Washow plays waiting game: tourism development aims to teach the Moose Cree way of life before and after European contact, but it needs INAC cash to be completed.

East of the Moose Cree First Nation -- Another roadblock has prevented the completion of the last phase of the Washow James Bay Wilderness Centre in Moose Factory. A tourism initiative brought to the table by Moose Cree First Nations was refused funding from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to finish the final construction phase of the Washow lodge.

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The idea was conceived in 1994 to be a world-class aboriginal eco-tourism project.

"It is a place for discovery and rediscovery of the James Bay Cree," says Bert Wapachee, director of economic development for Moose Cree First Nation.

The 4,200-square-foot lodge is the main area with three traditional villages surrounding it that will recreate settings of pre-European atmosphere, post-European contact and modern day. The focus is for visitors to learn traditional Cree ways, while at the same time, involve, strengthen and recover aboriginal culture within the youth of their community.

Now in its eleventh year of development, only the outer shell of the facility exists. Further construction of the log building, which was built in 1999, was put on hold when the Walkerton incident occurred.

"Everything came to a halt," Wapachee says. "We had to meet all the new water regulations as a result of the Walkerton incident. So the facility had to be redesigned."

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At this point, only the construction on the inside, and the launch of the business remains to be done. Wapachee says there is a great interest in aboriginal culture, particularly from Europeans. He emphasized that the Washow lodge has the potential to creation over $25 million in wealth for the region over a 10 year period of operation.

After obtaining two third party assessments, a funding request for $500,000 was put forth in order to complete the project.

"We had submitted the last application to INAC almost two years ago," Wapachee says. Then on June 29, 2005, they received a letter that a number of programs put out by INAC had been cut. He has concerns they may lose other funding requests that may have been dependent on funding from INAC.

With $35 million worth of requests and only $1.5 million in the pot, INAC reports there wasn't enough money in the funding envelope.

Director general of the economic development branch of INAC, Marc Brooks, says changes in the last federal budget (February 2005) explained that monies had to be relocated for "higher priorities."

"Part of what we had to give back was part of the money from the economic development envelope," Brooks says.

They call it a discretionary project.

"Nationally, I have $12 million to deal with $119 million in proposals," he says. "I have another 100 Moose Crees with very viable proposals that we can't move forward on because of lack of discretionary funding at this time."

In reaction to the low funding envelope, Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus asks: "What are we going to be doing, helping kids start paper routes?"

Angus says it exemplifies the problem with development issues in all isolated communities.

"You need Indian Affairs to play some kind of catalyst role," he says. "How many private sector proposals would still be viable if you were building it piece by piece over an 11-year period? They wouldn't put up with it."

General manager for the Northern Ontario Native Tourism Association Bill Rogoza says there is an untapped potential for aboriginal tourism in Northern Ontario. He sees Washow as an opportunity to celebrate the knowledge and wisdom of Canada's Aboriginal cultures.

Wapachee says future resource development activities in his area will generate billions of dollars for both levels of governments, yet without the economic development dollars, he does not see First Nation's independence increasing.

Rogoza believes the project will be completed, it will just take time.

"It will eventually happen, it just needs somebody at a certain level to believe in what they're doing," he says. "So far, the various people out there haven't felt that need."

Angus too, wants to see its completion and intends to keep Ontario First Nations North of 50 in the political spotlight so issues get addressed.

www.moosecree.com/economic-development/tourism-initiatives/washow

By ADELLE LARMOUR

Northern Ontario Business