John Curran
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 14, 2008

MACKENZIE DELTA - Late last year special deliveries went out to Gwich'in beneficiaries around the world, but Santa Claus had nothing to do with them.

The Gwich'in Tribal Council sent out distribution cheques on Dec. 14 to some 3,200 registered participants.

Everyone 19 years or older received a payment of $338. Those under 19 had their share put into the Gwich'in Children's Trust, which is paid out once the beneficiary comes of age.

"These annual distributions will ensure that all Gwich'in beneficiaries will receive a direct benefit from our land claim agreement," said Fred Carmichael, president of the Gwich'in Tribal Council.

"Our Gwich'in-owned businesses and our investments are becoming more profitable and we are in a stronger position to provide a larger capital distribution than in previous years since the inception of the policy in 2002."

Members living within the Gwich'in Settlement Area - including Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic, Aklavik and Inuvik - picked up their cheques at the Gwich'in office in their community. For beneficiaries living in Yellowknife, they were available at the Izhii K'aiikit Tat Gwich'in office on the second floor of the BDC Building.

"Almost half were mailed out as we have beneficiaries all over the world," said Tom Williams, chief operating officer of the council. "About 42 per cent of our registered beneficiaries live outside the settlement area."

Cheques were sent as far away as Europe and Australia, he added.

In 2006, the December distribution was worth $331 per person - though there was also a special cheque cut for each beneficiary in April.

"We paid out $250 in recognition of the 15th anniversary of the Gwich'in Land Claim on Apr. 22, 2006," he said.

That also marked the final transfer payment from the federal government when the First Nation received the last of its $75 million it negotiated from Ottawa.

"Today we've been able to grow that to about $138 million," he added.

The Gwich'in have also built a large portfolio of holdings including Mackenzie Valley Construction, Gwich'in Helicopters, Inuvik Properties and many more - as well as controlling roughly 90 per cent of the commercial office space in Inuvik.

"Our list of holdings is growing every day," he said. "We're always looking for opportunities that are all based on potential returns on our investment."

The newest addition to the fold is Gwich'in Geometrics, a survey company that does work for the construction, road building and oil and gas industries.

"We added that one this past fall," said Williams. "We hold 51 per cent of it through a joint-venture with Usher Canada, one of the leading survey companies in the world."

If and when the pipeline moves forward, Williams said the Gwich'in are going to enjoy a huge windfall.

"When the economy starts booming, our investments will really start to pay off even more," he said.