New multiplex, new rink, new hope for Whitefish Lake First Nation

Resiliency, perseverance, and celebration filled the warm spring air on Thursday morning ahead of a momentous occasion for one local First Nation. 

On Thursday, Whitefish Lake First Nation (Goodfish) celebrated the grand opening of their new multiplex facility. With a variety of speakers, the council band, Chief Herb Jackson, and incumbent MP Shannon Stubbs cut the ribbon on the new rink and community space.

“It was a long journey. From a dream – to now a reality,” said Chief Jackson to the assembled crowd. 

Since their rink burned down over 30 years ago, hockey players have had to travel an hour one-way just for practice.

Many partners came together to provide the funding and build the $22 million facility over multiple councils to make this dream a reality. This includes the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC), First Nations Bank, and Scott Builders.

After the ceremony, the first hockey game was played on the new ice, as Goodfish Lake hosted Kikino U15s.

“When that old facility burned down, we lost hold of that hope. Almost two generations lost to chemical addictions, drugs, alcohol,” said Jackson.  

“It’s not a dream anymore. It’s something our nation really needed. The whole point was to bring a facility and the hope is to become a hub for the community and to bring togetherness and unite our people.” 

Quotes

Councillor James Jackson

“When the building burned up…a piece of us was lost. Identity was lost. But deep down inside, it still prevailed. This is a true testament and example of what can happen when people work collectively, if a community can work collectively it can achieve great things.”

Kenny Jackson, multiplex operation committee representative 

“Moving forward with those tools in hand, Whitefish First Nation has become a community that other first nations can look to as a pattern to design their own future.” 

Tom Jackson, building construction committee

“That’s very tough on kids,” citing the amount of travel, “and it does affect learning development. Now having this facility here in our community is a game-changer…in the years since the building burned down, we don’t have the closeness that we had in those days.” 

Mario Auger, Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, manager, Indigenous Empowerment

“AIOC assists in economic reconciliation through our loan guarantee program. This program helps indigenous first nations group access capital and in that capital helps invest in major projects. Whitefish Lake has been able to create multiple projects with the AIOC.” 

Booker Cornea, First Nations Bank of Canada (owned by 82 nations across Canada)

“The First Nations Bank of Canada is Canada’s only owned financial institution and the only financial institution whose sole purpose is to serve communities like yours, with the nation building we talked about doing today.” 

“The experiences that are going to be made at this building, they are going to contribute to building strong leaders in this community, better stronger fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, and that’s a $22 million dollar investment in your future, and the returns are going to be incalculable.” 

Stan Houle, former chief

“I thank them for acknowledging me, but it was a group, it wasn’t about any one person, it was about Goodfish. About how our kids could grow and about how we all can heal. There was nothing here for 20 something years, no hockey…now we have something to grow.” 

Eric Scott, Scott Builders

“We don’t get communities to come out and participate and enjoy the day and be so proud of something like this. That’s what makes this so special.”

Dedication of the building to Ernest Jackson 

“He was part of that vision to make this a reality.” – Herb Jackson 

“We learned a lot from him, in terms of humility and our position. And that we have to work hard for what you have in life, and you have to be thankful and blessed for the gifts that we have. That humbleness is something that I often take away.” – James Jackson