Indigenous Business in Canada : Principles and Practices

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.

Keith G. Brown (PhD) is Vice President, International and Aboriginal Affairs and Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies at Cape Breton University. His professional and academic experience spans local, regional, and national First Nation issues and he is recognized as an international educator, author, and speaker on the subject of cultural tourism marketing.

Mary Beth Doucette (MBA) is an industrial engineer with an MBA in community economic development, and is Executive Director of the Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Buisness Studies at CBU.

Janice Esther Tulk's (PhD) research of the past five years has focussed on best practices in Aboriginal economic development, particularly in Unama'ki (Cape Breton). She is Senior Research Associate for the Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies.