Aklavik (May 17/04) - You can almost hear the pride in Chief Charlie Furlong's voice when he speaks about the Aklavik Indian Band's new business partnership with North-Wright Airways.

Daazraii/North-Wright Airways was created on April 15 after the Aklavik Indian Band invested $300,000 into the joint venture, the same amount North-Wright Airways Ltd. contributed.

Where they fly North-Wright has operated a scheduled passenger service for 17 years based out of Norman Wells. The company has a fleet of 19 aircraft and operates with scheduled passenger service to Deline, Tulita, Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope and Colville Lake. The airline also has two major scheduled runs from Deline to Yellowknife and then outward from Deline and Yellowknife and Fort Good Hope up to Inuvik. From Inuvik the partnership will now fly into Gwich'in territory to Aklavik and Fort McPherson. Aside from scheduled passenger service, North-Wright moves the mail, flies freight and has an interline (connection) agreement with Canadian North and is also involved with tourism flying. North-Wright has agencies in Yellowknife, Deline, Tulita, Norman Wells and part time in MacPherson.

The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs contributed $150,000 to the Aklavik Indian Band, matching their contribution to the partnership.

The money is being used to purchase a hanger in Inuvik and two aircraft, said Furlong.

The aircraft being purchased will be a Cessna 206, which can carry six passengers, and a Cessna 207, which can carry seven passengers.

At the same time, however, the partnership will allow Daazraii/North-Wright Airways to supply aircraft, such as Twin Otters, on demand, said Furlong.

Currently, the company has three employees, two in Aklavik and one in Inuvik.

The three employees schedule tickets, freight delivery and passenger service to and from town in Inuvik.

The partnership means that members of the Aklavik Indian Band now have equity ownership in physical assets of an airline company and can participate in the growth of that company, both in terms of jobs created and profits, said Furlong.

This includes an agency agreement that is in place with all of the handling of customer service performed by the partnership in Aklavik and Inuvik, he said.

Terminal counter space and administration will be handled under the North-Wright banner.

"There's so much opportunity with flying schools and training programs operating out of the North and money available to take the training, and we're providing the vehicle for that," said Furlong.

The new partnership is interested in attracting more students into the industry, which is crucial to future growth.

In the past, North-Wright has been actively recruiting personnel in the schools and will continue to actively encourage students into the industry in the future.

Another tact being considered by the partnership to encourage more aboriginal participation in the airline industry is the creation of a scholarship.

"It is the goal of the board of directors to encourage band members and beneficiaries of the Gwich'in Land Claim Agreement to enrol in certified training programs," said North-Wright Airline Ltd. owner Warren Wright.

The partnership is encouraging students to check out schools in the Northwest Territories first, including programs such as Big River Air Ltd.'s Aviation Diploma Program in Fort Smith and Buffalo School of Aviation's Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Program in Yellowknife.

"Qualified graduates can find meaningful career employment available in the air service industry," said Wright.

For his part, Wright says he's also very happy with the new partnership.

"We are proud of the fact that this is a true partnership and not simply a short-term joint venture," said Wright.

In 2002, North-Wright had an opportunity to secure facilities in Inuvik to service scheduled operations into the Sahtu region from Inuvik.

"While we were in the process of completing this new phase of development for our airline, Chief Furlong called and asked if we would be interested in working with the Aklavik Indian Band," said Wright.

Added Furlong: "It took us a long time to convince the funding agencies. We finally got around to it and had it formalized April 15."

"Daazraii/North-Wright Airways Ltd. has already begun to provide economic benefits and employment to members of the Aklavik Indian band," said Wright.

"As the company grows so will the opportunities for employment in all aspects of the airline," said Wright.

Plans are to eventually house planes in Aklavik.

The Daazraii/North-Wright Airways schedule starts out at Inuvik with a hanger owned by partnership housed there. Whether a hanger will eventually be set up in Aklavik will be decided by the future growth of the company, said Wright.

Daazraii/North-Wright Airways will handle all the passenger movements and ticket taking in Aklavik.

The company is owned by Daazraii Investments Inc., the investment arm of the Aklavik Indian Band, with 51 per cent ownership and North-Wright Airways at 49 per cent.

According to the requirements of Transport Canada, as the holder of air-operating certificate North-Wright Airways is the managing partner.