Trade fair shows businesses growing

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Twenty-two businesses put their wares on display at the 1989 Working Conference on Indian Economic Development in the Edmonton Inn from Sept. 26 to 28.

The tradeshow information booths demonstrated the growth of Native businesses, according to conference coordinator Don Logan.

"What we're trying to do is compare it to ten years ago when a conference of this nature took place then and what has occurred now. Is Indian business development actually occurring? The

overwhelming answer is yes!" said Logan.

Logan attributed two reasons for the tremendous amount of Native business growth.

"There are a lot more businesses coming forward, that are willing to receive the profile and a lot more Indian people are getting into business, whether individually, as a band or development

corporations," he said.

"One can say today, you can see more visible individual businesses and also regional development corporations that did not exist ten years ago," said George Calliou the conference chairman.

Blackstar Development Corporation which is building a $50 million international tourist resort on the north shore of the Athabasca river near the town is one of the companies that has set up shop.

Francis Erasmus, a representative of the company says the trade show helped them to make the public more aware of what the company does and who they were.

The resort will have a Native theme to it.

Non-Native businesses were also taking advantage of the opportunities.

Karen Good, account manager for Royal Trust, said the financial institution is interested in establishing business contacts with Native communities.