Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program (AEP) Committee

The newly appointed members of the AEP Committee are Leonard Odjick, Dana Soonias and Sakiasie Sowdlooapik.

Leonard Odjick, Quebec

Leonard Odjick has significant leadership experience in governance, community and economic development. He serves as Vice-president of the Board of Directors of the Native Commercial Credit Corporation (SOCCA), has been a Director of a Tribal Council, a band manager which oversaw 350 staff, started a band police department and is currently a financial consultant.

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Richard Bridge   October 26, 2015

SUMMARY: Charity lawyer Richard Bridge shares the example of Ulnooweg, a dynamic and innovative First Nations non-profit that has provided financial services to Atlantic Canadian First Nations for decades. Its development of the charity Ulnooweg Financial Education Centre and success in attracting foundation funding to go national has helped Chiefs and Councils plan and meet community needs more effectively. It also shows the enormous benefits of First Nations securing qualified donee status.

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(OTTAWA, Ontario, November 25, 2014) – Aboriginal Financial Institutions grow a federal government investment of $240M into $2 billion in loans to Aboriginal small businesses for economic development.

The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (“NACCA”) is an association of 55 Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) throughout Canada. AFIs were established by Aboriginal leaders and the Canadian government in the mid-1980s to early 1990s to stimulate business development in the Aboriginal community. The Saskatchewan Indian Loan Company, now part of Saskatchewan Indian Equity Foundation (SIEF), was the first AFI to provide loans totaling $173,500 to Aboriginal entrepreneurs in 1985-86. The network of AFIs has since grown and matured into a significant developmental lending force in Canada with unparalleled reach. Continue reading