Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

Jean Marie River (Oct 09/00) - Commercializing log-home building seems natural in Jean Marie River.

"The community has a history of log-home production and forestry. This was a good opportunity for the community. It was something they knew," says Henry French, who was brought in (in 1999) to get the Jean Marie River sawmill operation going.

The Deh Cho community wants to build pre-fabricated log homes and is also hoping to market the product to other NWT communities.

Fire destroyed a previous sawmill in the community.

French spoke at the recent Council for the Advancement of Native Economic Development Officers conference held in Yellowknife.

The presentation was part of the investment section of the conference.

Jean Marie River, a community of about 20 people, is looking for technical help, investors and buyers for its products.

French says there have been new challenges with the mill, which was bought from British Columbia.

"I felt sure by summer (2000) we'd have this mill up and running. In spring, I went to the mill and I should have taken my fishing rod," French said.

A wet summer resulted in a muddy mill.

Despite the mud, French said he and the community were able to get the mill ready for startup, but not without a few problems.

Parts has to be replaced and, as bad luck would have it, said French, the one belt they didn't have a spare for needed replacing.

In the end, they got things rolling and the mill turned its first logs last month.

"By next summer, we'll be ready to go at it full tilt," he said.

"I have a few thoughts, from my experience working on the project, in an isolated Northern settlement."

Overall, he says there is no substitute for local knowledge when it comes to the Northern economic development environment.

"Be ready to reinvent the plan. You have to go outside the box for your answers."

French added Jean Marie River Chief Stanley Sanguez has supported the project.

There is a history of log-building in the community, said Sanguez.

"That's the atmosphere we're trying to bring back."