Post by Okwes on Sept 6, 2006 17:37:02 GMT -5
A Native Airline, Believe It or Not
Posted by: "Bill/Bear Bark" bear_bark@yahoo.com bear_bark
Fri Sep 1, 2006 12:45 am (PST)
Tammy Chisholm, the Inupiaq poet we often publish,
lived until recently in an Alaskan village that it had
no roads in or out of town � It connected with the
outside world through airplanes. A life like this
amazed most of us in the lower forty-eight, but it
isn�t that rare in the far north, especially in winter
when any roads that exist are often impassible for
months on end.
In northern Canada many towns and villages are linked
to the outside world by an airline owned by the Cree
Nations. In 1979 The Council of the Cree Regional
Authority, probably angered by inadequate air service,
resolved to develop a Native airline. But they were
smart enough to study the business first, so they
partnered with an existing firm and let Austin Airways
teach them. They learned quickly -- by 1982 they had
purchased more than half the stock in the joint
company, and in 1988 the Cree chiefs became the sole
owners. At the time the founding of Air Creebec was
the largest commercial deal achieved by Native
Canadians.
Air Creebec has become a $27 million business with six
50-passenger Dash 8s and a number of other more
specialized aircraft. Just don�t expect to fly this
airline from Ottawa to Vancouver -- Air Creebec
services the northern country it was founded to
benefit, and their scheduled flights go to
Attawapiskat, Chibougamau, Chisasibi, Eastmain, Fort
Albany, Kashechewan, Kuujjuarapik, Radisson, Montreal,
Moosonee, Nemaska, Peawanuck, Roberval, Timmins, Val
d'Or, Waskaganish and Wemindji.
They also fly many charter flights and during the past
year have added several commercial contracts,
transporting workers for northern energy projects and
for Canada�s second diamond mine.
We can be proud: The Cree Peoples have created here a
prosperous and expanding Indian business.
Bill/Bear Bark (bear_bark@yahoo.com)
Indian Land Magazine is at
bearbark.squarespace.com/
Indianland Newsletter goes out weekly by email
Indian land Group is at
groups.yahoo.com/group/indianland
"Spring in the Blood" and "Crossings" (monthly by mail)
Posted by: "Bill/Bear Bark" bear_bark@yahoo.com bear_bark
Fri Sep 1, 2006 12:45 am (PST)
Tammy Chisholm, the Inupiaq poet we often publish,
lived until recently in an Alaskan village that it had
no roads in or out of town � It connected with the
outside world through airplanes. A life like this
amazed most of us in the lower forty-eight, but it
isn�t that rare in the far north, especially in winter
when any roads that exist are often impassible for
months on end.
In northern Canada many towns and villages are linked
to the outside world by an airline owned by the Cree
Nations. In 1979 The Council of the Cree Regional
Authority, probably angered by inadequate air service,
resolved to develop a Native airline. But they were
smart enough to study the business first, so they
partnered with an existing firm and let Austin Airways
teach them. They learned quickly -- by 1982 they had
purchased more than half the stock in the joint
company, and in 1988 the Cree chiefs became the sole
owners. At the time the founding of Air Creebec was
the largest commercial deal achieved by Native
Canadians.
Air Creebec has become a $27 million business with six
50-passenger Dash 8s and a number of other more
specialized aircraft. Just don�t expect to fly this
airline from Ottawa to Vancouver -- Air Creebec
services the northern country it was founded to
benefit, and their scheduled flights go to
Attawapiskat, Chibougamau, Chisasibi, Eastmain, Fort
Albany, Kashechewan, Kuujjuarapik, Radisson, Montreal,
Moosonee, Nemaska, Peawanuck, Roberval, Timmins, Val
d'Or, Waskaganish and Wemindji.
They also fly many charter flights and during the past
year have added several commercial contracts,
transporting workers for northern energy projects and
for Canada�s second diamond mine.
We can be proud: The Cree Peoples have created here a
prosperous and expanding Indian business.
Bill/Bear Bark (bear_bark@yahoo.com)
Indian Land Magazine is at
bearbark.squarespace.com/
Indianland Newsletter goes out weekly by email
Indian land Group is at
groups.yahoo.com/group/indianland
"Spring in the Blood" and "Crossings" (monthly by mail)