Entrepreneurship/Venture Creation
Aboriginal Business Case Studies in Canada (n.d.) “Cascade Publishing Ltd.”CASE STUDY Fort Smith, NWT http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/eppp-archive/100/205/301/ic/cdc/business/case1.html
Don and Sandra Jacque own and operate the Slave River Journal, a regional newspaper serving the area between Lake Athabasca and Great Slave Lake, including the towns of Fort Smith and Fort Chipewayan. [FN]
Aboriginal Business Case Studies in Canada (n.d.) “Coman Arctic Ltd.” CASE STUDY Iqaluit, Northwest Territories http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/eppp-archive/100/205/301/ic/cdc/business/case2.html
For more than twenty years, Fred Coman has been providing office and warehouse leasing, cartage, moving, and janitorial services in Iqaluit and the Baffin Island region. He recently opened an art gallery called Coman Arctic Galleries Ltd., which serves tourists and the local community. [I]
Aboriginal Business Case Studies in Canada (n.d.) “Ikaluktutiak Co-operative Limited.” CASE STUDY Cambridge Bay, Northwest Territorieshttp://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/eppp-archive/100/205/301/ic/cdc/business/case3.html
A commercial arctic char fishery was started in the late 1950s and marked the beginning of the co-operative movement in Cambridge Bay, a community on the southeast coast of Victoria Island. [I]
Aboriginal Business Case Studies in Canada (n.d.) “Raven Enterprises (Inuvik) Ltd.” CASE STUDY Inuvik, Northwest Territorieshttp://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/eppp-archive/100/205/301/ic/cdc/business/case4.html
Raven Enterprises (Inuvik) Ltd is the company name under which she operates a newsstand and gift shop called Mac’s News, a restaurant called Road’s End Deli, and a boating tour company called Midnight Express Tours. [I]
Aboriginal Business Case Studies in Canada (n.d.) “Lou’s Small Engines and Sports Limited.” CASE STUDY Fort Smith, Northwest Territorieshttp://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/eppp-archive/100/205/301/ic/cdc/business/case5.html
He started working for his brother Lou, and then nine years ago Alex and his brother-in-law Earl Jacobson bought the business. It is a family business that sells and services dirt bikes and snowmobiles, as well as selling hunting and sporting goods to the 2,500 people in the Fort Smith area. The firm also offers courier and car rental services. Recently, Lou’s Small Engine became an outlet for Sears catalogue sales. [FN]
Aboriginal Business Case Studies in Canada (n.d.) “Champagne-Aishihik Enterprises Ltd.” CASE STUDY Haines Junction, Yukonhttp://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/eppp-archive/100/205/301/ic/cdc/business/case6.html
Chief Paul Birckel heads the Champagne-Aishihik band and oversees all social programs and economic development initiatives, including one of their successful business ventures, a construction company called Champagne-Aishihik Enterprises Ltd. Based in Haines Junction, the company employs a number of band members on a permanent basis and provides seasonal training opportunities for other band members. [FN]
Aboriginal Entrepreneurs Conference and Trade Show (2011) “Entrepreneurs Spotlight: The Pathway to Success.”
Interview with Aboriginal Entrepreneurs, Jennifer David: Stonecircle Consulting, Kevin Sebastian: Toolcomm and Derek Prue: Skyrider. This interview was taken at the Aboriginal Entrepreneurs Conference and Trade Show in Ottawa, ON. October 24 – 25, 2011. [FN]
CBC (October 2008) “Iqaluit man who sells Inuit art hailed as eBay entrepreneur.” https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/iqaluit-man-who-sells-inuit-art-hailed-as-ebay-entrepreneur-1.752610
An Iqaluit art dealer who uses the internet to sell Inuit art has won a $5,000 award as eBay Canada’s Entrepreneur of the Year. [I]
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (n.d.) “Promise and Prosperity: The Aboriginal Business Survey.” https://www.ccab.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CCAB-PP-Report-V2-SQ-Pages.pdf
The CCAB’s goal is to widely communicate the research findings, so they can be used by Aboriginal people, businesses and communities, as well as by the mainstream business community and governments, to develop new tools and practices that fully realize the potential of Aboriginal small business in Canada. [FN]
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (2012) “Dave Tuccaro.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYREIeU6_l8
2012 Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame Laureate: Dave Tuccaro, Video. [FN]
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (2008) “Ron Jamieson.” http://www.ccab.com/laureate-videos/video:13/2008-Ron-Jamieson
2008 Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame Laureate: Ron Jamieson, Video. [FN]
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (October 2011) “Aboriginal Entrepreneurs Conference and Trade Show: First Fisher’s, Roger Sark.” http://www.entrepreneurship2011.indigenous.net/video/viewvideo/3/business-profiles/first-fishers-roger-sark
Business profile on First Fishers: Hear from Roger Sark as he talks about the Sparrow decision, the rights to fish commercially, the ATP program, and lobster licenses. He also shares with us information on the First Fishers’ expansions and goals, and plans for marketing their business. [FN]
Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (1995) “The Spirit Lives!” http://cfeespiritofadventure.com/uploads/resource_page/attachment/53326584736f61767f080000/the-spirit-lives.pdf
