First Nations Students Start Own Business

First Nations Students Start Own Business

Friday, February 11, 2011 at 14:20

If you’re looking for a ring tone distinctly Aboriginal, check out Tipi Tones.

The company was started by a group of high school students from the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, thanks to a partnership between Junior Achievement Saskatchewan, Whitecap Dakota First Nation and First Commercial Brokers.

Ainsley Robertson, Director of High School Programs with Junior Achievement, says this program allows high school students to do everything involved in running a business from starting up the company, organizing it, to full operations and then liquidating and ending the company at the end of a full, fiscal-type cycle.

Kree Thomas is Vice-President of IT and Finance for the company and says the project is about more than selling ring tones: she says it’s about preserving Aboriginal culture and language.

Some of the ring tones feature counting in Cree and Dakota as well as powwow music.

The ring tones are being sold for a couple of dollars each and people can also buy shares in the company for 15 dollars.

This is the first time a Junior Achievement program has been offered on reserve.