Testimonials:
"Eugene Whiskeyjack and I first met in 2005, when we worked together for our employer Alberta Indian Investment Corporation, whose mission is to assist First Nation entrepreneurs in developing individual capacity and financing their entrepreneurial ideas.
Not surprisingly, Eugene has become a full-time entrepreneur as a consultant, growing his enterprise into today’s Whiskeyjack Group Inc., specializing in delivering excellent results to aspiring entrepreneurs and business organizations.
We have been colleagues for almost twenty years. I witnessed Eugene consistently connect well with his clients and display impeccable attention to detail in business planning documents. Eugene is very approachable, amiable, and an incredibly positive individual personally, and I am pleased to endorse his services."
Errol Wilson MBA, ICD.D
Chair, Board of Financial Trustees, Peguis First Nation Surrender Claim Trust
Board of Director, Siksika Resource Developments Ltd.
Trustee, First Nation Market Housing Fund
Former Operations Manager, Alberta Indian Investment Corporation
"In 2015-2016, Eugene was instrumental in obtaining over 2 million dollars for our Marketplace and assisted us in other smaller projects. We are proud to report that our efforts have been fruitful in creating the Marketplace as well as the other projects mentioned. We would hire Eugene Whiskeyjack again, in fact we will be contacting him soon to do another proposal and business plan. As our Nation continues to progress its business initiatives, we will be requesting the assistance of Eugene, if he is willing. Our Nation does not always have the capacity to write the proposals, business plans or do the leg work around funding sources requirements, so we appreciate individuals like Eugene who understands First Nations and their needs for professional proposal writers that can streamline the process of getting funds from Provincial and Federal funders. Further, Eugene was very respectful to our Nation Leaders and Elders who had worked with him. We are very thankful to Eugene as that Marketplace has been a significant and valuable asset during this pandemic."
Beatrice Carpentier, BSW
O’Chiese First Nation Band Manager
"I have a long professional relationship with Eugene and have had the opportunity to work with Whiskeyjack Group Inc during my time with O’Chiese First Nation and at the Okanagan Indian Band. In both communities WJGroup supported my projects through business plan writing and grant applications. In both communities we were successful in bringing in several million of grants for economic infrastructure funding through the Community Opportunities Readiness Program. The success rate for funding received speak for itself."
Firman Latimer
"I have known Eugene for several years now. I have always been impressed by his professionalism and ease to converse with. As a member of a First Nation myself I could always count on Eugene to offer top notch advice and thought into whatever project I was working on. For example I approached him in the fall of 2016 to see if he could complete a business proposal on behalf of my Nation with a new year due date. I realized that the dates provided may not have been realistic but he did not disappoint. We were approved for an impressive funding grant through the provincial government and we also were able to establish an impressive line of credit for our construction company. As a result of his work we doubled our capacity and resulted in doubling our man power over the course of a few months.
He also developed an impressive workplan for a food production facility that we had hoped to construct in due time.
Eugene is an entrepreneur that has the respect of several members of his community and those in North Eastern Alberta. Any client can rest assured that they will receive great service, detailed work and lastly approval of the business enterprise."
William John
Kehewin Cree Nation
"I first knew Eugene as my loans manager with the Alberta Indian Investment Corporation then my business planner for many years. Eugene is very business oriented, he is smart and kind and always on your side. I’m very proud to have the privilege of working with Eugene. … Faron Callihoo Entrepreneur
Sucker Creek First Nation Economic Development and Human Resources Development thanks Whiskeyjack Group for participating in the SCFN Open House on February 7, 2019. Your support in setting up a booth at this year’s event helped make it a success. Educating and conversing with SCFN members are important steps in moving forward toward a healthy and engaged community."
Economic Development /
Human Resources Development Staff,
February 2019
“I started working with and first got introduced to Eugene Whiskeyjack in 2015. The Woodland Cree First Nation was looking for a company that was familiar with creating a Feasibility Study and Business Plan for our Solar Farm project and as well as our Medical Marijuana Facility on our reserve lands. So we were introduced to Eugene Whiskeyjack and Eugene really helped us with the projects and was very professional with our purposed projects which helped our First Nation to be approved and help create what was needed in order for our Nation to start development. Since then we have become good business partners and became great friends and Eugene see's the vision that we needed and is great to work with!”
