Culture & Entertainment

Aboriginal Entrepreneurs: Taking Care of Business!

Canadian Living
Culture & Entertainment

Aboriginal Entrepreneurs: Taking Care of Business!

If you’re looking for The Saturday Afternoon Book Club, click here. Every day, I get to see the amazing things that people are doing across our country. And the part I love most about my job is being able to share them with all of you. Some of these people are very public personalities and instantly recognizable on the street, and some are not. Some of them are quietly rocking our world with what they are doing every day in their communities. [caption id="attachment_13751" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Aboriginal entrepreneurs are quietly – and not so quietly! – making a difference in the world of business.[/caption] Take aboriginal entrepreneurs, creating incredible opportunities for economic development in Canada. When I first went to this site, I could not stop clicking on the videos, and the clever gems offered in each one. It’s all about the people Larry George, the general manager and partner of Rainy Lake Tribal Contracting talks about his company and managing people. “It’s challenging,” he says, “but it just takes the right people in the right places.” There’s a lesson for any business right there. Be creative The owner of a fashion design company that sells her aboriginal-style clothing line throughout North America at native-themed events has advice for budding entrepreneurs: Be creative. Find your own inner creativity and show that to the world. You have to have a lot of discipline and work really hard. Creativity, discipline and hard work. It’s impossible to lose with this kind of thinking. Don’t waste anything And this, from Nova Scotia award-winning chef Ray Bear: “You can't get any more local than aboriginal [methods], because it comes directly from the land around you. Have respect and appreciation for the animals, you don’t want to waste anything.” It’s true, really, they created the Eat Local movement. If you’re like me, and you don't know much about aboriginal entrepreneurs, start with this video. It's a terrific overview of how they are moving into different markets – like trucking companies, communications technologies and the hospitality industry. From the first words, you will be hooked (pun intended!): “It’s sunrise off the coast of Newfoundland, and the fishing boats are in the water. In five years, the aboriginal market could exceed the combined economies of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador...” That’s pretty heady stuff and it’s called thinking big. Final words of wisdom: “We’re learning. We may not have all our ducks in a row yet, but you can rest assured we’re learning how to place them.” Kudos to all the aboriginal entrepreneurs out there for calling on their inner braveness – and having the courage to go for it. How about you? Do you know of any inspirational entrepreneurs?    

Comments

Share X
Culture & Entertainment

Aboriginal Entrepreneurs: Taking Care of Business!

Login