NACCA supports First Nations, Métis, and Inuit entrepreneurs by providing funding for Indigenous businesses and communities through Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFIs). When entrepreneurs start new ventures, they take on all of the risks – and rewards – of launching that business.

A strong partnership between the entrepreneur and the local IFI is critical for success. In addition to developmental lending, IFIs provide support services such as business loans, non-repayable contributions, financial and management consulting, and business start-up and aftercare services.  Visit our IFI page to find your local financial institution, or use the form below to contacts us and we’ll help you out.

We encourage entrepreneurs to visit the following websites for helpful information:

• Government of Canada resources:
  • Federal incorporation – Online federal incorporation: fast and simple
  • Keeping your federal corporation in good shape – Already a federal corporation? 5 key ingredients for a healthy corporation
  • Naming your corporation – Every business corporation must have a distinct name that legally identifies the corporation
  • Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB) – The PSAB initiative aims to increase federal contracting opportunities and to gain access to the overall federal procurement process for Aboriginal businesses
  • FedDev Ontario – Small Business Services – Indigenous entrepreneur guide to starting a business
• Export Development Canada – EDC is committed to building strong, sustained partnerships with Indigenous-owned and Indigenous-led businesses of all sizes.
• Futurpreneur Canada – Business Plan Essentials
• Startup Canada
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
• Canadian Centre for Aboriginal Entrepreneurship (CCAE) – The CCAE’s Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Training Program helps First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people who are interested in starting their own business.
• Indigenous Advancement of Cultural Entrepreneurship (I-ACE) – The Indigenous ACE Programs delivers culturally sensitive and community-tailored entrepreneurship education to support the full participation of Indigenous individuals in the Canadian economy through business ownership.
• Indigenous Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ICIE) – The City of Toronto is working with the local Indigenous community to develop ICIE.
• Many of our IFIs have Indigenous-specific tools and resources on their own websites, check them out here.
• NACCA Indigenous Women’s Entrepreneurship (IWE) Program

Please note that NACCA does not necessarily endorse any of the above resources, they are presented for informational purposes only.

To find out more about how to secure financing to become an entrepreneur, fill out the form below to contact your local IFI.