FROG LAKE – It was a momentous occasion for Frog Lake First Nations as they welcomed not just a new company, but a new opportunity for the community.
In a time when many businesses are scaling back, on Tuesday, July 21 residents and representatives celebrated the launch of Waskonaman Ashik Construction.
“We’re here trying to create prosperity for our people,” expressed Frog Lake First Nations chief Greg Desjarlais. “We’re trying to create revenue but, more importantly, employment. I think it’s important for the children to see their parents leave for work, and that’s what’s very important for me is trying to create employment for people where they can feel proud each morning when they get up.”
Waskonaman Ashik Construction partnered with Noble Concrete, which has locations in Picture Butte, Vulcan, and Claresholm, to allow on-the-job training and create employment for those who call Frog Lake First Nations home.
James Noble, CAO of Noble Concrete, said the partnership is one “the world needs to see.”
“We’re showing two cultures working and building something together and maybe it might just stop that ugly beast racism that everyone talks about,” he said. “It can show a different side of it and it’s an amazing thing to watch and see.”
Desjarlais added, “The Noble brothers bring a wealth of experience, with a second and third generation concrete family, so I think it will be a lot of on-the-job training and a lot of people can learn. It’s one of those businesses you don’t have to have a degree for; you can have a lot of on-the-job training and learn as you go.”
Planning for the project began last fall, and construction on the concrete plant began in the spring. Noble said there was a skeleton crew working on it due to COVID-19 and the plan is to officially open the week of July 27.
When chief and council were considering different businesses they could launch, Desjarlais noted concrete was at the top of the list.
“Everything comes from the ground, mother earth, through the sand, rock, and water. It’s one of the safest forms of aggregate is the concrete.”
According to project manager Shawn Bieganek, Waskonaman Ashik Construction will employ anywhere from 25 to 200 people when they start.
“Employment is the biggest thing,” Bieganek stressed. “We just want to make sure everybody has food on the table and a reason to get up in the morning.”
Waskonaman Ashik Construction will also be offering a product that previously took a while to ship to the area.
“It provides a service that right now takes over an hour or an hour and a half to get concrete here,” Noble noted. “Of course, that’s not good for concrete. It makes a better product and it’s a healthier one that will be made right here. It won’t affect the environment and it will bring employment to the reserve.”
Desjarlais said there are also plans to bring a gravel crusher to Frog Lake First Nations in the future, to further work toward the goal of creating growth and prosperity for their people.
“Our roads are horrible. We need to work with both levels of government to get to a level where we can get the procurement, meaning the contracts, and be competitive because we can’t sustain the nation on just the contribution funding agreement from the government. We have to find and build our own path, and our economic growth forward so our young people have hope and we need to give them hope. This is one of the ways we believe we can do that, through concrete, gravel, and road building.”