Gerald McKenzie has worked in mines around the world for 30 years, but Grandmother’s Bay in northern Saskatchewan is home. It’s where traplines and traditions have been passed down over generations.
“I’ve trapped there since I was a kid and I’ll be trapping until I can’t walk,” McKenzie said, adding he hopes to pass his grandfather’s trapline down to his own son.
While the number of trappers has dropped, there are still about seven families that work the traplines. Many others in the small close-knit community work in northern mines or in the tourism industry. Located on the northern shore of Otter Lake, part of the Churchill River system, Grandmother’s Bay is surrounded by water and boreal forest – making the resort village a destination for outdoor enthusiasts year round.
“We’re fortunate to have such plentiful wildlife and fishing,” explained McKenzie, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) Councillor for the community. “We’re a very cultured people. We’re able to keep our traditional lifestyles going and gather medicines in the fall and winter.”
Relationship with community ‘pretty special’
The community is home to about 390 people. There is a school, a hockey rink and access to high-speed internet. While people still have to make an hour-long trip to La Ronge for many things, an agreement with Co-op for the last 15 years means propane gets delivered for home heating whenever it’s needed.
“We don’t let anyone run out; they’re there when we need them,” said McKenzie. “They’ll be there the next day and are courteous and very friendly.”
Rob Carr, Propane Area Manager for Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), focuses on that reliability, along with flexibility and trust.
“We have face-to-face meetings and make ourselves visible and available,” he said. “Communication is a big thing. A regular driver is connected to the community so people get to know them. Before our driver goes into the community, we contact the band office to let them know we’re coming.”
But for Carr, the relationship is pretty special and goes beyond just making a business transaction. He noted FCL has supported economic development in the area by working with Kitsaki – the LLRIB’s development agency – to refurbish propane tanks and to haul propane from the south through Northern Resource Trucking.
“The bigger picture in this is we’re involved in the community we serve,” Carr said. “You build relationships and friendships over the years – and I never miss their poker and fishing derbies.”
Community and Co-op members see benefits
Co-op regularly supports these events, sponsors school trips and provides game tickets to see the La Ronge Ice Wolves, the local junior hockey team. As part of the agreement with Co-op, Grandmother’s Bay receives an annual sponsorship to allocate in the community – with it usually being used to maintain the community’s vibrant culture and traditions.
“Culture camps throughout the year teach our children so we don’t lose our culture,” said McKenzie.
“We bring in our elders and teach our youth how to make birch syrup. They teach how to set fish nets, bring in fish, then dry, debone and preserve them.”
The donation for these camps means the band doesn’t have to divert funding from other areas, such as housing and infrastructure. McKenzie noted the other benefit offered by Co-op is the opportunity for cash back and equity.
“A lot of people depend on the Co-op rebate when they turn 65 because they don’t have jobs that provide pensions.”
This is somehow fitting for Grandmother’s Bay, named for an elder who survived the winter off a caribou that had fallen through the ice. The agreement with Co-op not only supports youth, but also ensures we’re working together to protect our elders for years to come.
For more information on propane sales and working with Co-op, please contact a local branch office or email C.PropaneInfo@fcl.crs.