The Spirit Lives is a series of six half-hour video programs and a 72-page User’s Guide for Aboriginal teachers, trainers, and economic development officers to assist the delivery of entrepreneurship instruction. The videos profile approximately 30 Aboriginal entrepreneurs who were selected through a process involving input from a nationwide network of aboriginal advisors representing business, education, and economic development. [FN]
Cash, Martin (2011) “First Nations equity a boon: Filling major gap for entrepreneurs.” Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 20, 2011 B5 http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/first-nations-equity-a-boon-114263619.html?path=/business&id=114263619&sortBy=oldest
A new Métis investment fund was established with $3 million from the federal government and another $1 million from the province. The Métis Resource Economic Development Fund (MREDF) is designed to provide equity financing for Métis-owned businesses working in the energy and resource sector. [M]
Conference Board of Canada (November 2009) “True to their Visions: An Account of 10 Successful Aboriginal Businesses.” https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304934249_True_to_Their_Visions_An_Account_of_10_Successful_Aboriginal_Businesses
This report set out to determine, all things being equal in terms of location and access to resources, the factors that determine whether a business will succeed or fail. It features 10 successful Aboriginal businesses from across Canada and draws out the common challenges and keys to success, forming an easy-to-use Aboriginal business guide. The purpose of this report is to profile successful Aboriginal businesses, encourage other Aboriginal entrepreneurs, and promote corporate Aboriginal partnerships. [M]
Conference Board of Canada (May 2008) “From Vision to Venture: An Account of Five Successful Aboriginal Businesses.”https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304934019_From_Vision_to_Venture_An_Account_of_Five_Successful_Aboriginal_Businesses
This report shows that Aboriginal business development creates wealth and employment, which can ensure the well-being of Aboriginal peoples at both the individual and community levels. It profiles five successful Aboriginal businesses and proposes best practice guidelines based on common success factors and lessons learned. These guidelines are designed to inspire and encourage others to develop successful Aboriginal businesses. [FN][I]
Gabriel, Lesley (March 31, 2011) “Show me the Money.” Native Business Development Magazine. http://www.nbdm.ca/blog/show-me-the-money
During the height of the recession in 2008, an Okanagan-based aspiring entrepreneur, Charles Kruger, threw caution to the wind and decided he wanted to start his own business. [FN]
Gaul, Ashleigh (July 2012) “Inuit-owned contracts: Q&A with Simon Merkosak, Pond Inlet entrepreneur.” http://baffinlandwitness.com/2012/07/15/inuit-owned-contracts-qa-with-simon-merkosak-pond-inlet-entrepreneur/
Simon Merkosak is an independent contractor based in Pond Inlet. Over the past few years, he’s formed upwards of ten national and international joint ventures with southern companies, in anticipation of contracting opportunities with construction on the Mary River project. [I]
Jamieson, Mary (n.d.) “JOURNEY TO SUCCESS: Aboriginal Women’s Business Planning Guide.” https://silo.tips/queue/journey-to-success-aboriginal-women-s-business-planning-guide?&queue_id=-1&v=1605793690&u=NDUuMi4xOTcuMTk2
This guide has been developed with the input of many of these business leaders. They gave advice and guidance based on their own experiences. They all admit that the journey is not easy, but that the rewards are well worth the effort. [F][M][I]
McBride, John and Ray Gerow (2004) “Minding Our Own Businesses: how to create support in First Nations communities for Aboriginal Business.”https://silo.tips/queue/minding-our-own-businesses-how-to-create-support-in-first-nations-communities-fo?&queue_id=-1&v=1605793827&u=NDUuMi4xOTcuMTk2
The purpose of the project was to investigate what other First Nations have done to support their small business operators, and to create a process to look at what could be done in your community. [FN]
Nuna group (July 2012) “Skookum Jim Award 2012 – Nuna Group of Companies.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJHn4-1jgE4
Skookum Jim Award for Aboriginal achievement in the mineral industry Recipients of this award have demonstrated exceptional achievement and/or service in the Aboriginal-run service business for the Canadian mining industry or a Canadian aboriginal exploration or mining company, or have made a significant individual contribution to the mining industry. [I]
Robinson, Michael and Elmer Ghostkeeper (March 1988) “Implementing the Next Economy in a Unified Context: A Case Study of the Paddle Prairie Mall Corporation.” ARCTIC VOL, 41, NO. 3 (SEPTEMBER 1988) P. 173-182 http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic41-3-173.pdf
This paper describes the process of a native entrepreneur entering the “next economy” and is in part the logical consequence of applying the concepts outlined in “Native and Local Economics: A Consideration of Economic Evolution and the Next Economy” (Robinson and Ghostkeeper, 1987:138-144). [M]
Sisco, Ashley and Rodney Nelson (2008) “From Vision to Venture: An Account of Five Successful Aboriginal Businesses.” https://www.ntab.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/file/CONFERENCE%20BOARD%20-%20ABORIGINAL%20BUSINESS%20CASE%20STUDIES(1).pdf
