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Listen "Let's Get Down To Business | Blair Mirau | Gitmaxmak'ay Nisga'a Society | Episode 1"
Episode Synopsis
Today we sat down with Blair Mirau, the CEO of Gitmaxmak'ay Nisga'a Society and talked about the economic development that the organization has gone through in order to survive and serve their membership.
The Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society is a non-profit organization with a mission to enhance the quality of life for the 1400+ Nisga’a citizens living in Prince Rupert & Port Edward on behalf of Nisga’a Lisims Government.
Originally started as the Nisga’a Tribal Council in 1965 to participate in Nisga’a Land Question, the Society was formally created in 2000 when the Nisga’a Treaty was officially recognized.
The Society offers programs & services ranging from language and culture revitalization to youth, education, and recreation.
In late 2013, the Society created its wholly owned subsidiary economic development corporation for the purposes of purchasing the former Azalea Gardens in Seal Cove. From 2014 – 2019, the business quadrupled in revenue and employees before the site was redeveloped.
During the pandemic, the Society acquired the Port Ed store in March 2020 followed by Bob’s on the Rocks in January 2021. No staff were laid off because of the pandemic, and Bob’s had its best year ever. For these efforts, Gitmaxmak’ay was awarded the 2021 BC Indigenous Community-Owned Business of the Year.
In May 2022, Gitmaxmak’ay celebrated the grand opening of the Yaga Café. Yaga is the Nisga’a word for ‘at the bottom of a hill’, which is an accurate description of the property in Seal Cove. The café utilizes fresh greens grown on site in a hydroponics greenhouse, reducing thousands of tonnes of GHG emissions every year and improving the health of Rupertites with access to locally harvested, non-GMO greens free of pesticides.
Also in May 2022, Gitmaxmak’ay celebrated the hiring of their 50th employee. Their workforce is incredibly diverse: 54% Indigenous, 2/3 female, and 62% under the age of 35.
Since inception of the Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Economic Development Corporation (GNEDC), the businesses have paid out nearly $3 million in local wages & benefits.
Gitmaxmak’ay is a quadruple bottom line business, which means there are four dimensions to returns on investment: (1) profit, (2) people, (3) environment, and (4) culture. All profits that are not re-invested in business growth are invested in Nisga’a language & culture revitalization.
See what else they're up to at https://gitmaxmakay.ca/
The Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society is a non-profit organization with a mission to enhance the quality of life for the 1400+ Nisga’a citizens living in Prince Rupert & Port Edward on behalf of Nisga’a Lisims Government.
Originally started as the Nisga’a Tribal Council in 1965 to participate in Nisga’a Land Question, the Society was formally created in 2000 when the Nisga’a Treaty was officially recognized.
The Society offers programs & services ranging from language and culture revitalization to youth, education, and recreation.
In late 2013, the Society created its wholly owned subsidiary economic development corporation for the purposes of purchasing the former Azalea Gardens in Seal Cove. From 2014 – 2019, the business quadrupled in revenue and employees before the site was redeveloped.
During the pandemic, the Society acquired the Port Ed store in March 2020 followed by Bob’s on the Rocks in January 2021. No staff were laid off because of the pandemic, and Bob’s had its best year ever. For these efforts, Gitmaxmak’ay was awarded the 2021 BC Indigenous Community-Owned Business of the Year.
In May 2022, Gitmaxmak’ay celebrated the grand opening of the Yaga Café. Yaga is the Nisga’a word for ‘at the bottom of a hill’, which is an accurate description of the property in Seal Cove. The café utilizes fresh greens grown on site in a hydroponics greenhouse, reducing thousands of tonnes of GHG emissions every year and improving the health of Rupertites with access to locally harvested, non-GMO greens free of pesticides.
Also in May 2022, Gitmaxmak’ay celebrated the hiring of their 50th employee. Their workforce is incredibly diverse: 54% Indigenous, 2/3 female, and 62% under the age of 35.
Since inception of the Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Economic Development Corporation (GNEDC), the businesses have paid out nearly $3 million in local wages & benefits.
Gitmaxmak’ay is a quadruple bottom line business, which means there are four dimensions to returns on investment: (1) profit, (2) people, (3) environment, and (4) culture. All profits that are not re-invested in business growth are invested in Nisga’a language & culture revitalization.
See what else they're up to at https://gitmaxmakay.ca/
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