By Rick Garrick

THUNDER BAY — Michipicoten First Nation and Naicatchewenin First Nation (Treaty #3), along with Morris Group Canada announced the purchase of the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre in Thunder Bay on Sept. 19 with a cultural ceremony, ribbon cutting and gala dinner. The two First Nations, who collectively own the majority of the hotel’s shares, bought the hotel with Morris Group Canada this past April through their Naagaaniiyang Limited Partnership with the shared vision of building capacity and economic momentum for Indigenous business in northwestern Ontario.

“We’re very excited about this acquisition particularly because with this deal there’s 80 per cent ownership by Indigenous people for Indigenous people, because a lot of our clientele are Indigenous,” says Michipicoten First Nation Chief Patricia Tangie. “It’s really wonderful to move away from natural resource extraction to other investments such as this.”

Tangie says Michipicoten wants to participate in business ventures that can build capacity for the community and move them closer to financial independence.

“The benefits of this acquisition will be felt in our First Nations and in the Thunder Bay economy for generations to come,” Tangie says. “I’m really honoured to be here at this place and time and I’m inviting my council to come and stand with me because I could not do any of this alone. It takes a team and these are a really important part of our team as are our beautiful Elders and of course John Kim (Bell).”

Bell, business advisor and negotiator for Michipicoten, says the settlement of five significant impact benefit agreements enabled Michipicoten to be more financially independent.

“This hotel was for sale, it has tremendous business and it’s a very positive success story for us, Michipicoten First Nation, and for all the owners,” Bell says. “This hotel has several Indigenous groups that take most of the rooms throughout the year, and as a result of that it makes it a very secure investment because the rooms are filled — I think we have 97 per cent of filled rooms almost 365 days a year. The hotel was recently renovated in 2019 which made it a really attractive investment.”

Naicatchewenin Chief Wayne Smith says his community looks forward to working on the joint investment with their partners, communities and supporters.

“This business collaboration is a strength-based approach to bring prosperity to our First Nations, and at the same time, grow the Thunder Bay economy,” Smith says. “Business development is a way to generate employment and wealth so that we can address the critical infrastructure and social conditions facing our communities, and, in turn increase our self-sufficiency and wellness.”

David Morris, chair of the Morris Group Canada, says the Morris Group has been working with local communities in the area for more than 10 years.

“This is a really big deal and really historical achievement to see a partnership like this where all the limited partner capital was brought in from the First Nations,” Morris says. “I feel that having real good buy-in here locally with the First Nations is going to just further emphasize opportunities and make them keen as well to invest in Thunder Bay and keep seeing economic prosperity for everyone.”

Fort William Chief Michele Solomon says it was a honour to acknowledge the purchase of the Victoria Inn by the three partners.

“It’s really a testament to our people and our communities and the strength and resilience and the amazing things that we can do if given the opportunity, but more importantly when we take the opportunities that are put in front of us,” Solomon says. “So I really have to acknowledge Chief Smith and Chief Tangie and your councils for having the foresight and the courage to embark on this path in partnership with the Morris Group to lead your community into a better place in this way. I know there are lots of ways we do work in our communities to make things better for our people, but providing an economic path for our future generations is certainly something to be celebrated and honoured and acknowledged.”