Community Futures British Columbia Aboriginal Engagement Toolkit Aboriginal Strategic Committee March 2008 First printing March 2007 This Guide, or portions of this guide, may be reproduced for use; however, we ask that credit be given to Community Futures British Columbia. The information in this guide is considered to be part of the public domain. It is not intended to be used for profit. The material in this Guide remains the intellectual property of Community Futures British Columbia. Community Futures British Columbia offers this guide without any warranty of any kind, either express or implied. Nor does Community Futures British Columbia assume any liability for any damages arising from the use of, or inability to use, the product Prepared for the Aboriginal Strategy Committee Community Futures British Columbia Suite 1056 - 409 Granville Street, Vancouver BC, V6C 1T2 Phone: (604) 685-2332 Fax: (604) 681-6575 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.communityfutures.ca Support provided by Western Economic Diversification The term Aboriginal as used throughout this document is intended to include all persons of Aboriginal ancestry; status Indian (First Nation), non-status Indian, Métis and Inuit. Contents Acknowledgements 4 Executive Summary 5 Chapter 1: Guidelines To Engage With Aboriginal Peoples In BC 9 ~ Aboriginal Business Etiquette Guidelines 9 ~ Engaging a Community 19 ~ Building Capacity with Aboriginal Small Business Training 23 ~ Central Interior First Nations Recommendations for Training Programs 25 ~ Guidelines for Engaging and Providing Services to Aboriginal Peoples 27 Chapter 2: Community Futures of BC Best Practices 33 Chapter 3: Opportunities 47 ~ Partnership Opportunities to Enhance Aboriginal Engagement 47 ~ Funding Opportunities to Enhance Client Services 51 Chapter 4: Aboriginal Peoples of BC 56 ~ Definitions of Aboriginal Peoples in BC 56 ~ Aboriginal Demographics in BC 58 Chapter 5: Historic Framework 60 ~ Historic Legislative Framework 60 ~ Aboriginal Entrepreneurship in BC Then and Now 63 Chapter 6: Aboriginal Services 65 ~ Research Guidelines for First Nations 65 ~ Aboriginal Business Development Organizations 66 ~ Aboriginal Matrix 69 Chapter 7: Templates 104 ~ Letter of Introduction 104 ~ Band Council Resolution 106 Chapter 8: Terminology 108 Chapter 9: Community Futures British Columbia ASC Purpose, Goals and Objectives 113 Chapter 10: Bibliography 115 Page 3 of 116 Community Futures Aboriginal Engagement Toolkit Acknowledgements We gratefully acknowledge the leadership of the Community Futures British Columbia Aboriginal Strategy Committee (ASC) who have dedicated their time and efforts to advance this important issue in the interests of community economic development in BC. The members of the ASC are: ~ Roger Leclerc, CFDC of 16/37 ~ Larry Casper, CFDC of Central Interior First Nations ~ Art Lew, Haida Gwaii Community Futures ~ Joanna Winter, FutureCorp Cowichan ~ Maynard Angus, CFDC of the Pacific Northwest ~ Paula Cranmer-Underhill, CFDC of Sto:lo ~ Ray Gerow, Aboriginal Business Development Centre, Prince George ~ Geri Collins, CFDC of Central Interior First Nations ~ Linda Howe, Western Economic Diversification ~ Marie Gallant, Community Futures British Columbia We also recognize the vital role the Community Futures British Columbia has played in supporting the work of the Aboriginal Strategy Committee (ASC) and the unwavering support of Western Economic Diversification that has made this important work possible. Community Futures Aboriginal Engagement Tool kit Page 4 of 116 Executive Summary The Community Futures Toolkit was developed with the objective of supporting relationship and partnership development between Community Futures, which supports local and regional economic development, and Aboriginal Peoples in BC. This toolkit provides information requested by Community Futures Managers, to assist them in better understanding the history and current environment impacting BC’s Aboriginal peoples and to provide guidelines, proven effective by their peers, for relationship building. The toolkit also includes community economic development project best practices, which have been undertaken by Community Futures in partnership with Aboriginal peoples. It was developed with the knowledge and wisdom of Aboriginal Peoples, and the practitioners who serve them. The goal is to create a greater understanding that will support relationship development and lead into working partnerships that will improve the economy of BC for ourselves and our children. Page 5 of 116 Community Futures Aboriginal Engagement Toolkit Methodology: The Aboriginal Small Business Toolkit was developed under the direction of the ASC by conducting a comprehensive literature review and stakeholder survey to