Part of The Future of the Indigenous Economy Series presented by

Spotlight on Aboriginal Economic Development

Indigenous Aboriginal Business

Published on May 7, 2018

Dawn Madahbee Leach / Interim Chairperson - National Indigenous Economic Development Board

Shannin Metatawabin / CEO - National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA)

Sean Willy / President & CEO - Des Nedhe Development

Isabell Ringenoldus / Founder & President - TAWS Security

A mere 4% of Canadian Federal Government spending on Indigenous peoples is directed toward economic development, and procurement – both public and private – from Indigenous companies is not at the levels it should be. Aboriginal businesses and individuals are systematically left behind. But this segment of the Canadian economy offers tremendous opportunity for growth, employment, increased integration, reconciliation and nation building.
This Spotlight focuses on what governments, the private sector and Indigenous communities themselves can do to provide the support and systems necessary to increase economic integration for Aboriginal businesses and individuals, and what Canada as a whole stands to gain from a stronger Aboriginal economy and companies.

Event Alignment: The 4th Annual Aboriginal Economic Development Conference

Presented by The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB)

Key Takeaways & Calls to Action:

Key Takeaways & Calls to Action

The public sector needs to provide the economic tools to support service delivery and increase funding for Indigenous Institutions who are better positioned to provide these services directly to their own people. Corporate Canada can play a large role in economic reconciliation by engaging with Indigenous communities and nations directly, and supporting Indigenous suppliers of goods and services.
The government needs to start implementing recommendations from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation report and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) – “Just take them out, dust them off and start implementing.”
Working with Indigenous businesses presents key advantages: high quality goods and services at competitive prices, opportunities to drive diversity and corporate social responsibility, openings to other markets, and the removal of some regulatory hurdles.
Indigenous procurement – from governments, industries, and within the community itself – plays a key role in promoting Indigenous economic development.

Watch and Read the Experts’ Full Interviews:

The Advisor Dawn Madahbee Leach Interim Chairperson - National Indigenous Economic Development Board "The public sector needs to put in place revenue sharing agreements and the private sector needs to look at opportunities to cultivate business partnerships with Indigenous communities to begin the economic reconciliation process."

The Financier Shannin Metatawabin CEO - National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) "If we could create a growth fund that provides capital from $250,000 to $2 million, we would be able to fill the gap that Indigenous economies are experiencing."

The Business Leader Sean Willy President & CEO - Des Nedhe Development "We want to maximize the impact of the natural resources economy, but we as communities want to take that next step [by diversifying our businesses and income]."

The Young Entrepreneur Isabell Ringenoldus Founder & President - TAWS Security "If given the same access to economic opportunities we can gainfully add employment and revenue to Canada’s bottom line."