Significant economic impact from the local Indigenous community

Some significant stats involving the Indigenous population in the North Bay area and their economic contribution.

As a part of National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations locally results from an economic impact study were released yesterday.

Reconciliation North Bay Chair Dr Mike DeGagne says there are about 8,000 Indigenous people in the area, out of a total population of 70,000, including North Bay and Nipissing First Nation.

“You also see a very significant amount of money contributed to the economy through the Indigenous community and it would be in the neighborhood of $260 million. I think as a reference point you might say that would be larger than the Nipissing University and Canadore College contributions combined,” he says.

But, that’s not the only contribution.

“But also cultural activity, I think North Bay is becoming well known for the contributions of Indigenous people to culture,” DeGagne says.

Local officials are following up on a report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission involving Canadians learning more about the contributions Indigenous Peoples have in their communities.

DeGagne says this is the first local report of many to come.

(Photo by station staff)