The Gitxaala Enterprise Corporation (GECO) opened the Salt Water Bakery & Provisions in Prince Rupert over the weekend.

This is the second business venture for the corporation this year: in May, they acquired the Crest Hotel located on Prince Rupert's harbor front.

“Offering a wide array of natural hearth baked breads, signature pies and pastries showcasing ingredients from our forests, seas, and gardens, Salt Water Bakery will change the way you think about bread and baked goods in Prince Rupert,” according to their website.

In the Sm’algax language, the Gitxaała people refer to themselves as “Git Lax M’oon,” meaning “People of the Salt Water,” the bakery website states, so the business' name pays homage to not only the people of the nation, but also to the saltwater that surrounds the Prince Rupert area.

CEO of GECO Michael Uehara and Village Chief of the Gitxaala Nation Linda Innes both spoke with CFNR at the grand opening of the new bakery.

The focus of GECO is to create "generational wealth" for its members, according to Uehara. In addition, with the training courses provided to village members through the Continues Learning Center, the goal is to provide training employment and education that will generate long-term benefits and job security to all members, in fields such as transportation welding culinary and marine training.

Innes says the vision that the GECO has is to make these opportunities a possibility not just for Gitxaala Nation, but for the economy of Prince Rupert.

There are already plans in the works for Phase 2 of the bakery: by the end of next month, the aim is to add an ice creamery with locally made ice cream. In future, the business also hopes to sell local produce.

Listen to the CFNR Interview below: