address social issues—of which hous-
ing is the biggest, says Tootoosis.
Currently, 900 Naskapi live in the area.
“Understand cost of living in the north
is very high,” he says. “Social assis-
tance is not going to really alleviate
that problem. We are pursuing job
creation and a focus on education
so they can do these jobs.” In 2017,
the community invited in a training
program called First Feather Skills
Development Program, an 8-week
basic maintenance course which
brings an instructor into the commu-
nity to train local people to do some
of that work.
CONNECTIVITY
Another massive initiative will be
connectingthecommunitytotheInter-
net. Naskapi Imuun, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Naskapi Nation of
Kawawachikamach, provides Inter-
net and cellular telephone services in
Kawawachikamach, Matimekush-Lac
John and Schefferville. It also provides
NOVEMBER 2018 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA 67
