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...from the president
As we are all aware, WLI has been engaged in its own defense against litigation launched by Chief and Council since 1997. For four years, our operations on behalf of economic development for the First Nation were put on hold. The Board felt during that time that we should observe the terms of the operating agreement between WLI and Chief and Council in spite of their opposition. During that time, we were limited to leasing operations. The litigation has gone on too long and has been a great expense. It has cost WLI more than half a million dollars that should have been invested in businesses for the benefit of First Nation members. On January 18th, Justice Blair handed down his decision concluding that WLI has conducted itself correctly since its restructuring in 1995 and that Chief and Council have indeed repudiated the operati ng agreement between us. However, at the same time, Chief and Council immediately threatened to appeal the decision and continue this costly struggle. Justice Blair’s decision gave the Board a brief window of time to act. Freed of the restrictions of the operating a g reement, the Board decided to appoint new members to the corporation from the First Nation, re-start business planning, and make loans to First Nation businesses. We acted quickly to do these things expecting that Chief and Council would seek in court to tie our hands once more. We expect them to appeal the decision and to try to restrict our investments that will deprive WFN members once again of employment and business opportunities that WLI could provide. The Board has appointed new cor-porate members: Bruce Gerard, Marlene M u n roe, Cynthia G. Pegahmagabow, and Russell Tabobandung, Sr. Following these appointments, the Board appointed Bruce and Russell as directors, and they now join Bette George, Dora Tabobondung and myself as the Board of WLI. The Board has also appointed advisors Eric Tabobandung, Raymond Tabobondung, Cynthia Tabobondung, and Charles Baker, who participate through the Business Development Committee in helping the Board in its business planning. Our Elder and leader from the beginning of WLI, Flora Tabobondung, resigned as President in February and was replaced by the Board. We extend to her our most heartfelt gratitude for her years of dedication to WLI and to the community. We extend to her our best wishes for a well-earned retirement. The Board has also re-activated the Business Development Fund by receiving loan applications from the businesses of First Nation members. In the past three months, we have advanced loans to eight businesses from this Fund, and we are providing advice and accounting services to some of them. Starting a business at Wasauksing is more of a challenge than it is in other places, and we wish our entrepreneurs well with their ventures. The Board is continuing its efforts to plan new business ventures and to administer those it has already in place. We are very much heartened by the positive response of other community members to join us as advisors, corporate members and directors to see WLI develop as the economic development arm of our First Nation. We soldier on in the hope that Chief and Council will one day come to see that by working together Council and WLI can help our people far more than working separately and far, far more than litigating. |
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Miigwetch, Badeweshkang Leslie E. Tabobondung |