Generating economic, governance success

Titus Semple and Alanna McKenzie are looking to create greater success for First Nations people through their roles with Crupi Consulting Group in Thunder Bay.
“I have always felt that one way for our people to continue to succeed will be through business,” said Semple, who joined Crupi as a business development consultant about two months ago. “We are committed to building positive, mutually-beneficial relationships and opportunities with the full participation of First Nation individuals, businesses and communities.”
The Kasabonika band member who has a background in marketing enjoys his work with Crupi, explaining that every day is different.
“No two days are ever the same,” Semple said. “One day I could be meeting with clients to discuss a project we are working on or I could possibly be out meeting with new potential clients.”
Semple’s focus is to generate economic and business development opportunities with Crupi’s clients.
“We specialize in business and economic development, and the team is great at what they do,” Semple said. “We have many years of experience working in the First Nation economic development sector.”
Semple also wants to help First Nations to explore business opportunities outside of northern Ontario.
“There are many business opportunities out there that could potentially be lucrative for our people to explore and to capitalize on, and I would very much like to have the opportunity to work with them and assist them on those opportunities,” Semple said.
McKenzie has been working with Crupi over the past two-and-a-half years, mainly in the governance field.
“I don’t work here full time,” said the Muskrat Dam band member. “I just come in on special governance projects. I’m pretty busy throughout the year.”
McKenzie enjoys working with the wide range of professionals at Crupi, noting they have a good working relationship with their clients.
“What I like about this group in particular is that it gives me an opportunity to work with people from other treaty areas, not just my own,” McKenzie said. “I’m hoping to expand the client base with governance.”
McKenzie currently works on governance issues, such as assisting chief and councils to develop their work plans for their term in office and current administrative issues in the band, with Treaty #3, Robinson Superior, Nishnawbe Aski Nation and independent communities.
“I’ve worked in the Union of Ontario Indians; I’ve seen their nation building process,” McKenzie said. “I’ve worked in NAN; I’ve seen their nation building process. I watch all of these different groups across Canada to see what they have done, what kind of structure they have put into place and how is it functioning and at times, what are the different problems that they are encountering.”
McKenzie and Semple both noted that the staff at Crupi are very knowledgeable about where to obtain financing or funding for projects.
“A lot of the projects that they worked on here, the cost to the community is very limited, if there is any cost for them,” Semple said. “They have a complete idea of where to get their funding, where to get their financing.”