Wade Cachagee

Love of challenge motivates youth award recipient

Wade Cachagee, the youngest recipient of 1998's National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, is quite matter-of-fact about the impressive entrepreneurial record he accumulated at the age of 25.

Many of his successes revolve around business. For instance, he was named 1996 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year by the Sixth Annual Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Business Awards. Prior to this award, when he was 21 years old, he established his own computer business: CREE-Tech, Inc. This high-tech company specializes in a whole set of technologies known as GIS (Geographical Information Systems).

CREE-Tech was the realization of a dream, because Cachagee said he "always planned to have his own business and always enjoyed computers." With his company, he found a way to join these two areas of interest and expertise. Cachagee also appreciates the fact that he can run his business from his home community, Chapleau Cree First Nation.

He feels he has a lot of help and support from his family and friends in all his endeavors. For instance, he's "always talking to [his] dad about [his] plans." His dad has good ideas for the business, and both his dad and his mother have been mentors for him, he said.

Having access to good business ideas isn't the only advantage of being able to work in his own community. Cachagee said his dad and his uncle worked alongside him in building the home office complex he's just completed. He's quite proud that he was able to do the wiring and painting himself. They only had to call in one outside contractor.

Besides that, there's the emotional support. Cachagee said that he had 13 co-workers, family and friends at the awards gala with him.

"They're all very happy for me," he said on March 16, as he described the awards ceremony. He also said he'd remember the occasion for a long time.

Cachagee hasn't only made his mark in the business world. He's been a kind of ambassador in other ways. He has, for instance, received a scholastic award from the Chapleau Cree First Nation, been a youth delegate at the XIV Keewaywin Conference, held in Webequie, Ont., as well as an exchange student to Yellowknife, N.W.T., and served on the education committee for his community.

Because of his business experience and expertise, he has been a guest speaker at several conferences on land management. One of his usual topics is the importance of GIS technology relating to Aboriginal lands. His company also specializes in computer applications which can be used in the forestry industry, in police work and in producing maps for the study of traditional lands and cultural values. He can, for instance, map out sacred areas and traditional land uses. He can also work on projects in stages, he said. Once a base map is produced, the community doing the research owns the digital rights and can arrange to expand a project as they get the funds.

Cachagee's love of challenges comes out when he talks about his company. He said that he and his staff, which varies in number according to the needs of the specific contracts, are "always investigating new ideas and applications." He also said that "every contract is different." One of the unique services Cachagee has developed is Cree-VIEW, an interactive First Nations inventory on CD ROM. Sometimes the biggest challenge is just letting people know that such services exist.

In fact, Cachagee hopes the award will give him an opportunity to make even more contacts, especially in other provinces and internationally. He points out that the work his company does, though especially valuable for Aboriginal land use discussions, has many applications outside Aboriginal communities as well.

Wade Cachagee is so happily busy with his company he doesn't have a lot of free time, but when he does, he enjoys hunting, fishing and downhill skiing.