Outgoing chair Dallan Oberg, right, passes the ceremonial gavel to incoming chair Harris Sutherland, left, during the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce Chair's Banquet Thursday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Business Matters

Chamber inducts new chair Harris Sutherland

Jan 24, 2020 | 2:24 PM

It was a proud night for the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce.

The local chamber inducted incoming chair Harris Sutherland during the 114th Annual Chair’s Banquet Thursday. Sutherland takes over the position from outgoing chair Dallan Oberg.

Sutherland said he is excited to take on the new challenges for the year ahead.

“This is a huge opportunity for myself, but at the same time this community I believe in,” he said. “I believe we have great business here. In spite of anything that is said, any statistic or any type of news article, the Battlefords is a great place to live; it’s a great place to do business. I look forward to growing with it along with our business members in the year 2020.”

Sutherland who is the Senior Operations Manager for the Gold Eagle Casino is originally from Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation.

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He said his ultimate goal for the year ahead is to bridge the gap between local businesses and local First Nations.

Sutherland wants to start by creating a First Nations directory that will help connect the businesses in the community and also serve to assist local businesses create jobs and opportunities at the same time.

He said those lifelong partnerships will help boost the community’s economic future as well as what he describes as its “social future.”

Being the first First Nations person in the role of chair of the local chamber Sutherland said is a huge honour.

He notes the chamber has always had strong relationships with Indigenous organizations.

The launch of the Saskatchewan’s Chamber of Commerce’s Indigenous Engagement Charter, Sutherland believes, is also a positive sign for the future. He took part in the charter-signing ceremony in Saskatoon Wednesday.

“Everyone made a commitment to not only improve community First Nations’ involvement within their businesses, but also to take the traditional training cultural awareness,” he said. “We at the chamber here as soon as we heard about this program, we knew that this was something we have to get on right away.”

Sutherland said he personally thinks this initiative “is not only going to straighten the lives of First Nations but also everyone within the Battlefords… as long as we keep working together, doing everything truthfully, upfront, honestly.”

Sutherland said he also wants to follow the footsteps of past previous chairs who he said had great vision.

“I just want to continue that vision, and hopefully leave a mark that not only resonates with the business community but the social community as well,” he said.

Also during the ceremony, Melanie Roberts was inducted into the position of vice-chair and Vivian Whitecalf of Sweetgrass First Nation into the second vice-chair role.

The guest speaker for the evening was Zane Hansen, President and CEO of Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA). Hansen discussed the SIGA organization, which is also a non-profit that contributes to many community organizations and charities.

“I think the big thing for us, for the Gold Eagle [Casino] and all our casinos, is we appreciate being part of the community, and the support we get for the region,” he said. “That’s been fantastic; it has let us build up our business over the years. We want to be here for the long-term.”

Hansen mentioned SIGA is also a major employer in Saskatchewan. The Gold Eagle Casino in particular has 290 employees, 39 of whom have been with the company for at least 20 years.

“We’re really proud of their effort,” he said.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow