Aboriginal Business Canada

Aboriginal Peoples of Canada have, in many ways, had a tougher time of it than European Canadians. I'm not going to get into the ways they were treated, the genocide, the treaty violations by the Europeans, the residential schools and so on.

What I am going to focus on is the opportunity Aboriginal men and women have at Entrepreneurship.

Aboriginal Business Canada is an Industry Canada program that promotes the growth of commerce as one means towards economic self-sufficiency for all Aboriginal people.

It has a section for young entrepreneurs ages 18-35 that help guide them through the steps of starting and running a business. The site offers help in writing a business plan, getting the business going and financial help.

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The site promises to:

• assist you in identifying small problems before they develop into big ones,
• ensure you are maintaining financial records needed for effective management and for adhering to the requirements of other lending institutions,
• review your progress,
• identify potential new opportunities arising from our knowledge of the Aboriginal marketplace in Canada and around the world, and
• measure the overall success of ABC financing activities and ensure we continue to provide effective services to clients.

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This website is designed with a specific module in mind.

Module 17: Entrepreneurship for Aboriginal Peoples is an optional module in the curriculum, but if you were at a school with a high Aboriginal population like Scott Collegiate or even Robert Usher, it would be a good way to get the Aboriginal students involved.

The site is also useful for many other modules as well including: Initiating a venture, Planning and financing a venture and several more.

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One assignment that would be possible is to have students should explore and investigate the unique opportunities that present themselves to Aboriginal people because of their traditions, culture, and value of community decision making and co-operation. They could interview Aboriginal entrepreneurs for an assignment or look at a business venture that is based on their unique culture.