Indigenous exchange opens opportunities
A Pilbara Aboriginal group have set up a global partnership with Alaskan eskimoes from one of the world's most successful and profitable indigenous corporations.
The Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation is seeking to emulate the $1.7 billion Alaskan NANA Development Corporation through initiatives including an exclusive business development agreement for its training and recruitment body.
There are plans for the two groups to eventually partner on major US projects, with the groups to jointly exhibit at Florida's National Minority Supplier Development Council Conference in November.
Karlka's Sue Bergersen said the ultimate goal was to replicate NANA's business model, which had ventures in fields as diverse as construction, IT, telecommunications, real estate, hotel development and engineering.
NANA had already provided resources, including a project manager, to help Karlka's bid for a $25 million Newman housing contract. And elders from both had visited each other in their respective homelands in the Pilbara and the Arctic Circle.
"We are trying to be a bit visionary and to look outside our own patch to see what had been achieved elsewhere," said Ms Bergersen, the business and workforce development manager.
"The connection between the Nyiyaparli and the Inupiat people was instantaneous.
"When our people understood the humbleness of their beginnings to where they are today . . . suddenly a whole new world of possibilities opened up."
Nyiyaparli elder Charles Tucker said his recent trip to NANA's commercial operations in the Arctic Circle was an inspiring "an eye opener."
NANA senior vice-president Stan Fleming was optimistic about the partnership. "There is no reason why they can not achieve what we have," he said.
