Developing sustainable and profitable businesses

About Us

We are efficient, innovative and grow our businesses in prudent and fiscally responsible ways. We nurture relationships with both our customers and employees and value them as long-term partners’ - thereby building mutual loyalty. We offer our customers unqualified value.

Services

Through our various limited partnerships we are a growing First Nations owned enterprise with interests in forestry management, specialty wood products, tourism, multi-use port facilities, non-timber forest products, energy, and construction markets in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada.

History

NDC opened for business on April 15, 2011 and in the early days was managed by its (then) three Directors, Chief Andrew Andy, Councillor Sam Schooner and Archie Pootlass.

NDC's Company Trustees, appointed by Nuxalk Nation Chief and Council, are: Sam Moody (appointed Feb 2014), Violet Clellamin (appointed Oct 2014), and Evangeline Hanuse (appointed Oct 2014). The Trustees main role is to appoint and oversee directors for the company.

NDC's Directors since April 2015 are: Jim Bennett, CA; Spencer Siwallace, RPF; Nancy More; Garnett Andrews; and Sharon Dawson.

As of April 2016, NDC hired a new CEO to replace Randy Hart, who has retired. 

Currently NDC has three full-time staff: Keith Hamilton, CMC, President & CEO, Maureen Leys, Accounting Coordinator and Chris Nelson, Culturist and Special Projects Coordinator.

NDC manages Nuxalk Development Limited Partnership (NDLP) which is a master limited partnership for:

  1. Totem Sawmill Limited Partnership operates a sawmill (WoodMizer, Swingmill & Dimension saws) located on Salloompt Road in Hagensborg, BC in the Bella Coola Valley. The sawmill is managed by Jamie Schooner, Sawmill Coordinator.
  2. Totem Essential Conifer Oils located at Totem Sawmill produces Great Bear Rainforest branded Douglas-fir, Hemlock, Sitka Spruce and Lodgepole Pine essential oils for a boutique cosmetics / personal skincare products market
  3. Nuxalk Commercial Fisheries Limited Partnership, one of four partners (Nuxalk, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo / Xai'Xai and Wuikinuxv Nations) of the Central Coast Commercial Fisheries Association which manages the commercial fishing licences and quotas for the 4 Nations.
  4. Copper Sun Gallery -  located in downtown Bella Coola to exhibit Nuxalk arts / crafts; online art sales at www.coppersungallery.ca
  5. Copper Sun Journeys - authentic aboriginal tours of the Nuxalk Petroglyphs and other local sites. www.coppersunjourneys.com 
  6. Bella Coola Traffic Control Services - offering professional traffic control services in the Bella Coola Valley
  7. Nuxalk Port Limited Partnership, one of three equal partners in Elspeth Bay Development Corporationa joint-venture to develop a multi-use port facility in Bella Coola.
  8. Nuxalk Aeroponics - an indoor facility to grow nutritious pesticide-free leafy-green vegetables under LED lights, throughout the year.

NDC owns a John Deere 710D rubber-tired backhoe used for construction.

NDC and it's affiliates employ over 50 seasonal persons.

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Nuxalk Forestry Limited (NFL) opened for business on May 15, 2010 and was incorporated by then elected Chief Councillor Spencer Siwallace, RPF; from May 2010 to Feb 2012 NFL had two Directors, Simon Mack and Corby Lamb.  From Feb 2012 to March 2015, NFL's Company Directors were: Sharon Dawson; Richard J. Hall; Simon Mack; and Ivan Tallio.  As of March 2015, NDC Directors are also responsible for NFL.  As of April 2016, NFL's President & CEO is Keith Hamilton

NFL manages a Community Forestry Agreement (CFA) held by Nuxalk Forestry Limited Partnership (NFLP). The CFA produces 20,000 cubic meters of harvest volume annually within the Nuxalk Ancestral Territory.  NFLP also owns a Non-Replaceable Forest Licence (NRFL) of 62,000 cubic meters of harvest volume annually for a period of five years, 2014 to 2019.

NFLP and the Bella Coola Community Forest together operated a dryland sort in Bella Coola harbour for logs harvested from both community forests in 2013/14.

NFLP supplies logs to Totem Sawmill Limited Partnership.

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Company strategic initiatives are guided by the stated wishes of its owners and beneficiaries, the Nuxalkmc, as expressed through approved plans that resulted from extensive community meetings, focus groups, and one-on-one meetings with Hereditary Chiefs & Elders, elected Chief & Council, and Nuxalkmc members:

  1. Nuxalk Healing and Wellness Plan (2000)
  2. Nuxalk Comprehensive Community Plan (2009)
  3. Nuxalk Development Corporation Strategic Plan (2013)
  4. Coast Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Aboriginal Tourism Strategy (2013)
  5. Nuxalk Comprehensive Aboriginal Tourism Development Strategy (2014)