Doug Bryshun, hired by the Kaa Dule United Corporation, says, "You've got to move at the speed of business. That's the bottom line." - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

Doug Bryshun, who has been hired by Trout Lake's Sambaa K'e Dene Band, said the corporation is seeking work in camps and catering, general services, geo-technical and geo-physical.

"We're bidding on practically every contract that's available," he said.

The projects could create dozens of seasonal jobs.

Kaa Dule United Corporation was formed in October by the Sambaa K'e Dene Band, the Liidlii Kue First Nation, the Fort Simpson Metis Nation, the Nahanni Butte Dene Band and Jean Marie River's Tthek'ehdeli First Nation.

The political bodies are pooling their heavy equipment and resources to try to capture some benefits from pipeline-related projects.

"We're more or less a co-ordinating body on behalf of the communities. The idea was to get us involved in these contracts directly because that's about the only way we can guarantee our involvement," said Bryshun. "We have to move at the speed of business. We can't move at the speed of politics or government."

Partnerships have been forged with Rowe's Construction and a camps and catering company in the South.

Although no work has been secured, employees are being lined up in preparation.

Wages for at least one project along the proposed pipeline route are being advertised as $240-$300 per day.

Hart Searle, spokesperson for the Mackenzie Gas Project, said contracts will be awarded based on three factors: quality, safety and cost.

There is an emphasis on Northern and aboriginal content, according to Searle.

"We want to work with local companies," he said.

He noted that land-use permit and water licence applications for the winter projects have been submitted to the Mackenzie Land and Water Board.

Searle added that more projects are planned for the summer and tentatively for next winter.