Lax Kw'alaams Business Development

6 BUSINESS ELITE CANADA | MARCH 2019 The decision to buy the Forest Licences was “very brave,” says Sampson. At the time, the Band was struggling finan- cially, and crisis seemed to be around every corner in the community. “It was a desperate move to find a way to turn things around socially, economically, and politically.” Long-Standing Partnerships The success of Coast Tsimshian Resources is a testament to the the resiliency of the Band and its members and their ability to forge long-standing partnerships with other businesses and stakeholders in the area, “as well as the ability to maneuver through the politi- cal landscape whether dealing with the Provincial Government, or other First Nations whose territories our licenses overlap with,” says Sampson. The success of the CTR has allowed the LKDB to diversify into other areas of busi- ness where it has strong equity holdings;