Grand River Enterprises

Infobox_Company
company_name = Grand River Enterprises

company_

company_type = Private
foundation = 1993
location = Ohsweken, Six Nations Territory
key_people = Jerry Montour, CEO
Peter Montour, senior marketing officer, Kenny Hill, Marketing (germany)
industry = Tobacco, bottled water

products = Sago
Seneca
Mohawk
Watah Springs

revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
homepage = [http://www.mohawkgre.com www.mohawkgre.com]

Grand River Enterprises (or GRE) is a cigarette manufacturer based in Six Nations, Ontario. They sell under the brand name "Sago" (Mohawk for "hello") Putters, DK's & Golden Leaf in Canada and under the name "Seneca" in the United States.

History

Grand River Enterprises was founded by Peter and Jerry Montour, Kenny Hill and others in 1993. At this point, GRE was not an incorporated company. All production occurred on Six Nations of the Grand River Territory First Nation with approval of the Band Council in a resolution. All Grand River Enterprises sales occurred on First Nations Reservations in Canada and the United States.

In April 1996 the Grand River Enterprises partnership became Incorporated in order to obtain a license from the Federal Government of Canada. At this time, it became Grand River Enterprises of Six Nations Limited. GRE was originally based on a dirt road in Six Nations, on property owned by Sidney Burnham. Since this time, Grand River Enterprises Six Nations Limited has continually upgraded facilities and is now the largest employer on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory First Nation.

The individual shareholders of Grand River Enterprises Six Nations Limited have created many off-shoot businesses on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory First Nation such as Grand River Spa, Sit'N'Bull Gas and Variety, among others.

Community Involvement

As Grand River Enterprises Six Nations Limited profits increased, the shareholders have continued to give back to their community. The creation of the Dreamcatcher Fund was an effort of Grand River Enterprises Six Nations Limited to improve the quality of life of individuals across the country. The Dreamcatcher Fund has sponsored children to participate in sports such as hockey and lacrosse; it has sponsored Little NHL teams so that these underprivileged teams can attend tournaments; and has sponsored students to facilitate attendance at post-secondary and post-graduate studies, to name a few. The Dreamcatcher Fund has grown to be one of the largest Aboriginal Charities in existence.

External links

[http://www.mohawkgre.com Canadian homepage]

[http://www.mohawkgre.de German homepage]

[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/sports/othersports/16lacrosse.html?_r=2&ref=sports&oref=slogin&oref=slogin New York Times Article re: shareholder Curt Styres]