New business venture in Mirror, Ab.

May will see a new business venture set up in the Mirror Business Center – the former CPR bunkouse, in the village of Mirror.
The Mirror Business Center will be the new home of the Mountain Cree (Asini Wachi Nehiyawak) Band offices, along with several other offices and services.
Among them will be Heritage Antiques, with a unique range of antiques and collectables. Along with Gracie D’s Antiques, across the street, the two will be the largest and most diverse antiques market in Central Alberta.
There will be the Mountain Cree Museum Collection on display, a cafeteria, The Guitar Nook, and several other small retail outlets.
The Museum will develop interpretive displays of the Buffalo Lake Regional history and provide a meeting space. This is planned to be the first stage in developing a Northern Plains Interpetive Center.
It will also be the home of Heritage Consulting and Asini Wachi Nehiyawak Consultation, and the Northern Plains Research Center.
The Research Center features the largest existing electronic database on the pre 1900’s family history and genealogies of Alberta along with early history of Alberta places and Native Band histories. (listings of family histories can be found on www.inewhistory.com).
This database and library is available to the public for private research. Accommodation is available for researchers and visitors.
Heritage Consulting operates the largest website on the internet on Aboriginal history and genealogy (www.inewhistory.com). The website is ranked in the to 10 per cent of internet sites, and is the #1 Native Website on the Net.
First Nations Publishing has published some 30 Alberta history books to date (www.inewhistory.com/2001.html).
The Mountain Cree band publishes a monthly newsletter to keep their scattered members informed.
The Mirror Business Center will also be the home office of the Association of First Nations Archaeologists and Historians.
Mirror Business Services will provide business services for the public and small businesses, along with office space and office rentals. Office space can be rented by the hour, day or month.
Klassic Kar Kare (KKK) expects to relocate to Mirror, bringing in a small selection of Classic Cars.
Though other locations were also considered for this venture, Mirror was chosen thanks to the interest expressed by a number of local residents.
The project, all privately funded, expects to bring 10 jobs to Mirror. No level of government was interested in local economic development.
It is expected that these projects will be open to the public by the beginning of June.