The Industry Council for Aboriginal Business launched the BC Aboriginal Business Association...

The Industry Council for Aboriginal Business (ICAB)
launched the BC Aboriginal Business Association (BCABA) in February in Prince George to foster capacity for British Columbia’s Aboriginal business owners and entrepreneurs. “The Aboriginal business owner and entrepreneur sector is growing at five times the rate of self-employed Canadians overall, but one of the challenges individuals face is having the knowledge, resources and finances to develop their business,” said Keith Henry, president of ICAB. “BCABA will help break down those barriers and strengthen Aboriginal business development by connecting individuals with corporate partners offering much-needed expertise in key areas such as accounting and financial management, business development, communications, Internet-based technology, legal, media relations and taxation.” BCABA has established agreements with eight founding corporate partners: BCIT; Bull, Housser & Tupper; KPMG; Maggie Geiser & Associates; PR Associates; Suite-Apps Advisors; T.E. Wealth and Vancity. Each partner will deliver business development seminars and presentations to members of BCABA across the province. BCIT will introduce its Commercialization Assistance Program to help entrepreneurs in taking their products and services from the idea stage to the marketplace. Bull, Housser & Tupper will provide presentations focusing on contracts, project development, limited partnerships, impact benefit agreements, employment law, business structures and governance. KPMG will provide information on Aboriginal taxation and business advisory matters while Maggie Geiser & Associates will offer training on money management. PR Associates will deliver communication and community engagement strategies, media, presentation and negotiation skills training. Suite-Apps Advisors will introduce and advise on Internet-based technologies that help improve business productivity and management control. T.E. Wealth will develop and deliver investment and financial education seminars that will provide a foundation for sustainable business growth and Community Development while Vancity will offer seminars devoted to best practices in business development and management. According to the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business report Promise and Prosperity: The Aboriginal Business Survey, British Columbia has the second highest concentrations of self-employed Aboriginal people in Canada – 22 per cent of the 37,000 of self-employed Canadian First Nations people overall, or 8,140 businesses, operate in the province.