Regioinal District of Fraser Fort George Chair  Art Kaehn and Prince George Mayor Shari Green  join Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dominick Frederick in opening the Lheidli T’enneh Economic Development Office

Prince George, B.C. – Saying "the time has come", Lheidli Tenneh Chief Chief Dominick Frederick officially opened the Lheidli T’enneh Economic Development office this afternoon.

Located in the City of Prince George’s District Energy building at the corner of 2nd and George Streets, the office will give the Lheidli T’enneh a presence in the area of the city that was home to their community many years ago. But today wasn’t so much about the past, it was about paving the road for the future.

With billions of dollars in resources development targeted for Northern B.C., Chief Frederick says there are many opportunities for the Lheidli T’enneh.

Chief Frederick says with  B.C. Hydro, oil, gas, forestry and mining  all proposed to conduct business in the traditional territory of the Lheidli Tenneh, the downtown office will provide an environment where proponents  will feel more comfortable  working with Lheidli T’enneh.

All of the projects  will have to include meaningful  First Nations consultation before  they  proceed, but this office is not about that "It just brings in the business  sense, because its business" says Chief Frederick.  "We’re doing this because we need it, and have for some time in our community.  We did our  strategic planning in the last 6 months and we found we were lcking in this area so  that’s why were doing this, so we can move ahead.  We’re doing it for the community."

Establishing this office  has  been made possible with the City  providing  four months of free rent, and Enbridge also contributing funds.  But  even with  the funding from Enbridge, Chief Frederick says that does not mean the Lheidli  T’enneh are  lending  their  support to the  proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline project "They’re paying some bills, but that doesn’t mean we support them.  This is a business thing we are doing,  it’s business."

He says the first projects  they will pursue are oil, gas and mining, "We can pick and chose, so whoever comes through the door first, we’re here" and adds "I want everyone to know,  the Lheidli T’enneh are open for business."