Helder Ponte gained perspective on the resolve of First Nations people when he realized how ‘cold’ cold could be.
Forced to flee his homeland of Angola, Africa with his family due to war in 1979, Ponte and his wife chose the East Kootenays where his wife’s family is located.
He soon appreciated it could get colder than zero Celsius.
“It gave me perspective of the desperate conditions First Nations survived, and their persistence and drive to overcome whatever lie before them,” Ponte said.
For more than 35 years Ponte has worked for First Nations supporting them to realize their vision. On June 16, 2016 in Parkville, B.C., the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association (AFOA) presented him with the fourth Band Administrator Recognition award.
Lower Nicola Indian Band Chief Aaron Sam said, Ponte quietly challenges staff to be ‘even more perfect’ and innovative in their day-to-day operations.
“We are very fortunate to have Helder as our executive director,” said Sam.
Since joining the Band in 2014, after 32 years with the Ktunaxa Nation in Cranbrook, B.C., Ponte helped Lower Nicola reorganize its administration to improve efficiency and staff and community relations.
Consequently, the band has paid all its long-term debt which enabled it to add four classrooms to its school.
Chief Sam attributes these recent successes to Ponte’s excellent support to council which has helped steer the band to greater economic success, and has been instrumental in bringing forward projects that celebrates their culture, history and language.
“The experience and knowledge Helder brings every day adds to our success and he is another reason to be Proud to be LNIB.”
When Helder worked in operations at the Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC), it grew from a dozen full and part-time staff in 1979 to today employing more than 300 people year round in the Council and affiliate organizations.
Hereditary Chief Sophie Pierre, Ktunaxa Nation, who was the Administrator of the Ktunaxa Nation, said that for 30 years she worked alongside Ponte.
“His advice, guidance and commitment to our Nation and bands helped the Ktunaxa people move closer to fulfilling our vision of ‘Strong, healthy citizens and communities.’” She attests that “Because of Helder, we were the first Aboriginal organization in Canada to have an Employee Pension Plan and benefits package.”
Helder also helped the KNC member bands save thousands of dollars in auditing through restructured administration and improved financial management, and create jobs by taking over externally managed programs and services. Through his assistance, the Bands participated in the CMHC First Nations Housing program resulting in the construction of more than 50 houses which enabled Band members to return home. Ponte’s negotiation skills also realized the renovation of the St. Eugene Mission Indian Residential School to a $43 million golf course and casino resort which now employs 350 people in peak season and provides funds to the Bands for their own developments and donations to regional charities to improve socio-economic conditions of all people in the East Kootenays.
