Sioux Lookout’s economy dependent on First Nations

The town of Sioux Lookout recently celebrated 100 years of being a municipality. Today more than 50 per cent of the people who live in Sioux Lookout, Hudson and extending through to the Lac Seul First Nations land are of native ancestry.
Due to the fact that it is fairly close to the northern reserves, many First Nations organizations such as Sioux Lookout First Nation Health Authority, Tikinagan Child and Family Services, Shibogama First Nations Council among many others have their head offices in Sioux Lookout in order to facilitate services to their people. All of these organizations employ a number of First Nations people. The amounts of money that these people spend in stores such as the Northern, The Red Apple and Johnny’s Fresh Market (all of whom also employ a large number of native people) is astronomical and adds greatly to the overall economical welfare of Sioux Lookout.
On average, most First Nations shoppers would spend between $100 and $200 a week in the purchasing of groceries alone. When asked if the money spent by First Nations shoppers contributed to the Sioux Lookout economy, one of the owner/managers of Johnny’s had this to say: “yes, and it is returned back to the community one way or the other, the fact that First Nations people are employed in places like ours helps to generate business.”
In the northern communities the cost of living is much higher due to the geographical conditions . To counteract the high cost of flying in goods, many people who live in the northern communities take the opportunity whenever the roads are passable to come to Sioux Lookout, to stock up on supplies. They usually spend between $500 - $600 per visit on groceries alone. Again this flows back into Sioux Lookout’s economy.
Another source of revenue for the Municipality of Sioux Lookout is the fact that many of the native organizations pay rent on the buildings they occupy.
Finally, Sioux Lookout is home to a number of First Nations owned businesses. Companies such Bamaji Air, Mel’s Taxi, Rita’s Taxi and the Wellington Motel/Restaurant/General Store owned by Muskrat Dam and Bearskin Lake, McDiarmid Lumber which is leased from Lac Seul First Nations and Wasaya Air who have an office in Sioux Lookout, all generate business that in turn helps to keep the local economy running. A Tim Horton’s/Pizza Hut duplex will be opening soon and it is owned and managed by Lac Seul First Nations. Windigo Catering Ltd Partnership is another native owned business which has recently opened a company dealing in cleaning products.
Looking at the overall picture it is not hard to recognize the fact that the money generated by the First Nations people and businesses/organizations helps to make Sioux Lookout a place where people take pride in being a part of the economic development of the town.