Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Providence (Sep 25/02) - Doug Bryshun took the Merv Hardie ferry out of Fort Providence last Friday afternoon like he always does.

But instead of stopping at his home near Dory Point, he kept on driving to his new home in Hay River.

After 12 years in Fort Providence, Bryshun is launching his own consulting business in the Hub.

Having been the CEO of the Deh Gah Got'ie Betterment Corporation for the past seven years and band manager for five years prior to that, packing his bags hasn't been easy.

"The community's been very good to me. It's hard to leave," he said. "I love what I'm doing."

Citing better educational opportunities for his children as a primary reason for the move, Bryshun said he's still willing to work for the people of Fort Providence if they are so inclined.

There are still projects such as the Mackenzie River bridge, oil and gas related work and other new business opportunities that he'd be happy to undertake, he noted.

In his time with the development corporation, Bryshun said he was happy to see the Dene and Metis work together.

He's also proud of establishing a big-game hunting operation and various joint ventures, but nothing compares to the scale of the proposed bridge, he said.

Outside of that, change could be in the wind, he predicted.

"Resource development has not been that great in our area."

"Without having resource development, it's hard to go much further," he said.

He has taken on small contracts in the past and has worked on the Western Constitutional Development Conference, Hay River oil and gas protocol, and the South Slave Metis economic development corporation among others.

Yet the prospect of becoming a full-time consultant makes Bryshun a little apprehensive, he admitted.

"I've always been a wage earner. It's a rather bold step for me," he said.

"I'll see how it goes for the first while."

Thing are looking good so far, though.

"I'm booked solid and I haven't even hung up my shingle yet," he said.