determine current lending practices /tools /criteria, best practices, traps to avoid and opportunities for further engagement. The survey included Aboriginal organizations as well as Community Futures Managers and Aboriginal People working within the Community Futures network. Key findings from the survey include; a lack of awareness of the Community Futures Program in Aboriginal communities, a welcoming interest about Community Futures and guidance on protocol to start working in Aboriginal communities. Findings also demonstrate significant potential for Community Futures working with Aboriginal Peoples to increase small business growth, contribute to local community economic development and help to create economic certainty that will benefit all British Columbians. The rationale to develop this Toolkit is as follows: • Fulfillment of the Community Futures mandate: to serve all individuals and communities in their respective regions including First Nations. • Resources: First Nations have some increased opportunities with, and access to, natural resources that may potentially build Community Futures Aboriginal Engagement Tool kit Page 6 of 116 capacity and impact economies in BC. (Logging, fishing, value added opportunities.) • Labour Force: to help address the growing BC labour shortage through development of the growing Aboriginal labour market. • Youth: demographics show that First Nations youth are a growing population. Many are interested in starting and developing busineses and in partnering or joint venturing with other sectors of the population. Community Futures can develop programs and training to target this demographic group. • Tourism/Ecotourism: a large and growing industry; cultural experiences are in great demand. • Leverage: First Nations may be able to leverage loans (not available to non-First Nations) through specific government programs that will support project viability, support self- sufficiency and reduce the disparity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. The most significant difference between those Community Futures that are and those that are not successful at engaging with Aboriginal peoples is often their intent and approach. Successful Aboriginal engagement is rooted in an understanding of the value of relationship building with Aboriginal peoples and their role in the economy. There is no special lending criteria, no magic bullet, document or single tool, from which flows limitless opportunities for partnership with Aboriginal Communities, such as; businesses, Page 7 of 116 Community Futures Aboriginal Engagement Toolkit partnerships, community economic development and thriving local economies. Success lies where there is a deep heart-felt understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity, where our differences make us stronger, and client-centered service delivery meets the needs of the individual client, or community. Community Futures Aboriginal Engagement Tool kit Page 8 of 116 Purposeful, CHAPTER 1: GUIDELINES TO ENGAGE intent and active listening WITH ABORIGINAL PEOPLES IN BC is the most important skill to develop for Aboriginal Business Etiquette Guidelines anyone who wants to work with Aboriginal For the Aboriginal peoples of BC the rules of business etiquette peoples. are rooted in ten thousand years of culture and trade that still - Roger Leclerc, has an impact on how business is conducted today. Manager Understanding the origins of Aboriginal business etiquette is CF 16/37 critical for Community Futures. The following guidelines were derived from a variety of Aboriginal organizations, agencies, First Nations as well as Community Futures from across BC. Cultural Variables. One of the most difficult concepts for many Canadians to understand is that when they are dealing with Aboriginal Peoples there are definite cultural differences, which will impact on all discussion, decisions and activities. Most indigenous People around the world originate from 'traditional cultures'. Our Canadian Aboriginal cultures offers an example of traditional cultures. It is essential to understand the phenomenon of culture itself if we wish to do business across cultures. That is what Community Futures is doing when we work with Aboriginal Peoples. It is very important to realize that, regardless of background and history, human beings of all cultures share basic values; love of and for family and friends and the need to nurture and protect Page 9 of 116 Community Futures Aboriginal Engagement Toolkit one another. Recognizing that we all share these common values makes it possible for us to realize that we are capable of understanding one another if we are willing to take the time and make the effort to do so. Culture is the whole of our everyday life and it is the total