own oyster farms have also been contracted to provide management and operational advice within each of the three Nuu-chah-nulth regions. Their role is to assist all the Nuu-chah-nulth shellfish businesses work towards being profitable.

Another of Weaver’s recommendations was to combine talent from different First Nations to create one profitable business, then use this same talent to move onto another Nation’s operations.  “I like this idea,” said Larry Johnson, Huu-ay-aht’s Economic Development Manager and an Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood Development Corporation Board member. “We are willing to try this out with Huu-ay-aht’s shellfish aquaculture business.” This will involve hiring trained members from neighbouring Bands to work on Huu-ay-aht’s clam and oyster businesses.

As part of another recommendation, Uu-a-thluk and Malaspina’s Centre for Shellfish Research are working on organizing a youth summer shellfish camp next year. This initiative is being designed to encourage young people to consider careers in marine aquatic industries, especially shellfish, and to encourage young people to excel in math and science in order to qualify to take courses in marine biology and related subjects.

Some of Weaver's recommendations are expected to have an impact far beyond shellfish aquaculture businesses. "The research is timely," he said. “The assessed First Nations groups have recently signed treaty agreements, some of the first in BC, and in the future will have money and control of their land. They are in a perfect position to develop sustainable business operations and new economic development initiatives in many areas, not just shellfish aquaculture."

Fred said the First Nations groups are not expecting miracles to occur overnight "but we know if we are methodical in implementing the assessment recommendations, we can enjoy a better chance of success."