If a segment of First Nations citizens in the area have their way, the money-losing ways of the Borderland Thunder will be a thing of the past—because the Thunder itself may also be yesterday’s news.
The team accumulated losses totalling $122,127.81 as of Mar. 31. The numbers are taken from official financial statements provided to a citizens’ group from both on and off the reserve by Couchiching band councillors.
Residents and former residents of the Couchiching First Nations Reserve, which owns the Thunder, are adamant that if Chief Chuck McPherson and the present ruling band council are not voted back in at the next administrative elections, that a new administration would be taking a hard look at the financial feasibility of the team and could possibly decide to cease the Thunder’s operations before the end of this season.
“There’s an election happening in February, and if this administration doesn’t get back (in), it could possibly mean, and very well would mean, (the new administration) will shut (the Thunder) down right in mid-term,” said John Bruyere, former housing manager for Couchiching who now lives away from the reserve. “At the very least, they would have to analyze very closely the amount of dollars being put into the organization and come up with other options on how to run the team.
“I’m not doing this because I’m on the other side of the fence or I’m running (for council). I’m doing it because I think it’s wrong. I love the hockey, and the people love the hockey. We just need it run properly. You can’t keep feeding hay to a dead horse,” he added.
McPherson speculated the deficit has been reduced between $40,000-$50,000 since March through fundraising and other donations to the hockey club, and that efforts are continuing to cover the rest of the shortfall.
“I’m not going to tell you and sit back that it doesn’t cost money (to run the team). It does cost money. But in doing so, we’re providing opportunities,” said McPherson.
“What is too much to give a kid an opportunity in terms of dollars? What is the ceiling? We’ve had the Borderland Thunder for three years now. There are two Couchiching boys who have been drafted by the Ontario Hockey League, which is a stepping stone to major professional hockey.
“So is $122,000 too much?” he continued. “We’ll spend lots and more on education for an individual to enter a profession. This is just a different venue for them to enter into a profession. This gives the kids an opportunity. So if I have some political adversaries that are talking about the Borderland Thunder, what is too much, then? Tell me.”
Conrad and Monica Morrisseau, other members of the citizens group, say that because of the money being put into the Thunder, aspects of reserve life such as housing are being ignored. They claim that there has been no new housing built on the reserve in the past six to eight years.
“I can bring 20 families to you that will tell you the contrary, and that they are living in units that weren’t built six years ago,” countered McPherson. “In the last five to six years, I can say that there are 20-26 new units that have been put on Couchiching. If this committee wants to see them, I can take them around and point them out to them.”
Bruyere added that he would estimate the amount of support the group has from people on the reserve at “50 percent and more,” but McPherson isn’t convinced of those figures.
“I don’t know who those 50 percent are. What are they being denied because the Borderland Thunder exists? If they can be specific . . . We have more people working on Couchiching than at any other time under any other administration. We’ve developed a housing loans fund for people to take advantage of. We’ve developed an economic development loan fund for people to take advantage of. So, how are they being deprived?
“If they could be more specific, we could address this, and if they are hurting, then we could try and enhance them,” he added. “But if they want to go back to the old school of ‘Well, give me doors and windows for my housing because I’m native,’ unfortunately, this administration is not prepared to do that.”
Bruyere also pointed to the lack of a strong native presence on the Thunder playing roster, such as is found on the OCN Blizzard, an all-First Nations squad and the current five-time defending champion of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League who will be in town for an exhibition game with the Thunder this Friday night.
With only forward Ian Lockman and defenceman Clayton Windigo the only veteran players currently with the team hailing from the reserve, Bruyere suggested if that’s the way management wants to run the team, then negotiations to take on some form of partnership with an entity within Fort Frances would be a logical step.
“The only one benefitting is Fort Frances, so maybe we should become partners,” offered Bruyere. “If we’re all Indian-owned, why can’t we have all native players? I don’t mean all, but the balance is way out of whack right now. If we’re dealing with all non-native players, we should have some non-native support. Right now, we get the right to pay for it all, and the town gets the right to reap all the benefits from it.”
McPherson said there was never any plan to have a certain percentage of native players on the Thunder roster, but with six First Nations players taking part in the team’s main training camp this past weekend, the team has tripled that segment of its roster since their initial year.
He added the potential spinoffs from First Nations players making the next step in their hockey career justify the organization’s existence.
“There’s been a freeze on (post-secondary) education money since 1995 from the federal government,” noted McPherson. “So what we were receiving in 1995 is the same as what we’re receiving today. However, the numbers have expanded of those (Couchiching) graduates who want to go to school.
“If we can get one kid (from Couchiching) a scholarship (to a U.S. college) . . . then the program has paid for itself.”
As for the prospects of survival down the road for the team if it continues to amass similar deficits, McPherson stressed “That’s something the Couchiching council is going to have to determine.
“At one point in time last year, I suggested to the council that the team be sold. We had some (local) people inquiring about it. Council elected not to do that. They looked at it as possibly a longer-term venture, because it was giving an opportunity to Couchiching kids.”
“With the election of each administration, everything is subject to change. It’s no different for Couchiching, as it is from Fort Frances, as it is from Ontario, as it is from Canada. If these three people happen to run and get elected to council and elect to dispose of the team, well, that’s their prerogative as elected members. If they want to say ‘We’re not going to provide kids with the opportunity to develop and enhance their hockey careers,’—that’s their option.”
McPherson welcomed any challenge to his position as band leader, but was disturbed by the concept of people wanting to deprive the youth of the reserve what he feels is a great opportunity.
“There’s some people with some old-time resentments. ‘You haven’t given me this, the band hasn’t given me that.’ Well, no. We’re taking a different approach. We’re being responsible for our own lives now. Let’s not be dependent on the band as a provider for materials for your home. Buy it yourself. We’ll provide the money for you in a loan with preferential interest rates. I think we’re doing our job. But if people want to go back to the old ways, if the new administration elects to do that, then the people of Couchiching have spoken.”
The Thunder held its first ever fundraising golf tournament this past Saturday at Heron Landing Golf Course, with 14 teams involved at a cost of $300 per team. It was uncertain at press time as to how much was raised, or how much of the proceeds went towards funding the prizes given away, which included four season passes to the golf course for 2004, as well as a golf vacation to Myrtle Beach, S.C. and a return of the $300 entry fee to the third-place team.
McPherson said plans are in store for an even bigger golf extravaganza to help prop up the team’s financial situation next year.
“We’ve talked to Kitchen Creek, we’ve talked to the Falls Golf Course, and we’re building our golf course here (the full 18 holes at Heron Landing Golf Course are expected to be finished by the spring of 2004), and we’re looking at a three-day Thunder-sponsored tournament,” said McPherson.
“We’re talking major dollars for that. We’re planning on having 36 teams that would rotate from one course one day to the next course the next day. The people we’ve talked to about doing this see it as not only a good promotion for their courses, but for golf, in general.”
McPherson also mentioned conducting bingos as another source of revenue for the team.
Fort Frances Times
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