McLeod Lake Indian Band Members did an outstanding job on the first phase of a construction project for their company - Duz Cho Construction.
Band Members; Cheyenne Inyallie, Leonard Solonas, Albert Chingee, Adrien Voyer and Allan Inyallie with Band member spouses; Darcy Arthurs (Eugenia ISadore) and Quade Duranleau (Jayde Duranleau) were a great team.
We gathered in the Traditional Territories in Mackenzie, BC on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at the new offices of Duz Cho Construction for the job orientation. Project Manager Grant Webber covered the scope of work and HSE Manager Tracy Laakso did a thorough Safety Orientation of the project to ensure we would all be safe.
Project Supervisors Rob Wallin and Rob Bourcier were also on hand getting to know the McLeod Lake crew. Following an orientation MLIB members were outfitted with Personal Protective Equipment, (Hard Hats, Boots, Safety Glasses, Vests, etc.) and reported to Camp Watters to prepare for work the next day.
The Project involved the harvesting and collecting of willows on the West Parsnip roadside to be used for the re-routing of a creek bed at 6 Mile Creek on Lake Williston. The willows will be replanted on new berms built alongside the creek forceing the waterway back to it's original stream allowing for permanent fish passage to the reservoir during the seasonal fluctuating water levels. You can imagine how proud we were, as Band members, to be involved on such an ecological project for Mother Earth.
Work began on Thursday, April 24 with the Tailgate Safety orientation on the West Parsnip Road at 2km post. Weather conditions were ideal with temps just above 0 and early morning sunshine. The MLIB crew was outfitted with handsaws and cutting tools and the work got underway. The mood was very upbeat and unified. I am happy to report that MLIB members worked so well together with their Duz Cho counterparts that they completed this phase in 4 days! They finished ahead of schedule and budget. Their Project Manager was impressed with their work, and they now await returning to complete the job in the next phase.
Great job MLIB Band members!
~Article Courtesy of:
Russ McCloud
Manager First Nations Business Development
Duz Cho Group Of Companies
