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Former youth board member now spearheads thriving corporation
Back in 2010, when he was still a student at the First Nations University of Canada, Thomas Benjoe was brought on board as the youth representative for a newly-established company.
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That company was File Hills
Qu’Appelle (FHQ) Developments, a corporation that represents the economic interests of File Hills
Qu’Appelle Tribal Council, consisting of 11 First Nations in Saskatchewan.
Benjoe has remained with the company since Day 1. After serving six years as a board member, he was appointed as the president and CEO of FHQ Developments in September of 2016.
“We’re an organization that started off with a $10 investment from each of our First Nations plus our Tribal Council,” Benjoe said.
Today, FHQ Developments is a multi-million-dollar corporation. Its interests include oil and gas, mining, hospitality, tech and renewable energy companies.
Benjoe explained how the corporation has thrived and has been able to keep reps from various First Nations satisfied.
“We have a board and we have a specific governance model in place that tries to keep the politics out of it,” he said.
FHQ Developments collectively represents the interests of about 17,000 citizens from all of the First Nations under its umbrella.
Many others across the country have taken notice of Benjoe’s leadership and FHQ Developments’ successes.
As a result, it’s not the least bit surprising that he is one of the two finalists for Cando’s Economic Developer of the Year award this year.
James Stevens from Millbrook First Nation is Nova Scotia is the other finalist for the top economic developer accolade. Stevens is currently serving as the director of commercial operations for his First Nation.
The winner will be selected at this year’s Cando Conference, scheduled for June 26-29 in Membertou, N.S. Awards will also be presented at the conference to the top Indigenous community and the best company in the Indigenous Private Sector Business category.
“I guess it’s exciting to be nominated,” said Benjoe, a member of Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation in Saskatchewan. “We have been doing a lot to try and address what Indigenous businesses mean to us in our neck of the woods.”
Muscowpetung is one of the 11 First Nations which make up the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council.
The others are Nekaneet First Nation, Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation, Piapot First Nation, Pasqua First Nation, Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation, Okanese First Nation, Star Blanket Cree Nation, Peepeekisis Cree Nation, Carry-The-Kettle Nakoda Nation and Little Black Bear’s Band of Cree & Assiniboine Nations.
Continued on page 53.
By Sam Laskaris Cando Contributor
This award proudly sponsored by: Joint Economic Development Initiative
