Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 02/98) - The Fort Good Hope Co-operative is the result of different organizations working together, says Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. president Bill Lyall.

"Groups worked not for their own self-interest but for the good of the whole community," he said.

Yamoga Lands Corporation, the community's council, the territorial government's Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development department, CIBC and Human Resources Development Canada's transitional jobs fund, as well as the NWT Co-op system and the Fort Good Hope Co-op organizing committee, all played a role in making the co-op a reality, he said.

"Co-ops are not owned by government or by big business in the South. They are owned by the community," Lyall added.

"As owners, you are the co-op."

Lyall, also president of the NWT Cooperative Business Development Fund, made the comments last Monday at the Fort Good Hope Co-op grand opening.

This latest co-op is especially significant because part of the $750,000 cost of the building was covered by land claim money.

This is the first co-op that has been built with land claim money, Lyall said.

Construction of the 405 square metre building, owned by Yamoga's numbered company 953766 NWT Ltd. and leased back to the co-op, started four months ago. All of the shares of the numbered company are owned by Yamaga Lands Corp. Yamoga represents Dene land claim agreement beneficiaries from Fort Good Hope.

The building incorporates retail and storage space as well as a two-bedroom residence for manager Tom Forbes. Forbes joined the Fort Good Hope Co-op from Kapami Co-op in Colville Lake.

On just how successful a co-op can be, Lyall pointed to the Koomiut Co-op in Pelly Bay. That co-op gives community elders pension cheques each month.

David Cook, new vice-president of the Fort Good Hope Co-op, said the Sahtu community's new store has taken "over two decades to become a reality." Cook is also the community's economic development officer and a Yamoga Lands Corp. board member.

For Fort Good Hope resident Margaret Louison, the new co-op means a new choice.

The co-op will compete with the community's Northern Store.

"It's two places to go to shop, two options. It's good for the community. You need to have choice," she said.