Aboriginal Groups Get Business Prep Dollars

Aboriginal Groups Get Business Prep Dollars

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 13:01

Nine Aboriginal communities will benefit from money and training to become business-ready.

Westcap Management announced yesterday which groups will be part of BRIDG (Business Ready Investment Development Gateway), a three-year pilot program funded in part by INAC.

The participants are Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, Birch Narrows Dene Nation, Carry the Kettle First Nation, File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council, Flying Dust First Nation, Sturgeon Lake First Nation, Thunderchild First Nation, Western Region III Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, and White Bear First Nation.

Karen LaRocque, regional director for the Metis Nation’s Western Region 3, says the partnership with Westcap will mean job creation and wealth for her community.

“We don’t have any capacity — no resources. We as a community do not receive core funding. So this is going to actually give us some opportunity to work on some governance structures — what our governance will look like — and it’s really going to solidify the community, as well as create wealth,” LaRocque says.

The partnership will focus on business opportunities in the resource and energy sectors.