This report shows that Aboriginal business development creates wealth and employment, which can ensure the well-being of Aboriginal peoples at both the individual and community levels. It focuses on five successful Aboriginal businesses, highlighting the challenges they encountered and the strategies they used to overcome these challenges. [M]
Smyth, (Aotahi Ltd) (2008) “The Osoyoos Indian Band – Nk’Mip Cellars: Working With Business to Preserve our Past by Strengthening our Future.”Taking Care of Business: Indigenous Business Case Studies Pages 157-212 Call Number: HD 2358 T35 2008
Viticulture has not always been amongst the major industries in the Okanagan Valley. In the early half of the 20th century, there was instead a large focus of fruit production. The Band was one of the earliest native bands to recognize the viticulture opportunities available in the region. In 1968, with the support of funding from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the Band worked hard to establish Inkameep Vineyards. [FN]
Smyth, Naomi (Aotahi Ltd) (2008) “Tuccaro Inc: To Be the Best, To Focus on What We Do Well, And To Do it Better.” Taking Care of Business: Indigenous Business Case Studies Pages 213-241 Call Number: HD 2358 T35 2008
Oil Companies rely on external businesses for a range of products and services, from construction services and information technology to water supply and sewerages removal. The demand for such enterprises provided a number of opportunities for local entrepreneurs. There were very few Native businesses servicing the oil industry in the early 1990s, but that number has progressed and there are now in excess of one hundred Native businesses providing a variety of products and services to oil companies. One of the earlier entrepreneurs in this sector was Dave Tuccaro. [FN]
Solway, Susan (2010) “Métis business waits for ruling from Dragons.”Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Year: 2010 ALBERTA SWEETGRASShttp://www.ammsa.com/publications/alberta-sweetgrass/m%C3%A9tis-business-waits-ruling-dragons
Earlier this year, the Cree Métis couple from the county of Lac St. Anne decided it was worth a shot to bring their Aboriginal-based, 100 per cent natural ingredient bath product line to the CBC hit show Dragons’ Den, which gives entrepreneurs a chance to grow within the business industry. [M]
Waubetek Business Development Corporation (November 2011) “Investing in the Aboriginal Business Spirit.” Waubetek Newshttp://www.waubetek.com/Newsletter%20PDFs/Fall%202011%20Newsletter%20page%201-6.pdf
Showcasing Waubeteks four Aboriginal Entrepreneurs, winners of the Business Achievement Award for 2011 are: It is his work ethic and performance dedicated to getting jobs done well and on-time that got Michael Saucier noticed in the construction industry. Personal attention to high standards is the key ingredient of King Food Catering Company recipe for success in meeting his customers’ expectations owner Hank (Henry) King in the hospitality industry. Sudbury Prosthetic & Orthotic Design Ltd., Mead, a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario with family on the Dokis First Nation, graduated from George Brown College in the Prosthetics and Orthotic program in 2004. At 29, Michelle is the owner of her own excavating and haulage company, MCT Excavation. [FN]
Weir, Warren I. (December, 2007) “First Nation Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Canada.”
Interested parties appreciate that there is much to learn about these small businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly the role that they play in relation to community economic and political development. It is important that they are doing this work, since it is necessary to track the products and services these businesses provide. It is also valuable to account for the social and economic value First Nation small businesses and entrepreneurs are adding to Canadian society, especially First Nation communities. [FN]
Wuttunee, Wanda A. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press (©1992) “In business for ourselves: northern entrepreneurs: fifteen case studies of successful small northern businesses.”
This survey of 15 successful small businesses in northern Alberta, the Yukon and Northwest Territories analyzes the activities, structure, finances and prospects of each, using the personal accounts of the owners, many of them native people. [FN, M, I]
Wuttunee, Wanda A. (2004) Living rhythms: Lessons in Aboriginal economic resilience and vision. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press. [LC Call Number: E78.C2—W795 2004eb]
Pg. 85-92 Toquaht First Nation is a tiny community with fish and forest resources. It has a strong traditional background, with hereditary chief Burt Mack holding a lifetime position. Chief Mack has demonstrated entrepreneurial strengths in running band-owned businesses including, a sawmill, lumber operation, clam farm, and other seafood harvesting enterprises and in supporting local small-business people. Chief Mack’s family owns a bookstore and art gallery. The West Coast approach to tradition is very evident in this community. [FN]
Pg. 93-103 Individual entrepreneurs offer services to the community and to tourists. Some ensure that their dollars stay in the community to recirculate and support the community. Several ventures of interest include water taxis, wholesale art, and an arts and crafts retail operation. [FN]
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