Elvis Thomas,
Lands Manager - Woodland Cree First Nation
"I have had the pleasure of working with WJ Consulting and Eugene on a number of grant applications and Business Plans for major projects on the O’Chiese First Nation. The grant applications were detailed, to the point and professionally done. The end result, successful applications. I would not hesitate in using Eugene and Whiskeyjack Group Inc for additional grant applications and Business Plans."
John E Rigby
Director of Retail Operations
O’Chiese Business Center
"We engaged WhiskeyJack Consulting in July 2018 to complete the Business Plan and Feasibility study for our New Convenience store on the Nation called the Alexander Gas Bar Inc. Alexander wanted to own and operate their own store as the Nations store operations were being leased to 3rd party providers for the past 20 years with very little employment for the membership, no shared revenue and minimal lease revenues from there own building. I would like to thank Eugene WhiskeyJack for all his work and support in achieving the Nations goal of operating their own store. We have since opened ( December 2019 ) our New Store and were able to access the full grant amount of $ 725,000 from the Provincial Aboriginal Business Investment Fund based on the Business plan and Feasibility study Eugene provided.
Thanks again Eugene, your efforts assisted and guided the Alexander First Nation to a better future."
Ian Arcand, CEO AFN Business Centre
"Whiskeyjack Group Inc. is a preferred company when it comes time to recruit a special blend of expertise and experience and excellence within the Economic Development Sector.
The Whiskeyjack team has assisted Saddle Lake Cree Nation and its Membership with improving the Socio -Economic conditions within Saddle Lake.
(SLCN) Economic Development has utilized Whiskeyjack Group Inc. to assist with the development of business plans and other special projects that have led to positive outcomes and beneficial impact on Community Economic Development.
My personal experience of working with Whiskeyjack Group Inc has been an excellent open and transparent experience that has resulted in a positive and meaningful relationship."
Mr. Winston Lapatak, EDO/Director
Saddle Lake Cree Nation Tribal Administration – Economic Development
"My experience with the Whiskeyjack Group Inc has been a positive one. Eugene and his group act in a very professional and expedient manner with quick follow up and information gathering on projects. This ensures a very timely execution of project deliverables. The business plans produced are of the highest quality and thorough as well as being very bank ready."
Reg Mueller AScT
CEO Nak’azdli Development Corporation
"Whiskeyjack Group Inc did an excellent job developing a business plan for our Supportive Housing Complex. Their willingness to collaborate with our team to capture the goals of our business while providing their expertise resulted in additional funding. Whiskeyjack Group Inc exceeded our expectations. If you want results I recommend Whiskeyjack Group Inc."
Katie Rabbit-Young Pine
Lead Innovator
Changing Horses NFP Society
"Whiskeyjack Group Inc was instrumental in providing us with a professional business plan that we used to access funding through our oil and gas partners to build our healing lodge. We have had a great experience working alongside the expertise provided to support this great initiative for Driftpile Cree Nation. We thank WJGroup for their great work and would recommend their services to any Nation needing skilled planners."
Respectfully,
Consultation Director
Driftpile Cree Nation
Karl R Giroux
"I had the pleasure of contracting and working with WJGroup to develop a 5 year strategic plan and board governance training. Sounds dry as many organizations do this, but Eugene and his associates made the process culturally appropriate and enjoyable. Many companies do this either externally or internally so what makes this any different? This was a complex assignment as this project was for a cultural centre that services 75 First Nations and 8 linguistic groups. There was no unity between the board, the staff, the elders council, key committees and several stake holders. The plan was to bring these together formally and informally. This was accomplished with a beautiful culturally appropriate plan. They conducted interviews and research for KPIs for operations and for valuations on art and artifacts. We were more than pleased with, not only the final result, but also the process that WJGroup undertook to really hear what we were saying and what we needed. The governance training was provided in the same fun manner with full and total respect. I would highly recommend this group of associates with Eugene Whiskeyjack as the lead. They understand the mainstream models of strategic planning and when we needed adjustments and flexibility they provided that, and all was of the highest quality."
Wanda Wilson,
former President of Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre (SICC)
