Aboriginal students shine at 2005 E-Spirit trade show

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Aboriginal students from across Canada put forward their best in business planning and organization at the fifth annual E-Spirit Aboriginal Youth Business Plan Competition held May 11 in Edmonton.

This year's competition involved a total of 161 teams from 74 schools, for a total of 534 student participants.

The E-Spirit competition, sponsored by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, is a 16-week Internet-based competition that provides participating teams with interactive business planning resources and access to mentors online. Students taking part are given the opportunity to meet and network with other students from across Canada, online and in person.

The competition exposes students to the rigors of starting their own businesses. They must come up with an idea, plan for it, sell the idea, work with other businesses, travel, and adjust to changesin the business world on an ongoing basis, just like they would if they were operating real businesses.

Teams of two to four students, a teacher, an Aboriginal mentor and technical advisors work together to develop a business concept into a complete business plan. All teams that complete their business plans by the deadline are invited to a trade show to present their plans to a panel of judges from the business community.

Jim Richardson, from the Mi'kmaq community of Pabineau First Nation in New Brunswick, is in charge of Aboriginal banking for BDC. Richardson works closely on the E-Spirit competition and talked about what the students get out of the competition and how it has evolved over the last five years.

"One of the good things that this program reflects is peer pressure, and to some extent role modeling. These kids learn about E-Spirit at the school, not only participating kids, but those that aren't participating see kids walking around with their milestone awards (prizes given out at various stages of the competition), the logo on caps and things. They also hear their peers come back and talk about what a great time it was, all the things they learned," said Richardson.

"I see an evolution of more and better prepared business plans, better oral presentations, and the videos are very creative as well. Overall the students are better prepared generally because the teachers know more about the program," he said.

While BDC does not track the students after the competition, Richardson said he does know that some of the business plans created through E-Spirit have become actual businesses.

At this year's trade show, 80 teams traveled from across the country to Edmonton to sell their plans to the judges, who included BDC employees, E-Spirit partner representatives, Aboriginal business owners, University of Alberta staff and Edmonton Chamber of Commerce representatives.

One of the teams from Saskatchewan taking part in this year's competition was from Balcarres high school in Fort Qu'Appelle. For the competition, students Ariane Starblanket, Arlene Starblanket, and Ian Stephens created the business Cree-ation Skate & Snow, a skateboarding and snowboarding shop that offers high quality equipment as well as apparel.

"There isn't a business like this in our community. Everyone who is involved in this sport has to go to Regina to pick up equipment and apparel," said Ariane Starblanket, manager of Cree-ation Skate & Snow.

"Everywhere you look kids are wearing skateboarding and snowboarding apparel, so it is only a matter of time somebody had to do it. It is a really rapidly growing business," Ariane Starblanket said, adding that the group is seriously considering continuing on with the business after the E-Spirit competition.

The gold award at the 2005 E-Spirit competition was given to the team of Emily Kahgee, Anthea Kahgee and David Neganiwina of Saugeen District secondary school of Port Elgin, Ont.Their coach was Kim Harbinson. Their business, Mno-yaamgod, is a restaurant tha would promote awareness of diabetes, obesity and other health issues affecting Aboriginal people.

"We entered the competition this year because it was a good opportunity to get our idea out," said Anthea Kahgee. "There are a lot of good ideas here," she said.

The silver award was presented to Patricia and Jordan Debassige of Sudbury secondary school, coached by John Sauve. Their business, Debassige Vision Workshop, would conduct workshops for Aboriginal students about their culture. The workshops, offered to youth, by youth, would focus on singing, dancing, drumming and the Seven Grandfather Teachings, part of the Make a Connection Canada program that aims to strengthen the personal and social skills of First Nations, Metis and Inuit youth.

"We want to reach youth who aren't in touch with their culture. Because of discrimination and racism they are scared, ashamed in ways of being Aboriginal. With our business we want to promote and help people to understand it so that they are not scared of it so that they are more willing to accept it. We want them to be as proud of their culture as we are," said Jordan Debassige.

Danielle LaBoucane, Charlene Smith and Liz Turtle from Children of the Earth high school in Winnipeg,won the bronze award. The students were coached by Richard Petri. Their business idea is Sacred Journey Funeral Home, which would provide culturally sensitive funeral services for Aboriginal families. Services would include drummers, smudging, traditional dancers, singers and food.