Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Tahltan business group joins Business Council of BC

Tahltan Nation Development Corp. first wholly owned indigenous business to join BCBC
tahltanshuttleservice-tndc
Tahltan NST Busing is one of the many TNDC business partnerships, serving the mining and forestry sectors with a shuttle service that transports employees to and from work sites. | TNDC

The Business Council of BC is welcoming its first wholly owned Indigenous business as a new member, the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC).

“TNDC’s goal is to be the Indigenous partner of choice – an integrated full-service provider and trusted partner to our clients,” TNDC CEO Paul Gruner said in a news release. “TNDC is pleased to now be a full member of the Business Council of BC, joining our peers in the province’s business community to strengthen the investment climate and support sustainable prosperity for the Tahltan Nation and all people living in British Columbia.”

“As one of the largest employers in the Northwest, we look forward to TNDC’s partnership as members of the council,” said BCBC president Greg D’Avignon.

“Advancing meaningful reconciliation includes enabling the full Indigenous participation in British Columbia’s economy. TNDC’s equal seat at the Business Council table builds upon those efforts to advance self-determination and sole-source revenue for Indigenous peoples around B.C.”

The TNDC is the business development arm of the Tahltan Nation, whose traditional territory includes the communities of Deas Lake, Telegraph Creek and Iskut in Northwestern B.C. Their traditional territory encompasses much of the Golden Triangle mining district of northeastern B.C.

The TNDC owns and operates multiple businesses and has partnerships and joint ventures with a number of non-aboriginal businesses and service providers.

Formed in 1985 by the Tahltan Central Government, the TNDC operates like a Crown corporation at arm’s length from the Tahltan government and is responsible for business and economic development. It has developed numerous business ventures, including in heavy construction, earthworks, camp services, air chartering, forestry, transportation and fibre optics.

Many Tahltan businesses within the TNDC are focused on mining, construction and and other natural resources. Some are owned outright by the Tahltan, while others are partnerships or joint ventures. One such partnership is with Procon Mining & Tunnelling, which manages the underground operations at the Brucejack mine.

Earlier this year, the TNDC announced a new partnership with Sandvik AB, a Swedish engineering company specializing in mining and construction. Under the new partnership, the TNDC will become a reseller of mining equipment, parts and digital technology.

Also earlier this year, the TNDC announced a new partnership with CityWest Cable and Telephone Corp. to form Tahltan Communications, which is building 200 kilometres of fibre-optics to bring high-speed Internet to the region.

The TNDC has the management contract for the Deas Lake Airport, and has partnerships with transportation companies, including the Northern Spirit Transportation shuttle bus service and Central Mountain air charter.

[email protected]

nbennett_biv