(L/R) Rhonda Smith, Co-Founder and COO, Trace; Darrell Haight, Co-Founder and President/CEO, Trace; Tribal Chief Richard Ben, MLTC; Vice-Chief Richard Derocher, MLTC. (Submitted photo/SymmetryPR)

By meadowlakeNOW Staff

Indigenous-owned

MLTC launches new consulting business with Saskatoon firm

Apr 6, 2022 | 1:32 PM

A new Indigenous business venture for Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) is set to provide economic opportunity and implement environmental stewardship.

During a press conference Wednesday morning, MLTC announced a new partnership with Trace Associates Inc., in launching Airea Consulting LP (Airea), an Indigenous-owned consulting business. Dignitaries and media were on hand for the announcement.

Airea is designed to provide environmental science and engineering, sustainability, health and safety and Indigenous business advisory to communities and clients that want to work with Indigenous-owned businesses.

MLTC Tribal Chief Richard Ben and Vice-Chief Richard Derocher said it’s exciting and critical that they will be able to have young people find employment in sectors that Indigenous people have not previously been in. Ben also expressed his excitement to work with future partners.

“Airea Consulting LP aspires to be a leader in environmental sciences and engineering advisory services and will be focused on developing positive, long-term relationships with clients throughout Canada and North America,” he said.

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The company will invest a portion of it’s profits into MLTC’s nine First Nations to help them build their economies. This includes social infrastructure investments in on-reserve education, healthcare, youth and Elder programs, and housing.

“This way, you don’t have eight-to-10 people in a home overcrowded,” Derocher said. “Those are what the dividends of these partnerships bring to our community.”

“It’s not only about the economics of MLTC, it’s about the communities we work for, it’s about bringing home resources. This new company represents the future for our children.”

For the partners, the venture represents an act of economic reconciliation. Both MLTC and Trace have enjoyed previous working relationships and look forward to continuing to work together to advance a common goal of creating economic benefits for MLTC’s First Nations. More than 100 employees will immediately come to the company through Trace.

Co-Founder’s Darrell Haight and Rhonda Smith said they as a company are committed to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action No. 92, with a pledge to support Indigenous Peoples’ pursuits of self-governance, fair representation, land rights, and employment.

“We are a unique consulting firm in that we listen and ensure collaboration between all to find a win-win for everyone and work for both industry and Indigenous communities,” Haight said. “One of our founding goals is to build sustainable and meaningful employment capacity within Indigenous communities.”

“We are proud to provide potential clients with an Indigenous majority-owned service provider in the environmental science and engineering consultancy field,” Smith said. “It’s our way of being able to be a part of supporting reconciliation, to experience and grow with all of you and the rest of Canada.”

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