Promoting The Growth Of Canadas Aboriginal Businesses

"Today, Aboriginal companies are a dynamic and growing presence in Canada's economy. They are active in all business sectors, including manufacturing, forestry, knowledge-based services, fine art, traditional crafts, high fashion and software development. As well, Aboriginal cultural products and attractions are bringing new tourism dollars to Canada. This success is contributing to the self-sufficiency of Aboriginal communities and is having a positive effect on Canada's economy"--Page 2.

New Frontiers in the Internationalization of Businesses: Empirical Evidence from Indigenous Businesses in Canada highlights the impact of international expansion as a potential pathway to address the challenges of poverty and vulnerability, and provide relevant new knowledge on the factors that support successful international expansion of Indigenous businesses. This book examines how entrepreneur’s identity and cultural values, network ties, motivations, and resources and capabilities facilitate or hinder the internationalization of Indigenous businesses. This book also investigates the economic and non-economic outcomes of internationalization. Most interestingly, this book answers the question of what is so new about the internationalization of Indigenous businesses by comparing this context to mainstream (non-Indigenous) businesses. The book also delves in the phenomena related to home-based businesses, service industries, and specific ethnic groups. This book has implications for vulnerable populations, especially those more than 370 million indigenous people spread across 70 countries worldwide. Studying those Indigenous businesses that decide to pursue international opportunities and how they become successful in international markets is a timely and novel area of research. Understanding this context contributes to current debates in international business.

Students who study business in university are not likely to hear about or discuss examples of Indigenous business successes from across the country. Rarely would one see references to Aboriginal communities, let alone examples of them growing multi-million dollar businesses and partnering to lead innovative economic development projects that positively impact the national economy. Resources are scarce and inadequate, an oversight that is to our detriment. Somewhere between a textbook and a book of collected essays, this collection of articles is an effort to build on and share the research of Aboriginal practitioners and scholars working in their respective fields. Where possible we share not only concepts, but also the voices of Aboriginal leaders, officials, Elders and other members of Aboriginal communities. Indigenous Business in Canada addresses contemporary concerns and issues in the doing of Indigenous business in Canada, reveals some of the challenges and diverse approaches to business in Aboriginal contexts from coast to coast to coast, and demonstrates the direct impact that history and policy, past and present, have on business and business education.

Aboriginal communities have an increasing interest in small business. This book looks at the growing small business sector in aboriginal communities. Containing current information on special programs, this innovative text identifies small business opportunities and covers the financing and daily management of these enterprises. Aboriginal Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Canada is an invaluable book for potential aboriginal entrepreneurs, people who work in the community, and those interested in aboriginal studies.

This report seeks to deepen understanding of privately owned Aboriginal businesses and their prospects for success or failure. It explores goals and strategies of Aboriginal businesses, and factors contributing to growth such as skills, markets, technology, financing and use of government support. Based mainly on the results of the 1996-97 two-phase Aboriginal Business Survey (ABS) this report includes the survey questions and statistics compiled.

The Program is designed to work in partnership with aboriginal entrepreneurs to help them develop independent and viable businesses in all parts of Canada. This document explains how to access and take advantage of the opportunities afforded under the Program.