LUTSEL K'E/SNOWDRIFT - They came bearing gifts, and received an earful in return.

Kevin Gault, senior counsel for Dyno Nobel, a Calgary-based explosives firm, hands Mary Fatt a brand new iPad – a gift the company provided for a draw during the Denesoline Corporation AGM in Lutsel K'e, Dec. 6. Fatt says she intends to give the iPad to her grandchildren for Christmas. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

Representatives for eight of the 17 joint venture partners with the Denesoline Corporation flew into Lutsel K'e to make presentations to community members at the corporation's annual general meeting at the Z'ah Lockhart Community Hall, Dec. 6.

Aboriginal Engineering, Arcan Construction, Dyno Nobel, Northern Foodservices, McCaw Drilling and Blasting, Air Tindi, Great Slave Helicopters, and Discovery Mining Services were all represented and armed with various amounts of swag, aside from the total of $900 in cash door prizes that was up for grabs for the 50 or so community members who attended.

The general word from the start seemed to be that though the economic downturn two years ago has caught up with the Lutsel K'e Dene Band-owned corporation and its partners this year, the bottom line was still relatively sound.

Denesoline CEO Roy Shields reported a profit of just $12,000 for 2010 – down considerably from the $1.2 million the corporation cleared the year before. Nonetheless, Shields insisted prospects for the corporation's three-year-old trust fund – now at $5.6 million – were good. Once the trust reaches $10 million the plan is to begin distributing funds in a manner for which the community must decide, according to Shields.

"The net operating profits are down as they are with most corporations in the North," said Shields. "We're still $12,000 in the black ... That's really good, a lot of northern communities weren't able to do that."

Despite the relatively good news and the early Christmas gifts of hats, knives, and iPads from some of the partners, some members in attendance expressed frustration with what was viewed as slow progress in building up investments in the community.

"Last year we had a youth centre, we had a daycare. Everything has been cut down because there wasn't much money to go ahead, said Elizabeth Lockhart, a 37-year-old mother of five.

"So we need the companies to help the youth, to keep the daycares open, the youth centre open, and for the future time here."

Steve Nitah, the former Lutsel K'e chief and – briefly – the corporation's president earlier this year, suggested better communication was needed between the community and the joint venture partners. He encouraged them to set up a job fair in Lutsel K'e to "encourage kids to broaden their horizons."

Kevin Gault, senior counsel for Calgary-based explosives firm Dyno Nobel, said he thought that was "a wonderful idea."

"I think all of us would be pleased to come with our job training programs," said Gault.

Florence Catholique, also a one-time chief and the Lutsel K'e Dene Band's impact benefit agreement co-ordinator, reminded partners of the high cost of living in the community, and how they could help.

"Gifts have been given in the draws," she said. "It's the Christmas season, I'm expecting some contributions before you leave."

Catholique also encouraged their business partners to hire more community members for jobs, noting she had their addresses and could be counted on to be "knocking on your doors."

The meeting carried on for approximately five hours, after which the joint partners were bid farewell back to Yellowknife so the membership could continue with a private meeting behind closed doors. Shields accompanied the partners back to the city.

He said there is a "misunderstanding" among members as to how revenue is generated through the joint venture flows.

"You can either put it in a trust fund and let it grow so it becomes sustainable and then the community can benefit from the interest or the revenue off that money, or you can continue to make revenue though the front door and watch it walk out the back door annually," said Shields.

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