The Osoyoos Indian Band is opening their brand-new, state-of-the-art conference facility Thursday by putting it to the use it was intended for, hosting an international conference for First Nations chiefs and business leaders to discuss ways to jump start First Nations economies.

It’s far from the first conference they’ve hosted, said OIB Chief Clarence Louie, but with the new facility, they can take on a larger scope.

“There’s a 300-seat conference centre to host national, provincial or bigger conferences rather than being restricted to 60 people,” said Louie, adding it also helps to show off the Nk’Mip Conference Centre, which was created in partnership with BellStar Hotels, completing phase two of the Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort.

“Now on our site we have a first-class conference centre,” said the Osoyoos band chief. “Not just for native events, for anybody’s events.”

It’s just the latest chapter in the history of the progressive band, which, according to Chief Louie, embraced economic development in the ‘60s.

The band’s first business started in 1968, he said. “There are not many First Nations that can put up their hand and say we had a business in 1968, which was our vineyard. Our first lease was in the ‘60s as well, with the Cherryville golf course.”

Taking control of their own economic development is a path many First Nations are turning to, Louie added.

“Most First Nations are starting to realize that there is never gong to be enough government money to go around, so they should make the economy their number one issue like white people do. That’s what I tell them,” said Louie, who is often asked to speak about the OIB’s success by bands across the country.

That’s what is going to improve a band’s standard of living and living conditions, Louie said, not relying on government grants.

“All First Nations come from a working culture, before the reserve system,” said Louie. “Before the non-natives came in the valley we weren’t dependent on anyone else. We had our own economies, our own trade routes and our own self-supporting lifestyle.”

While the OIB is doing well, Chief Louie said there are many bands in other parts of the country that are also doing great things with economic development, and part of the reason for the conference is to get together and network. Business people like hanging around other business people, he said, no different from other professions getting together to share ideas on the latest techniques and ideas.

“You can’t be a business person without studying what’s going on in other businesses and parts of the economy,” said Louie. “It’s all about being a lifelong student and going to school on the good and the bad.”

Along with business discussion, the conference will also feature a keynote address by newly elected national chief Shawn Atleo and a discussion with David Hallman, Director General of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, who will outline how the new $200-million Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development will change the face of First Nations industry.