The company, to be called Tli Cho/LandTran Transport Limited, was created in early January when the band bought a fleet of trucks from Byers, a subsidiary Landtran company. LandTran operates throughout western Canada and has more than 900 employees.

The venture was a Dogrib Rae Band initiative, Ivey said, adding that the band will hold majority interest in the venture. However, during the initial stages, LandTran will assume responsibility for all management functions of the day to day business. The balance of power is to be transferred when both sides agree the operation is successfully off the ground and the Dogrib have "enough expertise built up," said LandTran president John Assman.

With ownership in Canadian Northern Oil Distributors Ltd., in Yellowknife, the band was seeking a means of transporting the oil to the mines. Ivey added mining traffic as well as runs to and from Yellowknife on Highway 3 are on the upswing.

"We're looking for different ways to take advantage of the mines... We can provide as good or better service as anyone else," Ivey said. The deal will see training provided to aboriginal employees, something that was never offered by other trucking companies, Ivey noted.

"We will own the majority of this company and eventually get our people driving trucks... independent operators and everything," he said.

The number of positions to be created are indefinite at this point, Ivey added.

The acquired trucks are to be painted red and will include running caribou in the logo.

Assman said the band's business proposal interested him because they are one of the largest aboriginal groups in the Western Arctic.

"We think they're a great group of people and they have the right attitude and the right capabilities to make it successful," Assman said.

There is a possibility that a servicing component will be also be created in a year or two, creating additional jobs. In the meantime, existing facilities will be used in Yellowknife, where the company will be based.

Another future option will be to locate a terminal in Rae when the planned airstrip is completed, Ivey said.