Logo courtesy of ccab.com
There have been a lot of studies done on what the roadblocks are to economic development for First Nations in Canada, but the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business says it has come up with a plan that offers solutions and is groundbreaking in its research and findings.
The council’s research coordinator, Danbi Cho describes it as a road map for sustainable economic development. He says Indigenous affairs has agreed to fund the strategy, while the B.C. Assembly of First Nations will be the first to sign on in a new partnership. He expects there will be many more to come.
“We would love to partner with Inuit and Metis communities on similar projects,” he said. “We know they share similar experiences, however their opportunities and challenges differ.”
He says the plan is to deliver the strategy to First Nations, businesses, government and corporations right across the country to improve economic outcomes for First Nations and Metis. He says the research project goes far beyond just analyzing the problem.
“It involves First Nations led and developed initiatives,” he said. “Up to this point, no one has ever made an economic strategy developed by and for First Nations.”
More details of the economic development strategy will be unveiled in Ottawa on September 27th, 2016.
At the same time, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business will announce its 2016 Aboriginal business survey, which shows a 15 percent increase in the number of profitable Aboriginal businesses across Canada.