Entrepreneurial spirit strong

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Toronto Aboriginal Business Association (TABA) is giving business owners the opportunity to network within their community and giving them ideas on how to become stronger in the business world.

TABA was formed two years ago as a partnership with Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training Organization, located in downtown Toronto.

"There was a demand to bring all entrepreneurs together to create an economy both directly and indirectly with Aboriginal people," explained Kelly Powless, partnership development adviser for Miziwe Biik.

Over the past two years, about 150 different businesses and organizations "including everything from construction consultants to arts and crafts distributors" have become members of TABA and found it to be beneficial to their companies.

Dennis Stark, publisher of Tansi newspaper in Toronto, has been a member for about a year and recently was recognized for his hard work and dedication by being one of three members presented with an award from TABA. Stark won first place for male entrepreneur of the year.

Other awards went to Knapp Publishing owner Milli Knapp (first place for female entrepreneur of the year) and Chris Spence (first place in the youth entrepreneur category for his multimedia company, Chagoosh Media.

All nominations were made by the membership of TABA in the form of a short story on how they perceived a business' goals were achieved.

The awards were presented at a ceremony held at the Royal Bank Tower in Toronto on Feb. 27. "The awards came about from a need to get the members more recognition," said Powless. Since the event was held, she added, there have been inquiries from various levels of government about funding available for such initiatives.

This need for more recognition by the public at large is something TABA members are currently discussing.

"It's a fledgling business association for Aboriginal people and we want to see it grow," Powless said. "I hope it grows into an Aboriginal chamber of commerce in Toronto."

As a member of TABA, Stark wants to do what he can to see the association become much larger than it currently is. This is why he is offering free business card sized advertising space in his newspaper. "It's a seed right now and we need to grow it," he said.

Miziwe Biik is planning to get the association recognized throughout the business community by providing quarterly networking opportunities for members by providing speakers on various topics.

Miziwe Biik's executive director, Nancy Martin, said one topic that could be presented to members is from a small business consultant who would showcase how business owners can strengthen their businesses.

Martin said that last year there was a lot of positive feedback from the Enterprise Toronto workshops they held, and they may decide to hold those again this year.

As well, TABA currently has a Web site, which Martin says will be updated with each member's contact information on it.

Funding for TABA and the programs it offers is derived from the initiative of Building Aboriginal Economies through the Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat, which funds various projects within the province.

Because TABA currently is recognized as part of Miziwe Biik, it doesn't have its own board of directors.

"It hasn't been developed into an organization right now," said Martin.

However, if more corporate types of businesses become members, Stark said, it will be able to have its own identity.