Economic self-determination through lending: empowering Indigenous Peoples, implementing UNDRIP
Shannin Metatawabin
Indigenous issues
The Hill Times – September 18, 2017
In the 1980s, the federal government and Indigenous leaders were on the right track. Prior to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and even prior to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, it was known that the Indigenous economy needed attention. This resulted in the creation of a network of Indigenous business development financial institutions. With an initial federal investment of $240-million, these institutions have since provided more than 42,000 loans totalling $2.3-billion to Indigenous communities and entrepreneurs.
The businesses these loans made possible are diverse. One factor unites them: all are led by Indigenous individuals or communities taking their economic futures into their own hands. In very concrete, everyday ways, these businesses help realize the right to economic self-determination guaranteed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
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Halifax, NS/June 22, 2017 – BBB Serving the Atlantic Provinces was honoured to present a Torch Award for Business Ethics to the first ever Aboriginal business recipient last week. On Friday, June 23, Truro’s Ulnooweg Development Group received a Torch Award for the 11 to 49 employee category. Torch Awards are given to companies who go above and beyond to give back to their communities and inspire marketplace trust.
By Shannin Metatawabin
For the last several years, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has published an annual list of the Top 10 Barriers to Canadian Competitiveness. That document listed some of the self-inflicted wounds that have prevented Canada’s economy from achieving its full potential and set out their recommendations for change.
Ottawa, March 23, 2017 – The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Gerry Huebner as Chief Strategy Officer. Gerry graduated from Trent University in 1983 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Queens University in 1986.
The Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies
Ottawa, March 7, 2017 – The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) commissioned a study of the financial ecosystem that provides support for Aboriginal entrepreneurship in Canada. NACCA and its member Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) provide financing and support to Aboriginal entrepreneurs. The number of AFIs across Canada has grown to over 50 and include Aboriginal Capital Corporations, Aboriginal Developmental Lenders and Aboriginal Community Futures Development Corporations. In addition to BDC’s mainstream financial services and advice, BDC’s Aboriginal Banking Unit offers two specialized streams of financing for Aboriginal entrepreneurs including the “Aboriginal Business Development Fund,” and “Growth Capital for Aboriginal Business.” 
Ottawa, January 6, 2017 – The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) is pleased to announce Mark Dokis as the director of products and services. Mark is a member of the Dokis First Nation in Northeastern Ontario. He graduated with honours from Laurentian University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts in geography. He went on to earn certificates in economic development and business administration and management.